This is Katie, an Umbrella Cockatoo who was surrendered to Macaw and Cockatoo Rescue of NM. The family lives closer to me than to Anna however, so I drove to go pick her up. (Quite the interesting drive I must say!). Anyway- she's about 25 years old, was a former breeder bird- who's mate died about 15 years ago. This family then took her in, and tried to make a pet out of her. The husband is the "bird person" in the family, but Katie was deathly afraid of him, even after more than 10 years with them. She really took to the wife, but she doesn't really care for birds. Even after all this time, she would throw herself to the bottom of the cage and thrash around when the husband would come into the room. She would however let the wife touch her and give her treats.
They seemed to be a very caring couple- who loved Katie a great deal. She had a very nice cage, however it would have been better suited for a conure- being about 18x24 inches. And her perches were all PVC. She only had one plastic toy on a chain. And her food was wild bird seed from Walmart. They were just unable to do much with an untamed cockatoo, and didn't have the proper education on what the do's and don't of parrot care are.
Her nails were very misshappen, I'm thinking from the PVC perches. They look overgrown, but they weren't actually all that long. Happily she has now been to the vet and all her nails are now trimmed and I think she's feeling much better. Her beak is in pretty good shape. She is a feather plucker, which is part of the reason her family re-homed her; they could tell she was unhappy. In her new 36x48 cage, she's enjoying her new toys! She especially loves the pinata! She's liking her new pellets and fresh fruit and veggies too- she hasn't tried the mash I just put in, but we'll see. She looks better after her bath too.
After 3 days she will now let me touch her when I put my hand in the cage. She doesn't come to me, but doesn't pull away- she will lower her head for me to give her scritches. She's very cautious, but seems VERY sweet! When I had to towel her at her old home, she didn't try to bite at all, and she was very good at the vet's office too. She's getting braver in her new cage, and starting to explore and get tougher with those toys! A really nice girl! I'm looking forward to working with her.
The pictures that follow are: first the picture of her that was on CL. Second, a picture of her nails. (Sorry it is alittle overexposed, I used a flash and it washed it out). Third, a picture today of Katie with her toys in her new cage.
They seemed to be a very caring couple- who loved Katie a great deal. She had a very nice cage, however it would have been better suited for a conure- being about 18x24 inches. And her perches were all PVC. She only had one plastic toy on a chain. And her food was wild bird seed from Walmart. They were just unable to do much with an untamed cockatoo, and didn't have the proper education on what the do's and don't of parrot care are.
Her nails were very misshappen, I'm thinking from the PVC perches. They look overgrown, but they weren't actually all that long. Happily she has now been to the vet and all her nails are now trimmed and I think she's feeling much better. Her beak is in pretty good shape. She is a feather plucker, which is part of the reason her family re-homed her; they could tell she was unhappy. In her new 36x48 cage, she's enjoying her new toys! She especially loves the pinata! She's liking her new pellets and fresh fruit and veggies too- she hasn't tried the mash I just put in, but we'll see. She looks better after her bath too.
After 3 days she will now let me touch her when I put my hand in the cage. She doesn't come to me, but doesn't pull away- she will lower her head for me to give her scritches. She's very cautious, but seems VERY sweet! When I had to towel her at her old home, she didn't try to bite at all, and she was very good at the vet's office too. She's getting braver in her new cage, and starting to explore and get tougher with those toys! A really nice girl! I'm looking forward to working with her.
The pictures that follow are: first the picture of her that was on CL. Second, a picture of her nails. (Sorry it is alittle overexposed, I used a flash and it washed it out). Third, a picture today of Katie with her toys in her new cage.
Good luck with her
