Get well wishes for sulphur crested Cockatoo

Hi everyone!
Yesterday morning I became concerned for a Cockatoo that was sitting on a water trough for about two hours in the sun (43c yesterday!). He let me approach him which of course wasn’t a good sign, and he even ate some of the banana I offered him. I phoned wildlife Victoria for some advice and as soon as I started talking the bird flew up onto the roof, but didn’t land great. We decided that he’s more than likely a juvenile who hasn’t quite plucked up the courage to keep up with the flocks yet.
I kept an eye on him all day as he sat in the pine trees, hoping that his family would give him support. He was very hot and bothered by the afternoon (So was I!) but not much I could do when he was high in the tree.
We then had a bad horse emergency that took up the rest of the evening. (Horse is doing much better this morning)

I looked out the bedroom window this morning to see if said Cockatoo was back at the water trough..He was, but this time sitting next to it looking rather poorly and fluffed up. I went and sat next to him, he wasn’t bothered and even ate a ladybird! Phoned Vic Wildlife and they suggested to pick him up and care for him as he was struggling to stay on his feet.

He isn’t looking great, not going to get my hopes up that he makes it. But I’ll try my best!
I syringe fed him a small amount of critical care (recovery food for herbivores) and a little bit of sugar water. And popped him in a cage where he is resting, he just picked at some seed too which is good.
He’s very skinny, and tired. The weather last night was all over the place, hot and then cold, raining and high winds, so that wouldn’t of done him any good after the extreme hot weather yesterday.
Oh and he has got lice.. as there was one crawling on me, yuck! But that’s normal for the wild ones, he’s not covered in them. If he makes it through the next day or so I’ll treat him for the lice. Anyone on Aus know what lice stuff I can get?

Here he is yesterday morning:





And today, looking much sicker

Oh my! Good luck! Do you think he may need an antibiotic or something? I wish there were more visiting vets that could do house-calls...Will be thinking of you guys!!!! Thank you for caring and helping this guy! I hope he keeps fighting.

I don't want to say more for fear of jinxing this... lol

Oh dear, the poor thing! He’s just one of so many that must be suffering in this insane heat! He’s certainly landed in just the right yard though to get your care Hannah!

You can get a lice spray, they should be readily available at the pet shop. I use either Vetafarm or Aristopet brands - I haven’t had to use them on my birds but they’re great for killing ants

Like noodles i won’t say much else either for fear of jinxing him. Good luck!!

Ohh nooo
I see down on hocks, wings dropping, all signs of weakness, and looks thin.....
re you able to get vet care....
I add my prayers and well wishes

I don't know of any lice products, I'm sorry Hannah, but I think if you can keep him hydrated and taking a little food you'll give him the best chance. You might try alternating with oatmeal mush (just a bit of oatmeal mixed to a paste with boiling water, then cooled). It's easy to digest and easy enough for him to lick up from a spoon. Whatever's ailing him isn't going to be good, but I have a feeling that getting him over the heatstroke will be crucial.

Good luck! Sending my best healing thoughts and prayers for this beautiful fellow.

(I wonder if Sunny sent him your way?)

Oh Hannah, your avian maternal instincts are in full bloom! Beautiful birdie, hope you can work some magic and pull him over the hurdle.

Sending both of you hugs.

The drooping wings could be due to the extreme heat as my U2's will do that when it hot outside around 95 degrees and will mist them, or bring them in. Being 43c is pretty hot. Hopefully he will recover. He eating, so that a good thing.

I had to pop out for a few hours, which was good to let him rest alone in the quiet. But I was worried we were taking a bit too long (we live an hour out from town) and that he would either be awake and super stressed when we got back or dead!..

Well he is alive and well! And boy is he hungry! Just fed him some more critical care and water and he was a proper baby bird about it, chugging His neck backwards and forwards making all the ‘feeeeeeed meeeee’ noises, loving the syringe! He already knows the syringe means food it’s SO hard to aim when he so excited about it. I’m being careful not too over do it. Just little and often.
He was so cute about it, and already seems calm around us, he was holding onto my leg while I was feeding him as I stood next to the cage.

Popped into a vet while I was out to ask advice And see if there was anything else I could give him (I didn’t want to take him in as I didn’t want the long drive to stress him out). They said everything I was doing is all they’d recommend
I didn’t end up buying any lice treatment.. I’ll see how he goes first.

He’s happy with his feed session and is now falling asleep.. oh he is now awake and picking at some seed!

Here he is enthusiastically feeding..
[ame="https://youtu.be/Wn1BqPUCxmM"]Baby Cockatoo feeding - YouTube[/ame]




Here is is after his feed falling asleep

Oh that's WONDERFUL news! Go Hannah! Maybe the universe just wants you to have cockatoos? Just sayin'...

I wonder whether birdie might feed more easily off a spoon? Do you have an old one that could be slightly crushed with pliers so it's shaped more like a bird's bill (scoop-shaped)?

This little guy is gorgeous! Does he have a name yet? I'd like to suggest Phoenix, considering conditions when you found him. It's *so* good to see him feeding so enthusiastically - it sure shows you're doing the right thing with him.

Betrisher said:

Oh that's WONDERFUL news! Go Hannah! Maybe the universe just wants you to have cockatoos? Just sayin'...

I wonder whether birdie might feed more easily off a spoon? Do you have an old one that could be slightly crushed with pliers so it's shaped more like a bird's bill (scoop-shaped)?

This little guy is gorgeous! Does he have a name yet? I'd like to suggest Phoenix, considering conditions when you found him. It's *so* good to see him feeding so enthusiastically - it sure shows you're doing the right thing with him.

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He’s got himself up on a perch which has made feeding him a lot easier, as he’s more upright and the syringe can aim easier into him.
Can you suggest anything else I could feed him? How about soaked pellets, as I still have a bag of them?

He sure is noisy now, he woke up wanting food and is now falling asleep again after his feed.
He’s pooping well, they look like okay poops, not too runny.

No name yet, I have one in mind but don’t want to jinx anything!

Oh and I did say to him, ‘Did Sunny send your here’..

Yes it looks to me like that syringe ain’t gonna be big enough, the way he’s gulping his food down! If that vet clinic is open pre-Christmas you might be able to get a feeding spoon from them. And you can get bigger syringes from the chemist for about 50 cents each, I get them for Fang’s heart meds if I run out. The way these orphans keep finding their way to your place you’d better stock up on as much paraphernalia as you can get

LaManuka said:

Yes it looks to me like that syringe ain’t gonna be big enough, the way he’s gulping his food down! If that vet clinic is open pre-Christmas you might be able to get a feeding spoon from them. And you can get bigger syringes from the chemist for about 50 cents each, I get them for Fang’s heart meds if I run out. The way these orphans keep finding their way to your place you’d better stock up on as much paraphernalia as you can get

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Unfortunately I didn’t think of that when I went out today. The food seems to be going down well, Most of it goes down the rest goes around his face! he’s certainly perked up a lot so must have got some in him
I can pick up a bigger syringe on Monday.
He does pick around at some seed, and he’s eaten some broccoli. So he can eat solid foods but must like still being a baby. A big baby! Maybe 6-8 months old?

He voluntarily climbed onto my hand for me to feed him just now.
He’s now asleep on top of the cage. Going to give him some soaked pellets when he wakes up and then put him to bed

Wonderful! Get a bunch of syringes while you’re at it, they’re always handy to have. Hopefully once he gets some strength back he should be able to preen the lice off himself, but that lice spray is good to have on hand too. It’s bloody expensive but like i say, it’s also useful as an ant killer so I don’t need to be quite so paranoid about spraying it around the birds when i need to KILL ANTS (I REALLY hate ants!!)

Oh I so hope he continues to improve for you! Rooting for him!

Didn't I say your next bird is just waiting for you to find him? Perhaps you are destined as a wild bird rescue centre.

T00tsyd said:

Didn't I say your next bird is just waiting for you to find him? Perhaps you are destined as a wild bird rescue centre.

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Yes you did!!!
You know what, I was actually thinking that the other day.. I’d love to have a bird rescue centre. But I’d have to do lots of learning and get more experience first. Something to consider when we buy our first house next year :01:

HannahandSunny said:

T00tsyd said:

Didn't I say your next bird is just waiting for you to find him? Perhaps you are destined as a wild bird rescue centre.

Click to expand...

Yes you did!!!
You know what, I was actually thinking that the other day.. I’d love to have a bird rescue centre. But I’d have to do lots of learning and get more experience first. Something to consider when we buy our first house next year :01:

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I wouldn't worry it seems to me you are learning on the job. You have the best teachers already.

HannahandSunny said:

He’s got himself up on a perch which has made feeding him a lot easier, as he’s more upright and the syringe can aim easier into him.
Can you suggest anything else I could feed him? How about soaked pellets, as I still have a bag of them?

He sure is noisy now, he woke up wanting food and is now falling asleep again after his feed.
He’s pooping well, they look like okay poops, not too runny.

No name yet, I have one in mind but don’t want to jinx anything!

Oh and I did say to him, ‘Did Sunny send your here’..

Click to expand...

I brought my Galahs up on oatmeal mush. You just pour some boiling water over quick cooking oats and let it soak and turn into a thickish paste (go easy on the water: it's easier to add more than it is to fix a runny mixture).

Interestingly, the same mixture is *fabulous* for putting weight onto a poorly horse or dog. We used to add molasses to jazz it up for the horses and it works a treat, especially following colic.

Bear in mind, it's not a good daily diet: just a great pick-me-up for an animal that needs building up after illness. If in doubt, check with your vet.

He voluntarily climbed up onto my hand to be fed, I am now his human mother it seems.





I syringe fed him some soaked pellets which he enjoyed and now I’ve put him to bed for the night.

Not sure what we’ll do tomorrow. Maybe I should put him in the aviary, He’s very skinny so needs a week at least to gain some weight and energy.
Sunny was skinny and weak when I found him, but Sunny didn’t know how to fly yet. This guy does but hasn’t got the energy.
Hmm