New family for a too

[beckalou]

Hello all, and thanks for having me! I've spent a lot of time on here in the last 4 weeks as there's so much fantastic knowledge, advice and support here (which I'm also extremely thankful for!) and am now joining up

Now, about me...around 6 weeks ago our family decided to look into getting a new family member in the form of a cockatoo. We (5 of us) have literally spent the last 4 weeks researching our suitability as a forever home. We've done this via books, the Internet and forums such as your good selves and mytoos. We've been in discussion with a family who are looking to re-home their lesser sulphur crested for over 2 weeks and spent an hour with them and the bird a few days ago. We have made the decision to commit to our new addition which we will bring home in 2 days.

I want you all to know that this isn't a decision we have made lightly and have probably done the opposite of most new families- we have explored the complexity of needs, behaviour and training issues a whole lot more than the potential positive elements. We are well aware that we may have to guide our bird through plucking, screeching, biting, bonding, showering, emotional issues, eating healthily and foraging as well as training and play. Despite all the research we have done, I am well aware that this is no substitute for being an experienced owner (- I use this term loosely as it seems they own their humans!) which is the reason I am here.

I wanted to share with you some information and our plans for introducing our bird into the family in the hope that your experience may pick out flaws or potential issues in this. I would rather be lambasted now on my 'theory' than in a few days/ weeks/ months on my practice which may have made our bird unhappy or unhealthy!

'Our' cockatoo is a female (DNA sexed) lesser sulphur crested who will turn 4 in November and has spent this time within one family. I believe she was very well loved by a well meaning owner but there seems to be a few issues which I hope will be clear. According to her paperwork, she was parent reared up until 10 weeks. She has a back toe missing as a result of an accident. She is fed on a mixed diet and takes various fresh foods readily. I am a little concerned about her current diet (which looked seed heavy- looked quite like hamster food) so plan to transition her to organic pellets. She has had a new cage recently which was an upgrade. Her owner has only recently started switching toys in and out. I am speculating but I suspect her previous cage was too small and along with lack of entertainment has perhaps led to some behaviour issues (not apparent during our visit so maybe just pessimism on my part!) She does not currently take showers but has a spray bottle shower. The door frame in her room was completely shredded which suggests she was loose and alone for periods of time? There's no signs of plucking at the moment but her current family said she has done this in the past. During conversation the current family were surprised by some of the things we asked/ discussed - even common things like the seed diet/ fatty liver. That said, the owner did quiz us on our knowledge of poisonous foods, where she would live and what hours we worked so they are caring and keen for her to go to a good home.

We need to bring her home in a travel cage and it is an hour away, should we cover her with a blanket during the transport or is it better if she sees out? We plan to have the cage in our living room and give her 2-7 days to become accustomed to the sights and sounds of our home. We hope to then gradually begin outside time and handling, at her own pace of course. During this period we plan to read to her and give her small treats to build trust. I am worried about biting, although she did not seem to be a biter when we visited. She was scared though and the current family weren't able to get her out of the cage. She apparently steps up but we weren't able to see this. I was considering getting some reinforced gloves initially but this isn't something I've seen recommended anywhere- if you've stayed with me this far, what do you think? (I am concerned that handling her in gloves and then using hands might upset her). She is not clipped at the moment and I know there's differing opinions about this. We have no ceiling fans and there is leading on the windows so I don't think she would fly into them. I have read that if she screeches or bites that the best way to help her stop is to put her away and turn your back/ not give attention rather than any negative reaction- any opposition to this?

This has become rather epic so if you have managed to read all of this, thank you! I would really appreciate any comments or advise you may be able to offer.

 

[itchyfeet]

Ask the previous owners about the blanket, and watch her behaviour when she gets into the car - she might see it as quite the adventure! I went prepared with small cage and blanket to collect my IRN, when his previous owner said, Nah, he loves this cage and he LOVES the car! So we belted him in and he was good to go. My inlaws went prepared for their 'too, but he LOVED the car and talked up a storm all the way home. So take that one as it comes. If he's nervy on it, a blanket may help, but he might not be!

Now IRN and 'too behaviour can be quite different, but even with the inlaws I never put them away for biting or screeching. That equates to "I want to go home so I'lll bite you, and I want to go home so I'll yell at you." For screaming I say 'No, be gentle' or even 'quiet please'. And he tones it down. Have a quick search on the forums re: pressure training for biting.

 

[Captsteve]

It seems you have in fact done your research.

As far as the car ride, just see how it goes. Some like to ride on the dash and see everything (not recommended, just saying) Dont over think it. Let the bird see what is going on and if she is good with it...

Gloves, don't bother. Rule number one, DON'T FEAR THE BEAK!!! Rule number two, you will get bit. get over it and move on.

Your Toos body language is something you will have to study, learn and understand. They have a reputation for being Bi-Polar. this is quite simple to explain, all other birds telegraph when they are going to bite by pinning their eyes. Too's have black eyes so you don't see it coming.

Handling once home. That will depend on her. I have a 5 yo U2 rescue, he was stepping up and cuddling within an hour of being in my home. My B&G Macaw, took me a year to get him to step up.

Reading to her and treats are a good move, also baby talk to her. For some odd reason I find that a lot of scared birds respond hugely well to this.

Ignoring bad behavior is a good start, but do what you would do to a 2 year old. Entice them. If you get a nip, say ouch! with big eyes! They understand facial expression, especially eyes. Then ignore her for 2-3min while playing with a very interesting toy.

It works wonders!!!

 

[Siobhan]

I wouldn't cover the carrier. If you don't, you can talk to and reassure her on the ride and she might even enjoy it. For biting, 'toos are very good about giving you warning if they're in a biting mood. Watch for display and agitation and if she's doing that, keep out of reach and just talk to her until she smooths down and gets fluffy and relaxed. The screaming is not something you can do much about. Whispering might (MIGHT!!!) help but it might not. A happy 'too sometimes screams because she's happy. An unhappy 'too screams because he's unhappy. Sometimes they scream because it's morning or noon or night. We've been trying, with mixed results, saying "We're right here, Rocky, all right?" to reassure our 'too that we're nearby even if we're out of his line of sight. He can't fly, so he'd have to get on the floor and walk to us to find us and he's reluctant to do that. (The not flying is due to a horrible clip job somebody else gave him before he found us, and we don't know if he'll ever be able to fly, because he shreds his wing feathers.) It sounds as if you've done all you possibly can to prepare, and you might be surprised what a good healthy diet and a family who wants to do their best by her might do for your new girl. She might adjust and bond with you a lot faster than you think.

 

[beckalou]

*update*

So...we have now been owned by our cockatoo for just under a week. Already she has bought us so much joy and we've been honoured that she seems to have accepted us. She spent 2 days in her cage, happy to be approached and fed by hand, she even accepted strokes from my husband. We've had her out each day since and she's been golden. She makes a clicking sound when she wishes to be stroked which is great for us to know when she wants fuss She has tried tons of fresh foods, her particular favourite seems to be pea pods. She plays with toys well and has enjoyed foraging in various ways too. She has been awkward to get back in her cage and chooses to rather than being asked to but from what I've read, that's luckier than most! She's very friendly, not at all bitey or screechy. She's going to need plenty of training as I don't think she had that. We plan to target stick train her. It's remarkable how quickly she's settled in and we feel very fortunate

 

[akrrm]

Congrats and good luck with her. Our LSC2 was really wonderful and we really miss her.

 

[Scott]

Your family seems a great match with your Too! Thus far the honeymoon has been wonderful, and hopefully will serve as a strong foundation for the future. Toos can be strong-willed, so new behaviors may surface once she feels completely at home.

Please keep us updated with your questions and observations!!

 

[Siobhan]

Don't be discouraged if she starts acting up a bit once she's settled in. That, too, will pass. She needs to know you'll love her even when she's a brat -- and 'toos can be brats. LOL Our Rocky was a doll baby for almost a month before he showed his bratty side, and we had another month of somewhat rough waters, but then he settled back down and has been a sweetie ever since. He just wanted to make sure we really, really love him, I think. He's been rejected repeatedly all his life. We do really, really love him and I'm betting you really, really love yours, too. Have you offered her peanut butter? Rocky LOVES peanut butter. He doesn't like peanuts, though, oddly enough.

 

[beckalou]

Thanks for reading and replying. Out of interest, what kind if 'bratty' behaviour should I expect? I have told the family to expect some behaviour changes as she'll want to test us but wondering if there's a general pattern. Over the last few days we've found a treat she really likes and will go back in by herself if she's been out from around 2 hours. She's so funny- she was sitting on my shoulder as I washed up and she screeched as she saw a flock of birds outside. When they'd gone, she turned to me and said 'are you okay?' She's awesome and really seems to be loving life at the moment. She enjoys me singing to her, and sitting with me watching the kids play outside. She now asks 'what are you doing?' And 'where are we going?' She doesn't enjoy showers too much but tolerates it! She seems to love the hustle and bustle of being in the family room. We really do love her so much already, my daughter even got tearful because she said her heart was so full of love for her!

 

[Siobhan]

Rocky decided only I am allowed to pick him up, so his daddy got some rather bad bites until he learned the new rule. He chewed on the woodwork until we adjusted his cage placement to put it out of reach. He's given me a couple of pressure bites that weren't hard enough to break the skin, but left some interesting bruises behind, until I learned what he was trying to tell me. It's a process of learning how to communicate, and it's testing boundaries, and it's basically learning to live together. And, again, Rocky was abused in the past and has had a very unsettled, rough life until now, so he's got issues that have nothing to do with us and we still occasionally discover something that we've done innocently that terrifies him because he associates the action with past abuse. Then we have to slowly desensitize him, and gently prove to him that in our house, a broom is just a broom, for example. One of the reasons he's unwilling to sit on my husband is that one of his abusers from the past bears a marked physical resemblance to my husband -- about the same height and build, same color hair, etc. -- and while Rocky KNOWS that his daddy isn't that bad man, he thinks men in general are going to be mean to him and prefers women.

 

[beckalou]

Thought I'd add to this rather than starting a new thread- when and how is the best way to trim claws? Her claws seem a little too long and although she will tolerate me touching her feet to put coconut oil on, I'm not sure she'd allow me long enough to 'manicure' them.

She's doing well, she's a dude! She's learnt to play catch with my daughter, is stepping up onto arms and going in and out of her cage superbly now The only very slight issue is she likes to preen us! A spot, scratch or mole and she loves to 'help' with those which is a bit pinchy! She responds to a firm no and covering the area but she does check our face to see we're not cross bless her.

 

[ToMang07]

Willow was brushing out my beard for me last night, lol, I hear ya!

As far as claws, I do Willow's once a week, every weekend. You can't take off too much at once or you will hit the quick and bleed. I have only hit the quick once so far. (Still felt bad.) I prefer (cat sized) clippers because it's quicker, but you can use a file too.

I worked with Willow (with and without towel) getting her used to being on her back. Now I can actually lay with her on my chest on her back. I generally flip her onto a pillow, let her grab my hand I'm holding her with, and just play catch the nail on the other foot. The longer it takes, the less tolerant she is.

 

[Siobhan]

I use the dog nail clippers on Rocky's, and I wait till he's hanging on the front of his cage and seems very relaxed, then I nip off just the very point of one or two and come back later to get others, one or two at a time. If you're quick and careful, the bird won't mind. But take just the very tip so you don't get into the quick.