Need help with blind cockatoo

We are looking for input into cage setups and ideas for water/food containers for our male cockatoo who is at this point blind. He previously has only been able to use a lixit water bottle due to the beak overgrowth. any input is much appreciated!! We are specifically curious about appropriate cage sizes (how big is too big, types of bowls, foods for eyesight, toys and perches that are safe (no sharp edges etc) THANK YOU!!!

you can read more about their story here --->

These are two umbrella cockatoos I rescued from a home in Oregon. The breeder has six other parrots she wants $1800 per pair of birds, they include two pairs of African greys and one pair of moluccan cockatoos. she did not believe in vet care for her parrots. She has no more desire to breed birds and sadly they are taking the toll. I say this not to be offensive in any way we are all learning in this life I understand that! Their home was truly atrocious a separate single wide trailer you could not see out of the windows due to the pine oil and collection of dust, the odor was sickening, birds screaming in terror from lack of human contact, seeds sprouted 6" high in cages, no toys, nothing at all! And sadly we had to leave the other six parrots behind. We will see what we can do for them but we now have two in our home who need us and who could use a hand from others who are able to help! they were housed in wire mesh rabbit style cages 2-3 feet large with only nest boxes attached. One pair of parrots had chewed through the box and was loose in this room. The Male umbrella cockatoo was the worse off of them all as he was in a car accident 10 years ago, the female has a massive hernia type growth on her abdomen. Their first vet trip is today, we will see what their future holds. Fingers crossed! They are very sweet birds and you can see the appreciation and trust they feel for us already. The female leads the male and helps him (we suspect he is mostly or completely blind)....UPDATE: Good news for both our new birds today. One: they have names now Apollo as he can sure use some divine healing and Athena for she truly is courageous and cares for her companion. Two: Athena's growth looks to be a non issue and at this point we are going to get a biopsy on it once she settles in a bit more. also waiting on their blood results to come back tomorrow though we are feeling confident the issue might stem from a vitamin/chemical deficiency and we will know more tomorrow.At this point we are collecting donations which will go 100% to the care of them medically, we plan to have a biopsy on Athena's mass, have MRI readings done on Apollo to see if there is more we can do to help him live a comfortable life. We are just starting on this journey with these guys and welcome you all to share in our journey! We will be setting up their own facebook page so you can watch them as they heal. ....UPDATE: well Appollos condition is not clear yet, we are sending off for liver panels and a few other tests before starting him on antibiotics, we are waiting to hear back on those results (they already had enough blood from his draw yesterday thankfully) I will continue to update everyone on their condition. Thank you!

Feel free to check out their photos here!<http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152253163115363.931850.608740362&type=3">

And for those who can help here is a link to their chip in: their avian veterinarian is Monica Pollock at Paws and claws veterinary clinic in Troutdale Oregon:
link to their website is ChipIn: Rescued Umbrella Cockatoos

Thank you so much for reading our story we hope you will stay tuned to their pages and watch for updated photos! They are amazing birds with such gentle and loving demeanor they truly deserve the best that life has to offer, we know that for at least 10 years they have never enjoyed a single toy, shower, or human touch but have already shown us their love and appreciation.

Ok after reading the last posting of yours and seeing this one, I'm not sure if I didn't read the part about chipping in on the last posting or not. Otherwise it was only posted here.

I don't mean to burst your bubbles but it seems like you just signed in this very forum and start asking people to chip in on the birds you just took in. In my honest opinion, IF you can not afford the vet care for the birds, you should let someone else who is able to handle it. Unless you took in numerous ones and asking for help in order to cure them of their symptoms and want to turn around and give the birds out to good homes in a state of good faith, then that's a different story. I have NEVER asked for any chip in from anyone in the past 16 years with my birds that I took in or even when I encountered a virus breakout that wiped my bank clean as it cost me a fortune to treat them all. For me I knew it was my responsibility to care for them when they're under my care. IF I couldn't do it, it is time for me to give them up to someone who can.

Mike thanks for your response, we have already spent several hundred on them for their vet care and be assured will not ever take in an animal we cannot provide for. Their story does include a link to their chipin page sorry if that offended you if you cannot or dont wish to help with us that is not at all an issue but there are tons of people who are able to help and that helps all of us. there are 6 other birds in the home these guys came out of we are trying to raise over $5,000 for that cause ourselves and could use a hand from those who can help at this point. I am not a new member to this forum although i have previously used it as a guest for medical ideas and other advice.

Oh... you need help with money, not how to care for a blind cockatoo...

I misunderstood the heading.

I just went in to read your posting in the link. IF that was the case of the condition the birds was in. It is time for you to turn them to humane society and health department! NOT to raise money to buy them off as it only to supplement their income. I won't blink one bit turning someone like that into the authority and I will follow up with it and call ALL the local news stations about the situation. Hundreds is a small amount to pay in as I've spent thousands on my animal's care. That's why I work work and work....

lene1949 said:

Oh... you need help with money, not how to care for a blind cockatoo...

I misunderstood the heading.

Click to expand...

The post is here to share their story but to ask for advice

"We are looking for input into cage setups and ideas for water/food containers for our male cockatoo who is at this point blind. He previously has only been able to use a lixit water bottle due to the beak overgrowth. any input is much appreciated!! We are specifically curious about appropriate cage sizes (how big is too big, types of bowls, foods for eyesight, toys and perches that are safe (no sharp edges etc) THANK YOU!!!"

I give you part of the answer in the other post.

It depends on how badly his blindness is because he can fall and hurt himself if he drops down from a high cage. So the cage should be wider from front to back, side to side. But not tall! I've seen cages like that before. Most likely you would have to order such a cage cause I don't see them around very often.

I don't like to use water bottles so I do prefer using stainless steel bowls, most parrot cages should come with them. Otherwise your able to purchase stainless steel bowls that can be attached to the sides of the cage. And use that for both water and food. It goes back to depending on how badly the blindness is to space out the bowls. IF he's really bad, I would place the bowls next to one another. But do keep the water bottle just in case.

Have you turned the former owners in for animal abuse/ neglect? That would be the first thing I would do. Sounds like the other birds need help now

Here's one of the cage I would recommend!!!!

Large Deluxe Play Top Parrot Cage - 45 x 32 Bird Cage - A&E P4432DX - FREE SHIPPING!

Blind individuals, humans or animals, learn to live with their disability, and get around well in their own environment... If you have set up the cage like it was, when you got him, he should be fine... If he has been blind for quite a while, he'll still be able to find his way around to find out, where things are...

He doesn't know he has a disability, he has Ability...

Thanks for taking them on...

Got ahead of myself again...

It seems to problem is not his blindness, but his overgrown beak...

Your avian vet will be able to deal with that...