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cockatoo feather help2007-11-24 17:19:08

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.

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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 :)

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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.