Question about handling an anxious Galah.

Hi all!

I’m unsure if anyone who reads this will have seen any of my other posts as I’m new to this forum, so a quick run down of our situation: I have a decent amount of experience in handling and rehabilitating a wide variety of birds, however, it has been quite some time since I have handled a wild bird or one which needs rehabilitation (we rehabilitated injured wildlife when I was a child, but it has been almost 17 years since then) and my rustiness is showing.
In recent times I haven’t had anything larger than a tiel to work with, though since my gorgeous girl Nilla (WF cinnamon pearl) passed a few months ago I haven’t been ready for another bird, so needless to say, this is an unexpected situation.

I have recently had a handicapped young Galah (rose breasted cockatoo for the non-Aussies in the group) brought into my life. I was told that he is about 12 months old, and he has come from a less than ideal situation which has resulted in some extreme self mutilation habits. He has plucked his wings and tail to the point that neither I, nor the avian vet believe that they will grow back, rendering the poor love flightless. He has a great deal of stability which leads me to believe that he has been suffering this was for quite some time.
He has never lived in a cage, only ever having a parrot stand as his “home”. We no longer have a cage, though don’t feel as though he needs one as his behaviour is (mostly) very good.

In the 2+ days since he has been with us he has shown immense courage, as well as a great deal of trust in myself, allowing me to hold him, walk and drive with him perched on my shoulder, and many other wonderful signs for the future including running to me for comfort when he gets a fright. I wish to be able to handle him in a way that I can examine his wings and tail closely, wash them and put put a mixture of pure organic coconut oil, avocado oil, and aloe sap to help the skin and follicles to heal, as well as to document his condition and recovery. To do this I need to touch some very tender and sensitive areas and will be doing something that he has both never experienced at the hands of someone in his “flock” before, nor that he will he enjoy.

I am hoping that someone in the group has been in a similar situation with a bird and can give me some advice on the best way to go about handling him for this, whilst not completely eradicating the fragile trust he has in me.

Any advice is welcomed and appreciated. Please help!

Thank you in advance!

Birb kisses,
Kali & Charlie.

Hi Kali, welcome, to be allowed to do what you consider necessary will take some time as Charlie needs to completely trust. Too soon will have a negative effect. You are doing good btw. You could in the meantime make a new/clean spray bottle up and see if he will take a light misting? He may like it? Mind his eyes. The fact he runs to you is brilliant.

Put him on the best diet possible as this can have some amazing results, it's surprising how much the body can deal with itself if you give it complete nutrition; sprouted seeds, veggies, legumes, and being a RB2 restrict seeds as he will fill on those.

When it is possible to do so weigh Charlie regularly, this is more for the future, indications that all is well.

Thanks so much for adopting a Galah with special needs! Charlie seems to have "chosen" you which bodes well for the relationship.

I'd go slowly with the rehab process, allowing him to feel completely comfortable with being handled. Complete trust will allow you to access and examine his most tender areas. This may not be a linear process, accidentally causing pain or discomfort may give him pause and require a bit of backing off.

Seems you are a natural at establishing trust, but check out this thread for some ideas and reinforcement: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Please let us know how Charlie progresses!