New mamma to feather babies...million questions..:)

[Sherrie87]

I got a bare eyed cockatoo today. I got her from a seller, not a breeder. Guess he gos to auctions and buys animals. Any way long story short. She is VERY scared. I guess they had her in a TINY TINY cage when he got her. No one wanted her cause she has a very small cataract in one eye. He assumes she belonged to an older lady who may have passed or couldn't take care of her anymore. He moved her into a temp cage which is still WAY to small for my liking and will be getting a LARGE cage for both her and my amazon i got today also. They will each have their own cage!! She is very scared and shakes when i get close to the cage. He just got her a few days ago so he didn't get to work with her at all. I really think he tried to pawn her off on me. which i'm ok with i am at home ALL day long and will be able to work with her.

My main question right now is which pellets should i get her...and the amazon...assuming i can feed them both the same pellets. I did buy a bag of seed food that he feeds his birds, and of course fruit and veggies and i have found a couple pages with dos and donts. but if you have a list that you would like to share i would love to have it!!

So i know about the fruit and veggies, and they need pellets not just seeds and what ever else is in the feed. if it is important i will get the name of it.. I also know they love nuts..unsalted.

My second question about her would be is there any links to tips to get her to trust me. I know i need to get her use to being here. Use to me. and really work with her. I have looked up some tips, that used a clicker..then treat..the touch training with what looks like a chop stick "click" treat....but mainly right now i just want her to get use to being around me and me talking to her. I just feel so bad for her i want to pick her up and love on her and let her know i'm here for her!! Breaks my heart! Guess that is why she came home with me too...giggle

As far as i know she doens't have a name...well i'm sure she does but i have NO clue what it was. So i want to get to know her before i give her a special name! But for now i call her Mammas.

Any links or info you think i should know PLEASE let me know. I research everything and love to read about stuff.

I kinda feel like a bad mamma as i didn't research her or the amazon into detail cause i wasn't sure what kind of bird i was getting. But i'm VERY big into research and learning new things!!


Thank you all so much for your time!!

Sherrie

 

[MikeyTN]

Like I said in your other post any pellets is better then no pellets. Different people are gonna pick one over the other. Yes they can eat the same food. Just be patient with her and work with her daily. You should have both of them examined by a avian vet since you don't have any history on them except from some auctioneer. There's different ways of training such as target training. You can search through the forum by using the search option and find ways of training others have done on here.

 

[riddick07]

Congrads on the new addition! So I just typed whatever came to mind

Basically whatever pellets you can get her to eat will work. Harrisons is considered the best pellet around. I use TOPs pellets and a birds paradise mix. I don't feed a seed mix because they get enough of that from other things I feed.

Be careful upgrading a cage to a big one. Some birds don't respond well to being upgraded to a monster cage after living in a small one so long because they aren't used to the space. If you have the money buy a cage that is suitable for a bird her size but not huge. She sounds very scared so upgrading her so fast would probably freak her out. Then, when she settles you can buy the monster cage! If you just want to buy the huge monster cage you can probably just section a portion off so she's not overwhelmed.

Our cockatoo loves beets. When you find a list of fresh foods you want to feed you can use a food processor and mix everything together. Freeze them in serving portions and it will last you quite awhile. If you look in the food section you will find a lot of suggestions for this! If you look under threads I started I made one that was a huge hit with our picky bare eyed. You can also make birdie bread and many other things. If shes not used to a varied diet you will end up wasting a lot of food before she'll cave and try different things.

As for getting her to trust you start slow. Let her settle in a new cage before you even try dragging her out to talk and socialize with you. Sit next to the cage and talk to her even being in the same room with you will make her curious about you eventually. Then you can open the cage door and try to coach her out to hang with you.

For a bath you might want to get a spray bottle for now so you don't traumatize her with a true bath time. Unless of course she settles in faster than it sounds like she will! Shes a cockatoo, so major dust machine, and if she doesn't settle in fast she will need this!

If shes never learned how to forage this will take time and effort if she doesn't catch on fast. Try puzzle pieces. Foraging toys. Safe foam sheets. Straws. You will have to keep trying until something interests her...this can take quite awhile! If you find her favorite food you can also play the hide a treat game. Take a napkin and put it over the treat making sure she sees it happening. Everytime she finds it make it more complicated and difficult to get to the treat. Someone on here recommended this game for Ivory and it worked eventually. Took her awhile to catch on at first.

It doesn't look like your girl is a plucker so thats good news! When she trusts you more you will have to feel under her wings to make sure shes not twisting the feathers. It will feel knotted instead of soft if she is. Redirecting her to toys will help her stop if she is doing this behavior!

SOOOOOO lots of pics

 

[Sherrie87]

Thank you all for the replies!!! I will be getting them both into the vet ASAP!! i have one about 45 mins and a friend of mine uses her!! That is on my list of things to do!! I will cal tomorrow to set up an apt!

I will look and see if ic an get pellet locally...if not i will order online like i do most of the time. I just ordered about 5 big toys for their cages...giggle. I'm also VERY crafty and will research how to make safe toys for them im sure they will be hung ALL over my house cause i'm sure they wont have room in the cage..giggle.


Thank you both so much for replying!!!

 

[Sherrie87]

OH about the plucking, her feathers are beautiful! I dont think she has been plucking. But there was 2 feathers in the bottom of her cage so maybe she is? and is JUST starting. THe guy i got her from said that she is just beautiful and her feather are amazing. That he thinks she was very well taken care of, minus the tiny cage they transported her in for the auction.

 

[riddick07]

Oh it sounded like she lived in a tiny cage not that she was transported in one which is normal. I would still check when shes more comfortable. Ivory did the feather twisting. She was beautiful and looked like she had perfect feathers but when you felt under her wings it was all knotted. Now its super soft. Actually now that she is on a better diet and no longer twisting her feathers she is super soft all over!

Do you know anything about her history?

 

[Sherrie87]

As far as I know she was just left in the small cage till she was sold. I will for sure check under her wings as soon as I can!!

I know nothing about her history. I have left a message with the guy I got her from. To see if he could give me any other info about her or the amazon. But I doubt the auction place had any info at least I wouldn't think? He should call or txt back tomorrow thankfully my husband knows him so he shouldn't disappear on me!

 

[Sherrie87]

I was reading the info on the Harrison pellets it is saying that they need to be on the high protein diet for at least 6 mths to start "the basic". Does any one recommend that or do you think they would be ok starting the basic with the treats and fruits/veggies and the seeds as treats also? And nuts too. I think I'm rambling now lol I think I need to go to bed haha

 

[MikeyTN]

Some can be frightened when you change them into a big cage but they will get over it in time. Anything is better then transport cage at this point. During the transition, it is best to leave on a night light for the time being. Especially for the Cockatoo, they don't tolerate to change very well but the night light will help.

 

[MikeyTN]

Like I've said any pellets is better then no pellets. I'm not a fan of Harrison's as I don't think they're the best around, I drive by their company daily to go to work. But I'm not promoting any specific pellets either. Have a look at different varieties that's listed here and decide for yourself. ---> http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/28242-ingredients-pellets.html

Just remember, be persistent and consistent whenever your changing food!!!! That is the only way to work and to get them to eat it.