cockatoo feather help?

Question

Is there something special to Help a cockatoo get his feathers back? He was kept in a small cage with only food and water and pulled almost al his feathers out. Since he became mine I got him a large corner cage with plenty of toys. His chest and stomach feathers are filling in good but his back and neck still have very little growth.
Any answers or ideas? Thanks

Answer 1

You've given very little history here...
How long was he neglected?
What kind of diet is he on?

I hope that corner cage is massive. Corner cages aren't known for their big interior square footage, and the horizontal dimensions are never what you quite want.

You didn't mention whether or not he still plucks.
Pick up some "Pluck No More".
You can get it from King's cages on the Internet. I've seen it work and I've seen it not work. You have to follow the directions exactly and you have to stick with it for months.
"Avi-Calm" is another product you could use.

Also pick up a general vitamin and mineral suplement: "Super Preen" is a good product, as well as "Pro-Vital" vitamin and mineral supplement.
Also, on top of that, get a calcium supplement.

Might as well go at this with both barrels loaded!

To be on the safe side, feed organic veggies for a while. I usually don't, but in this case, it might be better for your 'Too as any sort of pestiscide might irritate an already crappy situation.
He might have damaged follicles...if it does grow back, it's going to take while but he might sprout some good ones for you!

Make him VERY secure. Spend time with him and if you teach him a few tricks he will gain confidence and take pride in himself, This boosts his self-esteem.
A happy 'Too is one that isn't sick, and I look at plucking as a form of psychological illness, not unlike self-harm (cutting) or anorexia.
The happier he is and the more engaged he is in life, the healthier he will be. If his follicles aren't too bad, you might see some feather action over the next year.

Go to the health food store and get some flax seed oil. A few drops in his vegetables will help, as well as Aloe Vera juice.
Make sure he's getting plenty of protein. He's going to need it to produce those feathers. How's his appetite? I have a formerly plucked Grey at home who is in the "filling in" process and she is eating like an absolute pig. This would be great because you can get stuff "down the hatch" that will help!
Go heavy on cooked beans, and a scrambled or hard-boiled egg a couple times a week wouldn't hurt, either. Throw in a little well cooked chicken. Make sure the little guy eats like a dock-worker. Make it all good stuff and make it fun.

Is he getting regular showers? Shower him a couple of times a week. If his feather follicles are clogged with dirt or grease, this will help the situation immensely. A clean bird is one that looks great and they feel so much better. They act that way too. This will cut the powder-down in your house tremendously...you won't be shoveling the dust out of your house like you usually do. If I had a 'Too, that guy would be in the shower every single moning.
As it is,I have 2 of the next worst for powder-down dust: African Greys so I can empathize.
I hope this helps for now.

If I can be of any more assistance, don't hesitate to ask.
I'll add more if I can think of anything else...there's other stuff, but that mostly pertains to birds that are still plucking...you never mentioned it so Iwon't go into that.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I found that http://mytoos.com/ has a TON of resources, information, and community help (via their message boards) on cockatoo feather plucking and abused cockatoos.

It sounds like you are on the right path. My male goffins began a few years of feather picking after hearing my former roommate argue with her boyfriend back in 2003... and he is JUST NOW getting over it (I suspect that it may have had something to do with going thru puberty, or that in the past 6months we've gotten a puppy which he likes to watch- I have NO idea why he appears to have stopped NOW). Feather plucking can be so distressing to us owners! In Boo's case, I had taken him to avian vets (he was healthy), tried a zillion things, and he still plucked his leg and chest). He's always had a macaw size cage, been out of it most of the day chewing stuff up, and eaten parrot pellets and health food. As I said, right now he is looking better than he has in years so hopefully this continues...

Anywayway, great luck with yours. If you didn't know or if it hasn't been said, cockatoos moult about every 6 months so it can take a while for the new feathers to come in. I mainly wanted to share that very helpful cockatoo site with you :)

Answer 3

I'm reading your answers with interest because I have a 'too with a similar problem you describe that might help you. It's a Goffin's that's begun stripping flight feathers. I'm going to try the vitamins idea suggested here myself but I know one thing that's slowed my bird's plucking down is more frequent showers. She likes shower time and the hair dryer, anyway. I think she does it because she may feel like that's the only way she can get clean enough. (That bird gets as much quality time as the kids.) Try keeping your 'too extra clean for a while and see if that works. If you feel the bird needs it use baby shampoo, but only 1x /month max.

I use a pressure washer every 2 weeks on the cages and that makes them good as new, but that's sorta anal. Replace the newspaper at least weekly and spend more time with your bird. It doesn't have to be for long periods, just 5 to 15 minutes several times a day is good enough. Birds are highly social creatures and actually go insane if they're isolated. Generally 'toos are known to be emotional just like a little kid. Talk "baby talk" to it when you're around.

Make sure it has several interesting destroyable toys in the cage. 'Toos naturally feel the need to chew so you need to supply them with another choice besides its feathers. Put the cage in a place where it'll see more household activity and feel like a part of your "flock". Sit with it and stroke it's comb as a mate would do if it had one (that's the only place they cannot reach for themselves). Good luck.

Answer 4

Feather Plucking can start over simple things like a change in cage, new furnishings, change of cage. They is a lot on the subject out there, just type in feather plucking. I will let you know however, this is a very difficult thing to reverse. It becomes a very bad habit and often continues forever. Elizabethan collars will sometimes help.

Answer 5

I am always suggesting that people use Rescue Remedy on their animals and you can use it on your bird. A bottle costs around $20 and you can find it in a health foods store. You can put a few drops in his water every day and also just put a few drops on his feathers. Shake the bottle well before applying. It is for the emotional healing of past trauma and for any present stress.

It sounds like you have done the right thing in improving this bird's life. The RR is inexpensive, easy to use and will help in clearing birdie's psyche of past bad experiences.

Answer 6

Get him out and play with the cockatoo, cos my budgie had no feathers on her chest, as soon as i played with her with a bell and gave her treats out of the cage it stopped her being bored and she forgot about feather plucking so her feathers started to grow back. Try it with yours?

Answer 7

It takes a lot of love and caring and attention, they are very intelligent and for whatever reason the feather plucking happened reversing it will take a lot of love. I think you are wonderful for taking in the bird and trying to help it rather than leaving it where it was and probably for a worse fate

Answer 8

Vitamins definitely help. A good diet really helps also. My Cockatoo went throught the same thing yours did before I got her. What helped was the Harrisons diet and regular bathing. And it took a while but she's filled in very nicely since.

Answer 9

usually when a bird plucks his feathers its due to stress, it will take time for the feathers to grow in just give him lots of love and attention and he should be fine.

Answer 10

I believe they will grow back..I recovered a cockatiel in the same condition and now he is great