| We introduced our two parrots by putting their cages next to each
other, and putting a plexiglass divider in their playpen. Eventually,
we were able to remove the divider. It seemed that being so close, yet
separate enabled them to get to know each other without our worrying
about fights and injuries. The grey was about 10 and the new bird, an
Amazon, was three when we introduced them.
I believe 'Toos are more sensitive, and require a lot more
attention than other birds, so this might not work with your guys.
I suggest you get in touch with Misty Haven Bird Farms. They raise
cockatoos and are very knowledgable about bird behavior. You can
reach them at (508)476-3579.
By the way, how did you teach Sammy to poop on command? I'd love
to "housebreak" our Grey not to get the cat or my shoulder!
Good Luck!
Linda
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The cages and dividers mentioned in .-1 are a good idea, but I would
like to caution you to be *very* careful about cockatoos, especially
jealous 'toos.
I recently acquired a lovely, sweet, 2year old Umbrella Cockatoo. On
New Year's eve, I heard screeching in the bird room. My 'too had
managed to open her own cage, climb out, opened my Spectacled Amazon's
cage, and in a fit of jealous pique, climbed in, attacked, bit the
Amazon in the foot and bit his upper beak off. I spent NY's eve giving
emergency first aid and rushing to the vet in an ice storm. My Amazon
is going to be ok (but maybe funny looking and eating no seed for the
rest of his life - prognosis on regrowing his beak is still uncertain)
but the vet told me that the following day, a budgie was seen with his
beak bitten off, also by a 'too, and didn't make it.
Please supervise your 'toos *very* carefully when they are near each
other. If you place their cages side-by-side, PADLOCK THEM!!! 'Toos
are incredible escape artists, have beaks that can crush a walnunt like
a grape and can do really serious damage to other birds. I'd hate to
see you (or anyone else) go through what I've been through in the past
week.
Rita
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re .3:
Yup. I spent some time on the phone with Dr. Kaufman at Tufts and also
with Drs. Sager&Kilgore at the Littleton Animal Hospital. (Dr. Sager
dragged himself out of bed, although he was sick with the flu, to see
my bird on New Year's Eve - I can't say enough good things about these
people!)
I handfed with a syringe for a day, and observed the bird drinking
water from his dish. At Dr. Kaufman's advise, I stopped handfeeding
and tried various non-seed food (which he can't crack) to see if he
would/could eat on his own. Babyfood of various sorts, sprouts, ground
up sunflower, cooked veggies, imported-expensive-out-of-season fruits -
I went nuts! He licked at some of these things, but didn't eat much of
any of it. On 3-Jan, he was hungry enough to nibble at apples that I
sliced extra thin and held for him. On 4-Jan, however, I discovered
something interesting! I was attempting to interest him in kiwis,
peaches, and sweet red peppers, and at the same time, I was munching a
bag of Cheetos (the only thing *I* could afford to eat after buying his
fruit!). Every time I'd put one in my mouth, he would scream.
Finally, he ran across my shoulders and stole one! This beakless
critter chomped 8 Cheetos! If I put one or two in his dish, he will
eat them and then eat everything else in the dish afterward, no matter
what it is! By the way he's eating, I'd say he's planning to grow big
enough to get even with that 'Too!
Dr Sager was pleasantly surprised when I demo'd the Cheeto eating trick
in his office this morning! I've just ordered some of the Scenic
cheese flavoured Jungle food, which is - you guessed it! - a
nutritionally complete "pelleted-type" parrot food that looks and
tastes just like a Cheeto! (They are even made by the same
manufacturer and with the same cheese coating as the familiar snack
food!)
SweetPea's beak may A) grow back not at all B) grow back totally, or C)
grow back partially. Since he is eating, getting a balanced diet,
playing (he "helped" me comb my hair this morning :-) and talking, the
only thing affected by the missing beak is his appearance. Sure, other
folks may think my beakless baby is funny looking, but I think he's
beautiful. I told him so. He believes me.
Rita
PS: One of my housemates thinks we should get him a "teak beak" :-)
I prefer gold like the guy from the 007 movies, myself ;-)
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| Linda,
We bought Sammy when he 5.5 months old and noticed he never
(except once pooped out of his cage! So every time he did it in his
cage i said to him POOPIES---GOOD BOY! Eventually he got the idea and
if I had him out for a long period of time he would start to get a
little cranky. I figuered out that he had to go, so I put him in and I
said poopies. To my suprise he went and then said ooohhhhhhh! He said
this every time as if he was surprised that I knew he had to go!
Try this out and let me know.
Stan
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| We've had two female Mollucans for a couple of years now. At first we kept
them in separate rooms, but the gregarious one in the remote room screamed
constantly when we weren't in there. She became quite bonded to me in the
absense of the other bird, but she demanded constant attention.
We called the gregarious one Little Bird and the shy one Big Bird.
Patience gave out and I started carrying Little Bird into Big Bird's
room on my shoulder. For a long time Little Bird showed absolutely no interest
in Big Bird and stayed with me. Finally after weeks of tweeting
greetings, Little Bird wandered over to harrass Big Bird. At first we didn't
let them spend unsupervised time together, especially since Little Bird was
so aggressive. But she proved to be trustworthy and Big Bird seems to enjoy
the company. Big Bird is far less timid than she used to be, certainly because
of Little Bird's company.
They do scrap quite a bit, but just minor stuff. Like if Little Bird isn't
getting the attention she wants, she'll reach down and nip Big Bird's foot.
I think they have become bonded and are happier with each other than they
were alone. One thing that does seem to make them scrappier than usual is
when there is general tension in the house. Interestingly, they seem to
key off of this and get generally tense themselves.
--bob
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