Max the Umbrella Cockatoo

I have 2 hand reared Eclectusse parrots and just bought a 2 year old Umbrella Cockatoo called Max from someone who couldn't keep him in their townhouse any longer because of his loud vocal voice. I was told that he is actually a she but we are not sure as his eyes are not stark black more very dark cocoa brown.

Well you much obviously know why I am contacting you. Max is really adorable and very tame. BUT comes 16.15 the loud noises start. For me its alright to ignore but it drives my husband up the wall. And I don't want to fight with hubby each night as I knew he doesn't like screeming parrots but I felt so sorry for Max that I just went ahead and bought him.

Do you think if I bring him with me to the office this will help so that he doesn't scream when we get back from work. He sits outside on his cage during the day so that he can see all the other birds. He is not totally alone as I have a gardener and a domestic worker there during the day. But I don't like it when their surrounding become to unnatural like the office.

I feed my Eclectus parrots a pellet from Nutri Bird Versele Laga as this is the only pellet that I can find here that will not cause toe tapping and wing flipping. Max main diet was/sunflower and I hate this stuff. He already gets a lot of fresh fruits and veggies that he just loves as well as some cooked grains. I was wondering if I should get him the seed mix from Versele Laga that they have for Australian Parrots?

He also seems to be a over preener! What should I do to help him with this before it gets worse. I started to give him Mulberry branches to chew on and man he just loves them.

If you have any suggestions please help me out so that I can help Max as I believe Parrots deserve the best that we can give them I just don't want Max to run riot in the household.

First thing should be to take Max to an avian vet for a check up. They could best tell you what needs to be done for the "Over Preening". You have to realize that it's a big adjustment for him/her moving from one place to another. Unfortunately for you, there is no fix for a noisy bird and Umbrella's are some of the noisiest of the lot. The previous owner warned you of the noise, so you knew that going in.

I hope I'm wrong, but it sounds to me like a whole lot of buyers remorse in a short period of time. Hopefully, you will be able to find the right combination to help with the plucking and noise before Max winds up back on the market. You might want to try covering his/her cage when she gets really roudy.

Good luck,
Mike

Hi Mike no remorse on my side. I believe he is still better of with us than sitting locked up in a city in a townhouse.

Just need some advice on his food etc and wanted to know if there might be something that I should think off when handling him. His very tame and sits with me. But then he does this thing with his nails that puzzles me. As soon as I sit in front of the TV after being outside with him until it gets dark he picks up his foot and then he wets the one toe nail with his tongue and then the other one. He does this the whole time when he sits with me. When he sits on his cage I have never seen him do this.

I am still calling him a he as I am still not sure about his sex. But I think he might be rather a she.

Have a great day!
Doret

Not sure if this will help but I have a Goffin's Gandolf that just started with the morning and evening screaming ... more evening than morning LOL I swear he just spazzes out some times and screams....very loud What I have done when he starts this is to distract him with a toy or treat. as long as I get his attention with said toy or treat then I quits. Good luck

Hi, Pick your bird up and let it ride around on your shoulder when you get back from work for a couple of hours while you do other things. My Sophie umbrella female that I have had for about ten years was in several homes before I got her. If I am home and I don't pick her up for a while she will call for me. You need to go to a bird shop or vet and have them trim a toenail and send a drop of blood for DNA sexing. It usually is about $50.
A lot of hens are pluckers due to breeding frustration since they don't get to nest and have the babies their hormones can make them want to pluck no matter how much attention they get. My female umbrella and my female amazon without a mate both pluck some no matter how much attention they get. You can help by having lots of toys to chew on and get a shower perch and shower with your bird a couple of times a week. I use a blow drier that has three heat settings and two blower settings. I dry her on medium heat, high air velocity and keep the drier moving and at least 12 inches from her so as not to burn her.
Get the book "Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior" by Mattie Sue Athan. She explains things that can be done to modify behavior. I have 6 large parrots and none of them have a bad screaming problem. Try to modify the behavior before you send this poor bird to another home. These birds need to have a close bond with their human to be happy which means holding them and taking them with you on your person for at least 2 hours a day. I have my Sophie umbrella too on me in the morning while I put on my makeup she is on my shoulder. When I get home she comes out for a couple of hours. Mainly they scream because they are not with you. They want to be in the same room with the rest of their flock or they will call you constantly. These birds think of their primary person as their mate because in nature they mate for life and are always together all day. If you don't want to be owned by your umbrella then maybe another person. I love my umbrella on me because she is soooo loving and cuddly. She cheers me up when I am down and tells me "I love you" all the time. She loves to be hugged like a teddy bear and loves to snuggle up to my chest or my face and she never bites me. Lesley