How would you deal with this?

So, a few weeks ago I was offered a rescue parrot, he's a 24 year old sulphur crested cockatoo and has been shut away in a garage for the last 10/15 years (old owner wasn't too sure) with very little attention, pretty much nothing in his cage but one or two perches. I picked him (Zak) up on Sunday from a lady that had got him off the old owner, she had him around 5 weeks. So far he's doing ok, pretty unsettled and nervous which I fully expected. My boy Syd, is fascinated with him and very curious.

I've had cockatoos in my life for the last 33 years, I currently have an old one who was in a similar situation before we got him but he's been in my family the whole 33 years. But I've never taken on one that was in this situation so recently so I'm wanting to know how would you deal with this? My thoughts are to get him into a routine with lots of attention and boundaries to help settle him. He is very friendly and happy to step up and come around with me, he isn't very bitey towards me so far but he has plenty of nervous mannerisms.

He seems to be a pretty cool parrot so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he is once he is more settled. He plucks so hopefully that will reduce with the new environment although Syd did as well but his feathers don't grow back now, hopefully Zak doesn't think the bawled look is in

Thank you for giving Zak a wonderful home pictures are always encouraged (hint hint)

I think you already know what you’re doing. Keep it up and move at his pace with interactions. If he steps up, yay! Plenty of out of cage time. Structure is important so your instincts are right on there.

It only gets better little zak!

Thanks Chris, glad I’m thinking along the right track so. He plays with toys unlike Syd so it’ll be fun getting him stuff to play with!

Here are some photos from a week before I got him. The photo of him in the cage was where he was living for the last 10/15 years.

Cindymcm said:

Thanks Chris, glad I’m thinking along the right track so. He plays with toys unlike Syd so it’ll be fun getting him stuff to play with!

Here are some photos from a week before I got him. The photo of him in the cage was where he was living for the last 10/15 years.

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I don't have any experience with a rescue bird, but do have a UC, have had him for 24 years now. Just wanted to chime in and thank you for giving a wonderful creature of God a loving home and I very much wish you both the best in the future!!!

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What a wonderful save, poor Zak's life is getting a massive upgrade! He seems rather social and amenable to you, nothing short of miraculous given his apparent exile.

I'd encourage him to interact, but watch for signs of sensory overload. He's going to experience so much in a short period. You'll have a better idea how he will progress once the "homeymoon" period ends.

Scott said:

What a wonderful save, poor Zak's life is getting a massive upgrade! He seems rather social and amenable to you, nothing short of miraculous given his apparent exile.

I'd encourage him to interact, but watch for signs of sensory overload. He's going to experience so much in a short period. You'll have a better idea how he will progress once the "homeymoon" period ends.

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Thanks Scott, very good point about the sensory overload. I kept that in mind tonight and only did short bursts out of the cage when he was with me. Enough to enjoy but not so much to get ****ty or worked up. He was much more chatty tonight, he has so much more to say compared to Syd.

I have zero experience with 'too, but wanted to say bless you for taking this poor garage bird in. People who do this should spend a month in a closet to see how it feels. A garage for Christs sake. Grrrrrrr. Any thigh I can do to help .. I have some oversized toys, that Salty has zero interest in,I'd be glad to send.

Wonderful advice above!

I'm so glad you're here. This is the kind of rescue that lifts my heart. You're a hero to me and a saviour to Zak..

Thank you for sharing this.

Awww youve adopted him how wonderful. Just treat it as having a new baby Parrot and enjoy yourselfes together x

Congratulations on a new addition to the family! Thank you for sharing and saving Zak.

Cindymcm said:

Thanks Chris, glad I’m thinking along the right track so. He plays with toys unlike Syd so it’ll be fun getting him stuff to play with!

Here are some photos from a week before I got him. The photo of him in the cage was where he was living for the last 10/15 years.

Click to expand...

That makes me physically ill...shut in a cage in a garage. How many of these birds are out there? I’m with Wrench, the person who did that should spend time in jail. I’m glad there are people like you who can make a difference.

Kentuckienne said:

Cindymcm said:

Thanks Chris, glad I’m thinking along the right track so. He plays with toys unlike Syd so it’ll be fun getting him stuff to play with!

Here are some photos from a week before I got him. The photo of him in the cage was where he was living for the last 10/15 years.

Click to expand...

That makes me physically ill...shut in a cage in a garage. How many of these birds are out there? I’m with Wrench, the person who did that should spend time in jail. I’m glad there are people like you who can make a difference.

Click to expand...

The problem with the old owner is she seemed to be the kind of person that loved animals and genuinely thought she was doing the best thing for the animals. She had 4 birds in total, all in different rooms. She was also much older, maybe in her late 60's early 70's so might have been a bit of a hoarder too. The lady that got Zak off her, Jane, had already re-homed one of those birds, that was how she got Zak.

Considering that certain areas of New Zealand do not have extreme weather changes, if the garage was set up right, it could have been a great environment. Just because he lived in there may not mean that he was stuck in there all the time. Maybe he was taken out and brought into the rest of the house?

Granted, it doesn't sound like Zak came from an ideal situation, but I have met people who have turned their garages into bird rooms! (I've been in both a two car converted garage and a 4+ converted car garage! The larger one was temporary though while the birds main living area was being built! Which is now complete and no more birds in garage! These birds live better than I do...)


It also sounds like he was well loved! Maybe it was the person who kept him in their garage? And she just didn't know how to meet his needs? Or maybe it was someone before her?


You've already received some great advice! Sounds like Zak just needs some time to settle in and learn that not everything is scary. Heck, he may even enjoy some training exercises! Things like turn around, wave, fetch, etc!

So sad to see someone treat such a beautiful bird like that, I'm so glad to see Zak will have a good life now, him going to a experienced cockatoo owner will be great for him, a more balanced diet, some love & attention hopefully his feather will grow back.

When I got Stewie his legs, under his wings & a patch on his chest were completely bald, I know there are a ton of conditioning sprays out on the market, to get Stewie's feathers to grow back, I used cockatoo bath once a week & then twice a week with just a warm water spray bottle

good luck

MonicaMc said:

Considering that certain areas of New Zealand do not have extreme weather changes, if the garage was set up right, it could have been a great environment. Just because he lived in there may not mean that he was stuck in there all the time. Maybe he was taken out and brought into the rest of the house?

Granted, it doesn't sound like Zak came from an ideal situation, but I have met people who have turned their garages into bird rooms! (I've been in both a two car converted garage and a 4+ converted car garage! The larger one was temporary though while the birds main living area was being built! Which is now complete and no more birds in garage! These birds live better than I do...)


It also sounds like he was well loved! Maybe it was the person who kept him in their garage? And she just didn't know how to meet his needs? Or maybe it was someone before her?


You've already received some great advice! Sounds like Zak just needs some time to settle in and learn that not everything is scary. Heck, he may even enjoy some training exercises! Things like turn around, wave, fetch, etc!

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Have a look at the previous photo I posted of him in the garage, it was just a cage, two perches and one toy, nothing else and no bird friendly garage set up. Nothing to chew on or wreck. He was definitely loved by the owner but not given much attention at all and that was her words as she rang to vet me before saying Jane could give him to me.

Do you have a link to training exercises? I've never thought of that as Syd is far to old for that but Zak would probably be really good for it.

I did say that perhaps the person who kept him in the garage didn't know how to meet his needs.

Syd is not "too old" to train, although it may indeed be easier to train Zak. You won't know until you try!

I created a thread - hoping it's okay to post it (input from mods?) which has various training resources from trainers and people who understand the science of behavior. Most of it isn't about training any specific behavior, but training and information in general. First one you'd want to look up would be target training. Many behaviors can be taught with target training - which includes step up training!


http://www.parrotforums.com/training/72250-free-training-resources.html

Reads to me that Syd is liking his forever home. The picture of him munching down,even looks like he has a smile on his beaky
Excellent job and thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking this very lucky guy into your home and heart!





Jim

Bless you for bringing Zak into your family! That picture of him in the garage broke my heart. I am so excited for you both!
What does Syd think of the new addition? I think it's wonderful that Syd has been a part of your family for so long.
Best of luck to you

Terry57 said:

Bless you for bringing Zak into your family! That picture of him in the garage broke my heart. I am so excited for you both!
What does Syd think of the new addition? I think it's wonderful that Syd has been a part of your family for so long.
Best of luck to you

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Syd is fascinated by Zak, watches everything he does, sits closer to him instead of me now! lol. Zak does try to dominate Syd when Syd is on the floor and around Zaks cage so Syd knows not to get too close. But he's happy with the new addition, was worried that getting Zak would upset him.

Zak is coming along pretty well, seems to have a few more feathers growing back on his belly which haven't been plucked. Has a bit of an issue with screaming in my face and when I leave the room where Syd has never been like that so I've had to learn not to respond to the screaming. He does get a minute or two of time out if its in my face and he hasn't really done it much in the past week so he's getting there. He's fast though, forgot how much faster younger birds are! Syd takes forever clambering around his cage to escape where Zak is out in a flash. Just need to get him to stop pulling his dishes out and throwing them on the floor as I worry he's not getting enough to eat by doing that.

StewieandHolly said:

So sad to see someone treat such a beautiful bird like that, I'm so glad to see Zak will have a good life now, him going to a experienced cockatoo owner will be great for him, a more balanced diet, some love & attention hopefully his feather will grow back.

When I got Stewie his legs, under his wings & a patch on his chest were completely bald, I know there are a ton of conditioning sprays out on the market, to get Stewie's feathers to grow back, I used cockatoo bath once a week & then twice a week with just a warm water spray bottle

good luck

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Dumb question but how do you mean a cockatoo bath? He likes the sprinkler but we're on water restrictions right now and sprinklers have been banned.