Please help

MelissaLola

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Mar 25, 2019
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I just rescued a poor female cockatoo. She is in rough shape. The previous owner didn't interact with her, didn't clean her cage, and only fed her wild bird seed. Any information will help.
 

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charmedbyekkie

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May 24, 2018
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Cairo the Ekkie!
Quarantine her away from other birds and get her to an avian vet asap (I'm concerned about the feather loss on her head and neck area). In the meantime you can feed her veggies and fruits - if you have pellets, that might be an easier transition from seeds.
 

ParrotGenie

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Jan 10, 2019
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2 umbrella Cockatoos One male named Cooper and female named Baby 1 Little Corella male named Frankie and have 5 Cockatiels three named Male named Pepper, Fiesco for the female and female named Wylie.
Reminds me of my Cooper when I first rescued him.

Let her settle in for a couple of days, so she can get use to environment and not to over stress her and keep her separated from other birds in your flock for at least a month, just in case of virus, if you don't have other birds, then not a issue. Get her to vet after a week not to stress her to much as new environment to get blood work done, just don't do basic exam, but get blood work done and then get her tested for Psittacine Beak and Feather and other Diseases and ABV. Then don't push her to step up, let her have a couple of days. If she came in old cage, let her stay in it for a couple of days and put new cage next to it. Let her come out of cage on her own terms and explore.

This is just to start a lot more.

She is likely is a female red eyes is usually a female umbrella as male tend to be dark brown, or black eyes.
 
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ParrotGenie

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Jan 10, 2019
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2 umbrella Cockatoos One male named Cooper and female named Baby 1 Little Corella male named Frankie and have 5 Cockatiels three named Male named Pepper, Fiesco for the female and female named Wylie.
Quarantine her away from other birds and get her to an avian vet asap (I'm concerned about the feather loss on her head and neck area). In the meantime you can feed her veggies and fruits - if you have pellets, that might be an easier transition from seeds.

Agreed
It is likely due to bad diet and lack of care. My Cooper was like that before I rescued him and had liver and yeast infection and upper respiratory infection that I had to take care of and now he a 100%. He molting most his feather in and not really plucking them out anymore and he letting most of them grow out. He still chew on one every so often, but no where near as much.

If you give her the attention and care she needs, a umbrella can be very awarding as they will bond strongly to you and have the intelligent of a 5 year old kid. Hope the best for you and her.
 
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HannahandSunny

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Cockatiels. Percy & Gizmo

Forever in my heart. Sunny the Corella
Well done for rescuing her. The others have great advice!
Do you have any bird experience?
 

ChristaNL

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May 23, 2018
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Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
Quarantine her away from other birds and get her to an avian vet asap (I'm concerned about the feather loss on her head and neck area). In the meantime you can feed her veggies and fruits - if you have pellets, that might be an easier transition from seeds.


What Charmed said ...
CAV and tests first.
Lots and lots of TLC as well.


(just do not go overboard: give the bird the amount of time and attention she will recieve 1 or 2 years from now-- get a routine going that is sustainable, if you are there for her 18 hours a day today, make sure you can still be doing that 10 years from now)
 

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
I am glad she is in a better home!

Yes- to quarantine and vet visit ASAP. Definitly get a PBFD (Pssitacine (Sp?) Beak and Feather Disease) test...I would also get PDD, Psitacossis (sp?) and Polyoma tests.....and a gram-stain.
Get her on a healthier mix of pellets and seeds (something without junk fillers like peanuts, sunflowers, and or peanuts=bad). Zupreem Fruit blend is a good gateway pellet for pickier birds (even though it's not the best pellet out there- it is a start). Don't do anything cold-turkey-- birds can starve out of pickiness.
12-14 hours of dark/quiet nightly sleep.
Introduce a routine and narrate what you are doing as you do it "I'm taking out the trash", "running the vacuum" etc. Also, teach her to play with toys. Introduce them slowly by leaving them nearby and demonstrate playing with them in front of her. Do not over-indulge her beyond what you will be able to sustain, as this will cause further stress in the long-run. Do expect to spend at least 2 hours interacting with her daily (minimum). Early on, this could just mean reading by her cage etc, but once she trusts you, it means handling her, talking, playing, providing activities etc.
Build trust slowly- mine wouldn't let me hold her for 3 months.
If you leave, consider playing some music for her (try to figure out what she likes first).
DO NOT CUDDLE your bird-- cockatoos love to cuddle, but they care VERY sexual/hormonal and so you want to only pet her on the head (despite what you will see on Instagram etc...) A bird who chooses you as its mate may seem really cute and sweet at first, but it can lead to the bird turning on you, self-mutilating, plucking, screaming, egg-laying/egg-binding, and/or attacking others. If you see any subtle beak clicking (like a quiet but quick chomping)- often accompanied by a sort of vibration (subtle), regurgitation, rubbing the vent on things, huddling in a low/crouched position, or pressing body against your chest, this is all sexual in 95% of cases. Redirect/distract- do not indulge or encourage it.
Make sure she has no access to any dark areas or nesting materials (blankets, pillows, huts, under furniture etc).
If she screams, do not give her any attention if you she is screaming for attention. I don't come into the room when mine screams if I leave.
Try to start giving he small amounts of safe fruit and veg. Don't overdo citrus (it can cause iron storage syndrome).
Make sure you aren't using any chemicals in the house that could irritate her sensitive respiratory system (and skin)---candles,paints, polishes,certain deodorants, lotions, perfumes, smoke,pretty much any home cleaning product is going to be very unsafe (minus vinegar +water---unheated)...and then there are a few natural cleaners that you can buy but not all are safe (some essential oils are dangerous as well). I am assuming you already know about the dangers of PTFE/PFOA/Teflon, but if not, look into it. You cannot use it safely around birds if the object containing these chemicals heats or is heated (it will off-gas and it can kill them in as few a 5 minutes).
Make sure that any metal she is coming into contact with is bird-safe...Stainless is the best bet.
Oh- and consider misting her with water (not in the face) --only if she tolerates it ***if previous owner used it as a form of punishment it could be bad** !
Make sure she isn't too cold---with so few feathers it is essential that you keep your home on the warmer side...(70s)
Take extra precautions that she isn't exposed to drafts in your home or during transit.
Consult with a vet and discuss the possibility of putting her on a bird probiotic as well---this can help with immune function in a sickly bird (or a healthy one, for that matter).
 
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GaleriaGila

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Bless you for this rescue!

Just some ramblings for you...


Here's some reading on bonding for you.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
General Parrot Information - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community
http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2012...n-parrots.html


Most of us swear by our avian vets in the event of health concerns.
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.
International contacts, too.

What's the diet? That's critical for health. Too many are kept on seeds or other poor-nutrition things. They need veggies, legumes, grains... pellets are a good staple. Here's what I use.
http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

Since you're new parront, I'll just drop a note about avoiding teflon pans, which are lethal to birds if even slightly overheated.

I'm glad you're here. Lots to learn and share and enjoy!

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR GOOD DEED.!
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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Apr 14, 2015
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Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
That poor thing..:eek:..but look in his/her eyes..I saw LIFE...so I'm betting with you being there and taking it slow and easy,you're going to have a wonderful/beautiful 'too :D
Thank you for rescuing him/her...we need more people like you!




Jim
 

Scott

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Aug 21, 2010
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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Thanks so much for adopting this distressed U2. Agree with all of the above, they left no stone unturned!!
 

Siobhan

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Apr 19, 2015
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Clyde, Quaker; Freddie, tiel; Rocky, umbrella cockatoo.
Oh, that poor baby. I got my Rocky off seeds (other than a few for a treat) by just offering him pellets. The food they gave him was also wild bird food and it wasn't even GOOD wild bird food. I offered pellets and he dove in and that was that. She might feel the same way. Others have given you good advice and all I can offer is to love her and be patient with any fears or quirks she has, because she probably has plenty. Rocky was scared of the oddest things and still is, to a degree, due to the abuse he'd suffered. We still occasionally bump into a new one, and he's been with us almost four years. Do you know how old she is?
 
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MelissaLola

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Well done for rescuing her. The others have great advice!
Do you have any bird experience?

Yes, we have bird experience. I was raised around birds My whole life. And my husband has been around all kinds of birds. My husband and I have a 15 + year old male cocktail "Chipper" we rescued several years ago. He is a grumpy disabled young man. We also have my baby 21 year old Congo African Grey "Buddy". He is my side kick.
 
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MelissaLola

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Oh, that poor baby. I got my Rocky off seeds (other than a few for a treat) by just offering him pellets. The food they gave him was also wild bird food and it wasn't even GOOD wild bird food. I offered pellets and he dove in and that was that. She might feel the same way. Others have given you good advice and all I can offer is to love her and be patient with any fears or quirks she has, because she probably has plenty. Rocky was scared of the oddest things and still is, to a degree, due to the abuse he'd suffered. We still occasionally bump into a new one, and he's been with us almost four years. Do you know how old she is?

We are just beginning our journey with this beauty. She already has a wonderful personality coming out. When we spend time with her she sings to us. And chats a lot. We unfortunately don't have any idea how old she is. Hopefully the vet will be able to answer many questions.
 

ParrotGenie

Member
Jan 10, 2019
946
19
Indiana
Parrots
2 umbrella Cockatoos One male named Cooper and female named Baby 1 Little Corella male named Frankie and have 5 Cockatiels three named Male named Pepper, Fiesco for the female and female named Wylie.
Oh, that poor baby. I got my Rocky off seeds (other than a few for a treat) by just offering him pellets. The food they gave him was also wild bird food and it wasn't even GOOD wild bird food. I offered pellets and he dove in and that was that. She might feel the same way. Others have given you good advice and all I can offer is to love her and be patient with any fears or quirks she has, because she probably has plenty. Rocky was scared of the oddest things and still is, to a degree, due to the abuse he'd suffered. We still occasionally bump into a new one, and he's been with us almost four years. Do you know how old she is?

We are just beginning our journey with this beauty. She already has a wonderful personality coming out. When we spend time with her she sings to us. And chats a lot. We unfortunately don't have any idea how old she is. Hopefully the vet will be able to answer many questions.
She already adapting to you guys U2's have a great personality, glad you save her from those heartless people that isolated her with no care.
 
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MelissaLola

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We have searched and searched and the closest avian vet to us is 12 hours away, and can't get her in until Sept. 13. My CAG's vet won't see her, he is not taking any new patients for 4 to 6 months. I did find an avian vet that will coach me through over the phone and emails, but I want to have blood work done.
 

Scott

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Aug 21, 2010
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San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
We have searched and searched and the closest avian vet to us is 12 hours away, and can't get her in until Sept. 13. My CAG's vet won't see her, he is not taking any new patients for 4 to 6 months. I did find an avian vet that will coach me through over the phone and emails, but I want to have blood work done.

Wow, seems to be a dearth of avian vets in your location. In what general area do you live?
 
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MelissaLola

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We have searched and searched and the closest avian vet to us is 12 hours away, and can't get her in until Sept. 13. My CAG's vet won't see her, he is not taking any new patients for 4 to 6 months. I did find an avian vet that will coach me through over the phone and emails, but I want to have blood work done.

Wow, seems to be a dearth of avian vets in your location. In what general area do you live?

We are located in Eastern Oregon. I have called hundreds of vets, I think I might have found one a little closer. I am waiting to hear back from them.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
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San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Seems the closest to eastern Oregon are central; Madras, Redmond, and Bend. Can be difficult to discern certified avian vet vs practices accepting "exotic" patients without first questioning.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/find-an-avian-vet/
 

Siobhan

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Apr 19, 2015
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Illinois
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Clyde, Quaker; Freddie, tiel; Rocky, umbrella cockatoo.
Do you have a university that trains vets anywhere in your vicinity? They might have some advice. Or call a zoo and ask them who treats the birds.
 

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