New member, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

LonePine

New member
Jan 15, 2021
3
0
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Parrots
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
G'day all

I've been lurking for a little while but thought it was time to say hi.

A couple of weeks before Christmas 2020, I literally found this fella right outside our front door (I've just been assuming it's a "he")

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I went outside and he didn't fly away. As it turned out, he couldn't fly and was pretty easy to catch. So, I am assuming he was a young'ish fledgling. Living where we do, he would have been cat or fox bait within a day.

We have plenty of cockies around here and they've come back in big numbers after the bushfires in late 2019. There were probably 4 or 500 galahs, corellas and sulphur crested cockatoos flocking around a few weeks ago.

While we have a gum tree in our front yard, he didn't come from it as there are no hollows in this tree; even to the point where we've put breeding boxes in the tree for the rosellas.

We've had him five or so weeks and things are going swimmingly so far (I hope it's not famous last words). He's eager for a scratch on the head, to the point he'll drop a treat, duck his head and push it into my hand. I know that could change but so far so good.

I've had him out of the cage and he'll wonder around the floor; and he's not keen on trying to fly.

So, say hi to Nigel

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Some of his flight and tail feathers have come out pretty easily and I've been a little concerned about PBFD but our local vet said possible but not likely.

Otherwise he's pretty healthy and happy. Eats sunflower mix, pellets, green apples (not red ones) and loves broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage leaves.

I've had a galah in a previous life, so this one doesn't scare me too much. He's noisy in the morning and late afternoon - just like all the other birds around her. No biggy.

Anyway, here to learn and share.

cheers

Kevin
 

LaManuka

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Aug 29, 2018
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Queensland, Australia
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Fang ({ab}normal grey cockatiel), Valentino (budgie), Jem (cinnamon cockatiel), Lovejoy(varied lorikeet), Peach (princess parrot)
Hello Kevin and handsome Nigel, welcome to the Forums. My hubby and I are great fans of the fabulous wines produced in your beautiful State! I'm so glad you found us and I look forward to sharing in Nigel's journey with you :)
 
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LonePine

LonePine

New member
Jan 15, 2021
3
0
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Parrots
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Hello Kevin and handsome Nigel, welcome to the Forums. My hubby and I are great fans of the fabulous wines produced in your beautiful State! I'm so glad you found us and I look forward to sharing in Nigel's journey with you :)

Haha, yeah thanks. You might like our wines but I prefer your weather.

And Nigel's developing quite a character. Happy to share it as it grows.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
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.
Welcome Kevin, kudos for rescuing and befriending Nigel. Beautiful SC2 wishing him a long life with you. Wild toos have predisposition to taming well, so take it slow and enjoy!
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
aw- poor baby! Welcome! Glad you helped him-- DO get him to a vet if you can because they can carry disease without showing symptoms, or develop symptoms from a dormant infection months to years later-- you just want to have a baseline for his health etc. A certified avian vet is the best option, if that is possible. If it is not, you can try an exotics vet with a ton of parrot history.

In the light, do his eyes look reddish or brown? Reddish is usually female.
Here is a link that has my "new to parrots" post in it as the first reply-- I know it's long but I try to post it because there are so many things that are counterintuitive about having parrots: http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/88384-new-bird-owner.html

Cockatoos take a long time to mature sexually, so try to set boundaries on the types of touching you do and access to shadowy spaces (to be avoided) as well as teaching a bit of independence, because when they do mature around 4-7 (ish) years of age. Shadowy spaces trigger hormones, which can impact mood, health and immunity and touching then in places other than the head and neck is also very sexual for adults. You want to make sure you build trust and establish a relationship around shared activity etc, because they often love to cuddle with you once a bond is formed, but the humans have to draw the line in the sand on that. They definitely are easier as babies. They are generally much louder and sassier as adults, and while it is sometimes funny, it's something to know ahead of time so that you aren't shocked when that day comes.
 
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Ellie777Australia

New member
Apr 12, 2019
1,280
98
Queensland, Australia
Parrots
SI Eclectus Female, Ellie; RS/SI Eclectus Male, Bertie (both adopted as rescue/re-home)
Welcome Kevin and Nigel ('Nigel no mates', who has a great mate now LOL.) I share LaManuka and her hubby's LOVE of wine from your region and would gladly send you a few (even 10) bloody degrees Celsius anytime except winter ha ha....Glad to have you here.
 
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LonePine

LonePine

New member
Jan 15, 2021
3
0
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Parrots
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Thanks all for your warm welcome and hints and tips. Looking forward to my time here.

Welcome Kevin and Nigel ('Nigel no mates', who has a great mate now LOL.) I share LaManuka and her hubby's LOVE of wine from your region and would gladly send you a few (even 10) bloody degrees Celsius anytime except winter ha ha....Glad to have you here.

A younger family member suggested Nigel (the pelican from Finding Nemo) but immediately thought Nigel no friends!

And our summer has been a fizzer so far
 

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