a bird problem? can u help?

Question

i have a cockatoo. we resuced her from a woman who was bipolor about 5 months ago and she didn't give her any attention. the bird started to puck her feathers. she has stopped but still is plucking her chest area. i don't no if its a habit she can't stop or she gets bored but we have toys and we rearranged them all the time but we think becaue she didn't have toys before we got her that she doesn't no how to play?

Answer 1

WOW this is a dejavue.. i did the whole feather plucking profile(as I was working for a vet when I took him in) and found its just like boredom and habit, my Umbrella was adopted also and I ended up putting cardboard behind his cage(use large refrigerator boxes flattened) and sticking boxes in his cage and paper towel rolls(the cardboard) in his cage thru the bars and boxes such as cereal type hru the bars flatened etc etc... also lots of wood to chew on..... untreated type screwed into the side of his cage... fruit trees work well ..... He now has a full chest of feathers and people think I am nut for all the cardboard boxes in and around his cage... he crawls into the boxes at the bottom of his cage and chews the heck out of them and I have a supply of chewed cardboard everywhere!!! lol wish I could find a use for all of it... but i am glad he is busy and his chest is beautiful!! also try joining this group, they are great and oh so helpful plus they have some great links for homemade treats/toys/etc...:
http://groups.msn.com/BirdBrainz

good luck and it will take some time and love...smile

also here is a link forsome great homemade toys as they are so expensive... make it a game and let your bird help make them...smile
http://www.cheepparrottoysntips.com/

Answer 2

I just went through this with my Goffins cockatoo and now we're recovering. I want to give you the benefit of what I've learned.

1. Get Pet Stress Control. It ingredients that will mellow the bird out and break the plucking cycle before it becomes a deep-seated habit. Only put 1/4 capful in her water every time you fill it up.
I order from these guys because they have the best price $11.96 for 4 oz.+ 5.95 s&h.
http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=5787
I'd get 2 bottles in case it takes 2 months, which may be how long this takes.

2. Get a small Lixit water bottle. It'll be impossible for her to dunk food in it or foul the water. You want to change the water as little as possible so you don't waste the medicine. Take other water sources out of the cage so that's all she gets.

3. Add molting food to her diet to help grow the feathers back. You'll be surprised how fast the feathers grow back once she stops picking them.

4. I've found that giving her more attention works even better than more toys, although she should have those too. Talk to her as you would a baby. She'll like that.

5. I've noticed when she's been on me 20-30 minutes she may start overpreening again. The second I see that I take her to the cage for a drink. There's a short ferrite perch attached to the inside of her cage door that the water tube from the Lixit bottle leads to (it's attached to the outside). 95% of the time she can't resist getting a drink and stops plucking.

When I stop medicating her I'll do it by not adding the PSC when I add new water. She has a 16 oz bottle and I figure it'll gradually be diluted into insignificance over 10 days' time. By then I'll be giving her straight water again.

I hope this helps you and your bird as much as it helped us. BTW, I think you should be commended for getting a bird from a rescue.

Good luck.

PS: I tried a competing product first that claims to be the best. I wouldn't recommend it and don't want to name it here. You'd recognize it by their inflexible price of $34.95 for 6oz.

Answer 3

She may just be molting, but if the problem is too bad, you may have a bird with a nerve problem.....this is likely if she was ignored, because cockatoos need attention and are very social birds. Try showing her what to do with the toys, talk to her lots, groom and pet her often. Just like other pets, if you catch her plucking at herself, distract her with something else, like a treat or some attention. If it's just a habit, this can break it.

Answer 4

SHOW her how to play! Use a new toy, then hold her while YOU pretend to peck at it, turn it over, play with it. Hold a toy when you play with her. The more used to toys she is, the more comfortable she will be approaching them alone.

Check the toys in the am, see if maybe she gave them a go when you are asleep or out of the house.

Congrats on your taking in a needy bird. JOIN A BIRD BOARD, there are lots of them for problems like you are having. The daily companionship of other too owners will be comforting for you, I bet!

Answer 5

It probably started out of boredom and now it has developed into a habit, continue playing with her, rearranging her toys and even buying her new toys, it could be she also misses her old owner, ask your vet for more advice, she should by time get over this.

Answer 6

My bird died because he chewed his feathers and eventually his skin. We never knew why he did it when we never mistreated them and we had barely bought him. I agree with the other answers but when my bird chewed his feathers he just kept chewing even thought he was eating his skin. We tried different things to occupy him but he just kept going. Try what the others said.