Gav
Strolling the yard
- Joined
- 7/27/18
- Messages
- 82
Hello, so for a bit of a basic story, a family friend has a Moluccan cockatoo that she's had for the past some number of years. I actually had no idea she had this bird until I house sat at her place for about a week. She told me it was going to somebody in her family when she died, but shortly afterwards I learned that she'd previously been trying to find a completely new home for it. I love birds and I have always adored cockatoos in particular but have never decided to commit to one until I met this one. However, there are a lot of concerns I have and would like some tips about.
First off, I don't know if this bird has been treated or trained well. She doesn't pluck and her feathers seem healthy (although a bit ruffled), but she makes absolutely no sound except an occasional whistle. She used to belong to another family member of said person's but she doesn't act entirely comfortable. In fact I've only ever seen her fluff up, spread her wings, and hiss at anyone who passes by. A couple of them pet her while she was in the cage but she retained her defensive posture and didn't seem very content with it. I was very surprised she didn't bite them and she didn't seem like she enjoyed it.
While I was alone at the house with her I would sit by her and talk and she would calm down and listen, but the second I shifted or moved my hand she would automatically become defensive. I don't blame her because I am very new to her, but most birds I've met will at least speak to me or play with their toys, or clean themselves, or try to come out, but she just sits there or sticks her face in her food bowl and nibbles on seeds the entire time and tenses up at everything. Even when a dog walks by who she's lived with for at least the last few years.
When I asked her owner about how much training she's had the response I got was "she's trained." Then when I asked her if I could watch how she interacts with the person who handles her most I got a response saying "she likes women better." These answers aren't what I was looking for but I haven't pressed for more details because it already seems pretty clear that nobody is very involved with the bird at all. At least not in the way one should be, especially with a cockatoo.
I'm ready to take the bird in at any time, but she's suggested that I work with the bird at her house first. Which normally would be by all means a great idea, except I don't want to force this bird to socialize with me and in return lose a finger. I've already been told that she bites and I've already been bit once while offering a treat (it was a small treat so I don't think she realized what it was). And because of the vague answers I've gotten about her training, I'm expecting to wait months before this bird warms up to me. I also have no idea if this bird had been abused at any point in her life, because she's 30 years old already and hardly acts like she wants anything to do with people.
I'm looking for any advice possible about what to do in this situation. I don't want to rush into it for the sake of the bird's stress/comfort but I also want the bird out of its current home as soon as reasonably possible. She was referred to as a burden and I don't want that to be her existence as it's not healthy for either her or her current owner.
Edit: For some information about myself, I feel I'm pretty experienced with birds. I've only personally owned conures and many outdoor birds, but I've handled my dad's cockatoo plenty of times and my friend's Senegal and I love them with all my heart. I never planned to have a cockatoo any time soon, but I've looked into the amount of care and attention they need for the past few years and I'm willing to give it anything it needs.
First off, I don't know if this bird has been treated or trained well. She doesn't pluck and her feathers seem healthy (although a bit ruffled), but she makes absolutely no sound except an occasional whistle. She used to belong to another family member of said person's but she doesn't act entirely comfortable. In fact I've only ever seen her fluff up, spread her wings, and hiss at anyone who passes by. A couple of them pet her while she was in the cage but she retained her defensive posture and didn't seem very content with it. I was very surprised she didn't bite them and she didn't seem like she enjoyed it.
While I was alone at the house with her I would sit by her and talk and she would calm down and listen, but the second I shifted or moved my hand she would automatically become defensive. I don't blame her because I am very new to her, but most birds I've met will at least speak to me or play with their toys, or clean themselves, or try to come out, but she just sits there or sticks her face in her food bowl and nibbles on seeds the entire time and tenses up at everything. Even when a dog walks by who she's lived with for at least the last few years.
When I asked her owner about how much training she's had the response I got was "she's trained." Then when I asked her if I could watch how she interacts with the person who handles her most I got a response saying "she likes women better." These answers aren't what I was looking for but I haven't pressed for more details because it already seems pretty clear that nobody is very involved with the bird at all. At least not in the way one should be, especially with a cockatoo.
I'm ready to take the bird in at any time, but she's suggested that I work with the bird at her house first. Which normally would be by all means a great idea, except I don't want to force this bird to socialize with me and in return lose a finger. I've already been told that she bites and I've already been bit once while offering a treat (it was a small treat so I don't think she realized what it was). And because of the vague answers I've gotten about her training, I'm expecting to wait months before this bird warms up to me. I also have no idea if this bird had been abused at any point in her life, because she's 30 years old already and hardly acts like she wants anything to do with people.
I'm looking for any advice possible about what to do in this situation. I don't want to rush into it for the sake of the bird's stress/comfort but I also want the bird out of its current home as soon as reasonably possible. She was referred to as a burden and I don't want that to be her existence as it's not healthy for either her or her current owner.
Edit: For some information about myself, I feel I'm pretty experienced with birds. I've only personally owned conures and many outdoor birds, but I've handled my dad's cockatoo plenty of times and my friend's Senegal and I love them with all my heart. I never planned to have a cockatoo any time soon, but I've looked into the amount of care and attention they need for the past few years and I'm willing to give it anything it needs.
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