Abused Bare Eyed (Pics and Some Videos)

[riddick07]

I need some advice and suggestions from people with experience with rehomed/abused cockatoos. First I want to give some backstory.

So before we even had our current cockatoo I had noticed this bird on petfinder. Back then I wasn't interested in cockatoos and believed all cockatoo people were nuts. But this one bird caught my attention and I kept looking at him even back then. This was last May and after we got Ivory I have been looking at this boy almost everyday. So today I went to meet him and he is worse than his picture on petfinder showed (which was only slight plucking on his back). So his sad backstory...

The shelter believes he has been rehomed at least 8 times but probably more around 13. In his home before they obtained him he was kept locked in a closet were they only opened the door to throw some food at him. They also believe physical abuse occurred because of certain behaviors. He has been with this shelter since 2008 since he has taken no real liking to anyone and isn't interested in people. He is also a biter that gives no real indication he will bite and does it at random. He is a random plucker and will self mutilate though the mutilation isn't nearly as bad as some other birds. He bites to draw blood half the time but I wouldn't call it really aggressive (he doesn't go after you really).

So today he took to my mother at first because I was sitting with an amazon and small macaw. But when they left he came over to see me and spent the next 4 hours sitting on me and talking nonstop. The owners of the shelter were beyond surprised and never thought this would actually be a match. He bit my mother when she tried to take him from me so he definitely liked me. He bit me 3 times I believe it was while we were there but once he was over stimulated from all the attention and excitement. One time was when I asked him to step up and had to force the issue because he had landed on someone. Once with no reason that we could see. He only drew a slight amount of blood from the forced step up but the other times were pretty light bites. He has also bit the face so he is not allowed on shoulders(this was while ago not today). Though the girl said it wasn't aggressive he was just startled.

So my question is how have you helped birds like this? I fell in love with him today even with the bites. The owner of the shelter believes we are a match and I believe there is a reason I have kept looking at this bird for almost a year. I have never dealt with a bird this bad. Ivory had issues but it isn't anything like this. I plan to do more research into the behaviors he displays but I also want first hand advice from the more experienced people on this forum. Also I will get lots of advice from the rescue of course since they know him best The shelter actually described him as a bit neurotic and psychotic but sweet. He's a bit contradictory it seems!

So some pics and videos to help show the issues and problems!







His mutilation.



The videos. They don't show the hyperactive behavior he was displaying very well though.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjPjrQ8SMsQ]Folger 1 - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECkMDAuAc6Q]Folger 2 - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-v1DTSARXk]Folger in cage - YouTube[/ame]

Thanks in advance

 

[Terry57]

Bless his heart, he has been through so much Are those videos of you with him? Because if they are, he seems to want to be near you so much!
I believe that things happen for a reason - and if you have been looking at him for a year, I think that may be telling you something. I don't have experience with a cockatoo with these problems, so I can't help you there. But I do believe that love and commitment can conquer anything.

 

[jenphilly]

I think you should have just stuffed him in your sweatshirt...

Okay, no fair commenting from me, I'm the mom! When Tor said his bites were hard but not aggressive, its weird to describe... tho he bite like 5 times today, he's not aggressive or mean. The first bite to me was partly my own fault, cause when you live with the same type of bird and its a big love bug, there are those moments you forget... Without thinking, I offered him a pistachio from my open hand, he nailed my finger, but immediately let go and he actually had an 'oh crap' look on his face, like he knew he did something bad or wrong and was waiting for punishment. I told him it wasn't very nice but I re-offered the nut properly and he took it, tho dropped it, then I gave him a card on the table he could chew on.

He was really affectionate and would cuddle up against both us, sitting on our arm and leaning into our body. He was super funny and chatted away, you can just see so much potential in this guy. We're both pretty committed to bringing him home and working thru his issues, its like meeting a sweet lovable dog that has been so horribly beaten and abused, that you just want to teach him to love and trust again. Maybe we're both crazy, but we really think he would be a wonderful addition to the family, tho it will be a long long road and could be years before he loses some of his post traumatic type reactions.

Okay, mom will stop babbling... see what everyone else thinks... don't worry, we already know we're crazy, so don't be afraid to mention that!!!

Jen

 

[riddick07]

Yes that is me he is sitting on! He was really sweet today and we will visit him a couple more times of course before bringing him home. The shelter requires multiple visits anyway. We already have plans to adopt him and I will probably be looking at cages the rest of the night

 

[MikeyTN]

If you feel you can give him a good home and provide what he needs. And you understand the problem they can cause then go for it. This poor baby just need a lot of love and proper nurturing.

 

[Terry57]

You have just made my night! You and Mom both So happy that he will get a chance at a wonderful life with the two of you

 

[DallyTsuka]

i think if you are willing to love him, then it would be an amazing thing for him for you guys to adopt him. good luck, he does look to be a sweetheart, deep down

 

[riddick07]

Thanks! I think a lot of it will be common sense when dealing with him and lots of time but wasn't sure if there was anything specific I could do to help him. I figured the same thing I did with him today is what he will need for the next couple years to start to trust again.

I figured a flat top cage will be best with no play top because I don't want him that high up being a biter. I figured if he settles down in a couple years I could attach a play top if I wanted to do so.

For the biting I didn't react just pushed through since it wasn't really bad. He actually didn't bite at all the last 2 and a half hours I would say. Maybe because he knew we didn't react or we weren't as threatening near the end. Well he did bite my mother that one time she tried to pick him up off my lap near the end... I played with his beak a little and he didn't care so I wonder if continuing with that would help any?

For the plucking I thought about using an aloe spray. Would a salve be better which is what they are using right now? The aloe is easier to apply and less traumatic than a salve so I was leaning towards the spray.

I figured redirecting would help him stop plucking but he has been doing it for so long I might never be able to get him to completely stop. They said he has no specific trigger that they can figure out. I thought it might be the atmosphere of the shelter and of course the fact he has plucked most of his life. He really didn't seem overly fond of the other birds so I thought being around so many probably didn't help his attitude.

I wonder if I'm the right track here? It seems like common sense but you never know with these crazy fids of ours!

 

[Terry57]

Great question about the aloe spray! I am interested to see what everyone thinks.

 

[riddick07]

Ah I also keep a humidifier in my bird room which I figured would help keep the skin from getting too dry with all the scabbing and irritation he puts himself through. Also, winter is never fun when it comes to dry air in the house!

 

[aether-drifter]

He's so cute! And he does seem to like you a lot. I'm sorry that I don't have any advice, but I think things will work out for you and him. It seems like a good match, and no bird is beyond hope. Poor guy needs a family that won't give up on him this time.

 

[MomtoPercy]

I think you should call him Kismet because it seems to me that you two are destined to be together

 

[riddick07]

Kismet is a good name! I was going to keep Folger though since he already knows his name. He says it all the time and says Pretty Folgie. He also growls like a dog which was super funny! I think its because he's been around all the other parrots and likes to imitate everyone that he says and does so many different things.

There was actually a Moluccan rescue there that sounded exactly like a train whistle. Noise level and all!