SnowJiLui
Meeting neighbors
I just got a cockatoo a few months ago. His name is Snowball and he is a sweetie. He has a few small issues, that I'm curious on how to fix.
The first is what I posted this for initially. Snowball HATES bathing. He wasnt that well taken care of, and for 23 years at that. When we got him, I noted he had a lot of dust buildup, and his feathers were fraying/splaying out. So I tried easing him into the shower with me, similar to how I got my rescue conure into bathing. I started with him outside the shower, then slowly bringing him in. He tolerated it, but he had to be right against me. I do this from time to time when he really needs it, but I dont want to scar him! I also tried filling a sink but be didnt go in. His least favorite is the mister, which was odd because many people I've spoke to and read on this forum had good luck with misters. Im weary of gettibg a shower perch because he is very bonded to me already and I dont want him to think he is being punished. I dont even know if he was punished with a spray bottle or was just rarely bathed...
Another is, he isnt used to other birds, as stated previously I have a conure. Two actually. I have a green cheek and a sun. He tolerates the green cheek more than the sun conure, but he opens his beak and flicks his tongue and hisses when Ji, the green cheek, comes toward his face. He is okay with Ji coming from behind and preening him, but i always do this under close supervision.
Sadly, recently Snowball opened his cage and got out, and somehow made his way to my Sun's (Lui) cage. When I came home after work, I came in and greeted them each as usual. But Snowball was on top of Lui's cage. I chuckled and put him away, so I could feed them all, and when i got to Lui I noticed he had a blood coated feather on his face. It was very small, and i cant see the wound either. Lui is acting fine and I have an appt with the vet. I'm not even 100% if it was Snow. But Lui and Snow have been standoffish since I introduced them. Lui was the first and does get easiiy jealous. After this incident, Lui puffs up when he sees him and tries to advance toward him. Snow puts his crest up and gets bigger and hisses when he sees Lui, and this is way different than he acts with Ji. I dont have them out at the same time anymore, I'm just not sure what to do because Snowball and Lui are terriorial of me and my boyfriend a lot. Advice would be very appreciated! I'm just not sure what to.do because I've never rescued a bird this matured.
The first is what I posted this for initially. Snowball HATES bathing. He wasnt that well taken care of, and for 23 years at that. When we got him, I noted he had a lot of dust buildup, and his feathers were fraying/splaying out. So I tried easing him into the shower with me, similar to how I got my rescue conure into bathing. I started with him outside the shower, then slowly bringing him in. He tolerated it, but he had to be right against me. I do this from time to time when he really needs it, but I dont want to scar him! I also tried filling a sink but be didnt go in. His least favorite is the mister, which was odd because many people I've spoke to and read on this forum had good luck with misters. Im weary of gettibg a shower perch because he is very bonded to me already and I dont want him to think he is being punished. I dont even know if he was punished with a spray bottle or was just rarely bathed...
Another is, he isnt used to other birds, as stated previously I have a conure. Two actually. I have a green cheek and a sun. He tolerates the green cheek more than the sun conure, but he opens his beak and flicks his tongue and hisses when Ji, the green cheek, comes toward his face. He is okay with Ji coming from behind and preening him, but i always do this under close supervision.
Sadly, recently Snowball opened his cage and got out, and somehow made his way to my Sun's (Lui) cage. When I came home after work, I came in and greeted them each as usual. But Snowball was on top of Lui's cage. I chuckled and put him away, so I could feed them all, and when i got to Lui I noticed he had a blood coated feather on his face. It was very small, and i cant see the wound either. Lui is acting fine and I have an appt with the vet. I'm not even 100% if it was Snow. But Lui and Snow have been standoffish since I introduced them. Lui was the first and does get easiiy jealous. After this incident, Lui puffs up when he sees him and tries to advance toward him. Snow puts his crest up and gets bigger and hisses when he sees Lui, and this is way different than he acts with Ji. I dont have them out at the same time anymore, I'm just not sure what to do because Snowball and Lui are terriorial of me and my boyfriend a lot. Advice would be very appreciated! I'm just not sure what to.do because I've never rescued a bird this matured.