Kiki's checkup at CAV

Lat week Kiki had a checkup at a CAV in Amsterdam. CAVs are not common in The Netherlands, so I've always looked around on the internet, but was always hesitant to make an appointment. Once I made an appointment, but canceled it after I read quite a few negative reviews on internet about this CAV.

A few months ago, I made an pointment with a friendly but I believe relatively inexperienced AV.
She also believed that Kiki was a GSC2. We had a short discussion that I believe she's either a Triton or Eleonora subspecies of the GSC2, but certainly not a GSC2 itself.

I found another CAV in Amsterdam with good reviews and we visited her last Friday. Just for a regular checkup and to get to know at least 1 CAV other than in the hospital Kiki spent a week in 2010 (see the discussion in my welcome msg last november).

This time we had a really positive impression. Kiki was complimented about her health, weight, friendliness and especially her beautiful feathers. Apparently she hadn't seen many Toos didn't have a plucking spot somewhere at Kiki's age (22).

And, the CAV believed Kiki is an Eleonora, same as what I always believed. Because Kiki was so healthy, the consult was charged less than half the price.

Kiki also got clipped. She doesn't want the Aviator harness, although I keep trying, and I do want her to be outside.
Until now she was outside sometimes in the garden in a small cage. But now for the first time she's outside without cage.

I've always been very afraid to take her outside, even clipped. But now when there is no wind, I feel more comfortable taking her outside. Slow steps, and first only in the garden. When we can use the harness, I'm willing to take her out of the garden as well.

I'll upload some pictures.

Beautiful pics, Kiki certainly is photogenic!

Glad you found a trusted vet. Not easy to locate, but always good to have during an emergency when time is precious.

Please be careful, particularly as Kiki's flight feathers rejuvenate. A gust of wind + fright can propel a parrot further than we'd expect.

Please don't let her outside without a harness, I learnt the hard way when I first got Suki 11 years ago.

She came to me fully clipped, fresh from a visit to the vets. She flew out of the living room, through the patio doors and across the estate where I lived. Once she was outside she just got higher and higher until she disappeared out of sight, I was so lucky to get her back.

Because they are so light they can fly extremely well, even if fully clipped. All my birds are fully flighted now as I do not believe in clipping. I have since learnt it can cause unwanted behavior issues, development issues in younger birds and if they did escape, they wouldn't be able to escape predators so easily.

Do keep an eye on her weight, she looks a little plump, hopefully it's just her feathers fluffed out. She has a beautiful look in her eyes, very similar to Suki who is also an Eleonora Cockatoo.

Thanks for your advice!

I have tested her flying capability above our bed. But I know that in panic mode and when windy, she will still be able to fly further.

I don't want to lose her so will be very careful and will keep trying the harness. Kiki enjoyed the experience yesterday vry mmuch, so I'll try to put more effort in harness training.

I'm glad you found Suki!

Kiki's fluffiness is caused by the feathers. When comfortable she puffs them up. (Or how do you say that in English? )
At the vet Kiki was very nervous and her feathers were completely tight to her body. I had never seen her so slim. Kiki is 530 grams and the cav said she had a very good weight.

lol vets tend to have that startled affect on our birds, sounds like she is a very good weight too. Suki averages around 500 grams, although does go up to 530 before laying an egg lol, thankfully I only tend to get one a year.

Good luck with the harness training.

She looks beautiful. She actually looks like a mix of a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo and a U2.

Justine is a U2 but when I look saw the pic of KIKI I see a U2 Body but Sulphur main crest..

Either way. She is beautiful..