Parentreared 21 year old aviary cockatoos conversion to pet

It is now 1½ month ago I got my cockatoo. I got her September 24.

She is 21 years old and has always been an aviary bird. She is also parentreared, so she has never had any real contact with humans.

When I came to get her, she couldn't even take a nut from my hand. I asked the previous owner if he could give her nuts by hand, but he shaked his head.

First step was to get her to trust that my hands only brought good things. To start with I could only give her larger objects. I guess my hand would then be far enough away.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay6bbQC-rnc"]One of the first times taking something from hand[/ame]

I tried different strategies to get her up on my arm. I figured she would like to step up, if she was outside her environment. I then geared up and put on thick jacket and skigloves (as I expected bites). Getting the harness on was tricky, but with the help of my trusty towel, I managed to get the harness on with all fingers still attached I then opened the door and let her go outside. At first she thought it was cool, but after a while, she found the great outdoors to be a little scary. I then offered her my arm to step up on. This is our walk afterwards.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKV6vj8ah_I&t=2s"]First time outside without an aviary[/ame]

After some time with just a lot of trust building time and a loooot of treats, she every once in a while would trust my hand. She would go from "OHHH loving the cuddles" to "EEK, those hands will kill me!" I filmed this during some of those "sessions". I still felt quite uncomfortable with her beak around my face and really scared she would bite my lips off, when she came close to kiss.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWgIFkF8SJM&t=1s"]Trust, trust, trust [/ame]

Now she knows that open arms means CUDDLES!! She really loves her cuddles and kisses. For some reason she is perfectly fine with me cuddling her, holding my arms around her, but stepping up on my arm with no big overcoat, is still too dangerous.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agzcl17BbSQ"]CUDDLES[/ame]

I am really pleased with how far I have gotten already and I am sure, if I just stay at it, that she will be as tame as any other pet :smile015:

How did your first time go with your cockatoos? Any good ideas of great things to build trust is greatly apprecated.

Time. You're doing an amazing job, so just keep doing it. Our Rocky had been in and out of many homes, most of them BAD, but he's a smart boy and he knew we were going to be an improvement. He had a few issues with his daddy for a while, because men had been mean to him, but he's mostly over that. He still doesn't like OTHER men. He particularly doesn't like Hubby's brother and he thinks he has to protect me from my brother.

Wow! You're doing a phenomenal job with her! I love reading about your journey together. Nicely done!

Just phenomenal. You’re doing an amazing job. Thank you for working so hard with this one when so many would have given up. Truly beautiful.

You are the parrot whisperer!

WOW! The first video made me ...AND :17:!

He looked to be a bit frightened,but VERY inquisitive about being outside for the first time,looking around and taking it all in,then SNUGGLING up to you,for loveys AND protection!
And after he saw the MAC take a chip from you,he realized that hands/fingers were sort of OK and took one from YOU!

Like what people said in the above responses..PHENOMINAL! is the job you are doing! Thank-You for sharing with us

Jim

this is awesome! Good to see someone else has the same philosophy as me. Any animal given enough time and encouragement can become tame and a great companion. Keep up the great work!

I cannot overstate the deep respect and admiration for your dedication.

A 1.5 month conversion for a parent-raised aviary Moluccan to total sweetheart is amazing. Thanks for sharing the videos, they are an inspiration!!

I love how the other bird in the first video is like, "Hey, if you don't want that, I'll take it!" Having other birds around, who do interact with you, is a great help. I have a Quaker who was apparently locked in a cage and ignored for an unknown amount of time. We're moving very slow, but we are moving forward, and I know that she watches me with the other birds and it encourages her. So having those other birds there is helping yours, too.

Thank you for all your comments, they inspire me to keep at it

This is not the first "second hand" bird I have and I find, that the poorly treated pets are even harder to work with, than lifelong aviary birds. The aviary birds are hesitant, but not necessarily terrified as the pets, who has seen the worst of human behaviour.

Siobhan said:

I love how the other bird in the first video is like, "Hey, if you don't want that, I'll take it!" Having other birds around, who do interact with you, is a great help. I have a Quaker who was apparently locked in a cage and ignored for an unknown amount of time. We're moving very slow, but we are moving forward, and I know that she watches me with the other birds and it encourages her. So having those other birds there is helping yours, too.

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No doubt, she definately watches the other birds interaction with me and that definately helps.

I actually have a question. Today she ventured from the bird room into my livingroom (where she lived for the first month to get used to humans walking around her). I then had a cuddle session with her, but suddenly she started to breathe funny. I would kind of say she was hyperventilating and then again not. I am aware I have been touching no go areas of a mature bird and I am worried, that she may be "mating" with me.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to film it. Once I got the phone, she wouldn't do it again. If she is started to mate with me, I will stop stroking her along her entire body and just focus on the head, but if it is not mating, I would like to do it a little longer, as she really enjoys it.

What do you think? I will try to film it, as I know it's difficult to say anything for certain from written description. But would still like to know your thoughts.

SilleIN said:

Thank you for all your comments, they inspire me to keep at it

This is not the first "second hand" bird I have and I find, that the poorly treated pets are even harder to work with, than lifelong aviary birds. The aviary birds are hesitant, but not necessarily terrified as the pets, who has seen the worst of human behaviour.

I actually have a question. Today she ventured from the bird room into my livingroom (where she lived for the first month to get used to humans walking around her). I then had a cuddle session with her, but suddenly she started to breathe funny. I would kind of say she was hyperventilating and then again not. I am aware I have been touching no go areas of a mature bird and I am worried, that she may be "mating" with me.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to film it. Once I got the phone, she wouldn't do it again. If she is started to mate with me, I will stop stroking her along her entire body and just focus on the head, but if it is not mating, I would like to do it a little longer, as she really enjoys it.

What do you think? I will try to film it, as I know it's difficult to say anything for certain from written description. But would still like to know your thoughts.

Click to expand...

Your observation comparing poorly treated birds to those raised in aviaries is so basic and logical it seemed a revelation. Humans really are capable of imprinting horrific behaviors upon birds.

The heavy or odd breathing you describe is either a medical issue or a prelude to mating ritual. My guess is the latter! I've found cuddly cockatoos will enjoy and tolerate more body-complete touching without resorting to mating behaviors. That is not universal, and many on the board will suggest anything beyond the head is unwise.

Scott said:

Humans really are capable of imprinting horrific behaviors upon birds.

That is not universal, and many on the board will suggest anything beyond the head is unwise.

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The "worst" of my birds is a macaw, who had been locked in a small cage for so long, that he has panick attacks, if I cage him. It took several months for him to accept my large outdoor aviary (4x7x2,5 metres). To begin with he would climp around and once he reached a corner, he would just sit there for hours screaming and panicking, as he thought he was couped up again. He also attacked any human coming even close to him, as the only interaction he had, was being toweled and having his nails cut and then thrown back in a small cage again

I would normally not pet a mature bird below the upper leg, but I am still in the process of getting myself into her good graces, so anything she enjoys, I try to take advantage of.

I should not think she has any serious medical issues, as she came from a Berlin Zoo (other than the obvious plucking). I would normally take a new bird to my vet to get a complete check up, but I got APV and PBFD tests taken in the Zoo and the Zoo vet said she was fine. She has been at the zoo for 5 years and they've tried to pair her up with 4 different males and she is just to mild to match a mature male. She also got one of her toes injured by one of the males. The nail is missing and the toe is really croked, however she copes okay, climbs etc. I could bring her to my own vet, but this is the only sign of any ailment I've seen. I will have to see if it returns or if it's a one off AND if it could be mating behaviour.

I usually only deal with macaws and their mating behaviour I know, but I am a too-novice, so I don't want to miss any signs.

My guess it is related to mating. See if it happens again, and try to record the event.

Stewie, loves kisses and hugs, all 3 of mine do