New Too, Couple Questions

MarieAnn · Sep 6, 2018

I rescued a Citron Cockatoo last week. I don't really like to say rescue, bc she sadly had to be given up due to her owner's health issues and the owners are very distraught over it. I am glad to be able to help them out.

Some details. She is 47yo. She's a very sweet girl. She has a great routine, and I don't really want to change anything, but I'm curious about a few things.

Her owners only feed her veg/fruit and then a small chunk of Nutr-An Cake. I feel like she should be eating more pelleted food for nutrition.

How often to do you bathe? She has a LOT of dander and they used to bathe her every 3 days and then blow dry her. They thought this helped the dander. Opinion?

Nails, they keep her nails very short and they dremel them, so they are rounded. I am finding that she has such a hard time staying secure on my shoulder (where she always wants to be), I won't allow her anymore bc she has fallen 2x. I feel like she doesn't have the ability to grip things properly bc her nails are so short. Opinions?

I grew up with birds and currently have a conure and budgie. Never could commit to a Cockatoo, but they've always been my favorite and I'm happy I can help this girl.

ChristaNL · Sep 6, 2018

Cockatoos are the messiest birds on the planet when it comes to featherdust.
So you are stuck with that...

(wow 47 is wonderfull!)

They also are the birds that are build to live on a very sober diet -> so the risk of overfeeding/ overnurishing is real (well, with all birds that live in captivity, but well...you get it, toos more than others).

If you are wondering if you need to change anything -> contact her CAV.
When in doubt there is always the option of a bloodpannel etc..

The nails will grow, and most parrots will gnaw on them to make them sharper/ pointier.
(but only if they have enough material to shape)
so...this one will probably resolve itself.

Are all your birds tested?
(the new one, but also you own)

Budgies are a reservoir of diseases that infect&kill larger parrots.
(because budgies are so cheap testing is considered too expensive, lovebirds are famous for spreading nasties)

Siobhan · Sep 6, 2018

Veggies and fruit would have been her diet in the wild, but if you wanted to offer pellets and see if she wants those, too, it certainly couldn't hurt. If she's never had them, she might not accept them.

I leave when to bathe up to Rocky, and he does so on his own about once a week, sometimes twice. I would NOT blow-dry. Birds preen while their feathers are wet and the water helps them get the pinfeathers more easily -- and birds always have a few pinnies -- plus a blow dryer could get too hot without your realizing it and burn the bird's skin.

You can let her nails grow out a bit, but if she is used to dremeling, I would keep doing that or at least a nail file, so you can do it when necessary.

I have a budgie, a tiel, two Quakers and a starling in the same house with my 'too. They don't interact (for the safety of the small birds, who might challenge my 'too, who doesn't know his own strength) but they're all in the same small house in separate rooms. Everyone but the starling in one room, the starling in another, and my 'too in the living room. We haven't had any problems with one making another ill.

LeslieA · Sep 6, 2018

According to my breeder, Citrons are about to hit the "fully endangered" list, again! For now, you're not even supposed to cross state borders, but who would even know. HAHA I just turned down a sweet Citron for location reasons.

Citrons are VERY prone to plucking, so make sure she sees the AV regularly! If you haven't already, take her!

As far as I'm concerned, all birds need pellets. What if there's an emergency? Otherwise, Citrons love to eat what you give them, so make sure it's healthy! Their biggest problem seems to be weight control.

Citron are one of the easiest going birds around, but get ready for the mess! They believe in slinging things! We called it, "Spreadin' the love." On top of that, they're dusty! You might consider a filter if you don't already have one!

noodles123 · Sep 6, 2018

If you do it carefully (after trying to introduce pellets etc), there is a supplement called Nekton-S (Amazon)---My vet mentioned it to me because I had a similar concern for my U2. If she is eating wet food (oatmeal or something) I will mix in a bit. Do be cautious, as they can overdose on certain vitamins.
My cockatoo tolerates Zupreem Fruit Blend (the bag with the African Grey on it), but she came to me sort of eating that (Also a re-home). I know Zupreem is far from perfect, but she hasn't touched Harrison's etc (despite repeated attempts)...You will have to decide, but I imagine your bird is missing lots of amino acids etc (because even a bird nutritionist would be hard pressed to mix the variety of vegetables etc to fulfill the same spectrum of vitamins a bird would find in the wild).

MarieAnn · Sep 6, 2018

Good to know that this amount of dander is normal. I thought the blow drying was an odd thing to do, but they had been doing it for 15 years and supposedly she LOVES being dried in that manner. I've only bathed her once, I will refrain from the dryer.

As for the nails. Do you think the reason she is so unsteady could be more attributed to her age and arthritis? I am going to let her nails grow out and see if there's a change. She no longer flies (wings were damaged from bad trimmings and now arthritis) and loves going on walks, but she's fallen from my shoulder once and I just don't want her to get injured falling onto concrete.

She has an Avian vet she's been seeing for years. She just had an exam and blood panel done in April. She was very well-cared for by her last owners (they had her for 15 years)...the vet has her on benebac, lactolose/milk thistle/dandelion, and meloxicam.

As for the plucking, I am seeing that...unfortunately, it seems somewhere along the line it became a game for her to play with her feathers, she flips them around her head, so if she doesn't have a loose one to play with...she plucks one out. I'm trying to ignore when she plays with them and distract her when I notice she wants the attention. She has a LOT of enrichment toys and foraging things to keep her busy, but the plucking seems to be less out of boredom and more for attention. She wants you to watch her play with the feathers, this is what the previous owner told me and what I'm also seeing now.

Scott · Sep 7, 2018

Welcome to you and your citron! At 47 she's a special girl and obviously well cared for. I've had 3 over the years and they are really cool birds.

Biggest concern with blow-drying is the potential for Teflon parts to overheat. Obviously her past experiences have been safe, but if you decide to try this technique, carefully check the unit, and refrain from hot temps.

Your concern over possible grip strength associated with falling rings true. While short nails are problematic, she may have some arthritis. An avian vet can usually determine by feel and reaction.

You can try various pellets, but at her age will want to serve a nutritionally balanced product free from excessive sugar. That may rule out Zupreem Fruit Blend.

Pictures would be really nice!

noodles123 · Sep 7, 2018

MarieAnn said:
Good to know that this amount of dander is normal. I thought the blow drying was an odd thing to do, but they had been doing it for 15 years and supposedly she LOVES being dried in that manner. I've only bathed her once, I will refrain from the dryer.

As for the nails. Do you think the reason she is so unsteady could be more attributed to her age and arthritis? I am going to let her nails grow out and see if there's a change. She no longer flies (wings were damaged from bad trimmings and now arthritis) and loves going on walks, but she's fallen from my shoulder once and I just don't want her to get injured falling onto concrete.

She has an Avian vet she's been seeing for years. She just had an exam and blood panel done in April. She was very well-cared for by her last owners (they had her for 15 years)...the vet has her on benebac, lactolose/milk thistle/dandelion, and meloxicam.

As for the plucking, I am seeing that...unfortunately, it seems somewhere along the line it became a game for her to play with her feathers, she flips them around her head, so if she doesn't have a loose one to play with...she plucks one out. I'm trying to ignore when she plays with them and distract her when I notice she wants the attention. She has a LOT of enrichment toys and foraging things to keep her busy, but the plucking seems to be less out of boredom and more for attention. She wants you to watch her play with the feathers, this is what the previous owner told me and what I'm also seeing now.

Does she have liver issues? Lactulose and milk thistle (dandelion as well) are all used to treat that. Birds with liver issues are prone to skin/feather issues (and plucking of the chest area). The lactulose is to prevent encephalopathy (sp?) due to accumulations of ammonia in the blood stream, which can lead to seizure etc when unchecked. I would keep her proteins and fats low if/when adjusting her diet because of the liver thing. They may also just be worried that the meloxicam could be hard on her liver if administered independently, but that is something I would ask the vet. My bird had liver issues when she came to me, so that is why I know about the Lactulose etc.

My cockatoo really likes these tiny plastic "c-links" (colorful/smallish)...It works maybe 30% of the time for a preening replacement behavior for her (day to day) and 90% in the car/novel situations. My bird's habit could have started out of anxiety (due to re-homing and transition), but now it is like a thumb-sucking behavior---does it whenever there is down-time and when going to sleep etc.

Scott · Sep 7, 2018

noodles123 said:
My cockatoo really likes these tiny plastic "c-links" (colorful/smallish)...It works maybe 30% of the time for a preening replacement behavior for her (day to day) and 90% in the care/novel situations. My bird's habit could have started out of anxiety (due to re-homing and transition), but now it is like a thumb-sucking behavior---does it whenever there is down-time and when going to sleep etc.

Mine love plastic chain links! Good for grabbing and tossing and of course chewing.

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