Dirty Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

[siscanu.stas]

Hi I have a 6 month old sulphur crested cockatoo named Sugar and I'm sure everybody knows that they have white feathers. He is a really playful bird and enjoys his time on the perch. He also loves to be petted and held and I love that too. After a while I noticed that his feathers are getting really dirty and I'm assuming is from my hands. I tried to take him in the shower with me but I can't tell if he likes it or not. His wings kinda start to shake when I spray him with water and his feathers still don't get pure white clean. Please need advice on what I should do our what I should use to clean him properly. Thank you.

 

[weco]

If you can handle cooler water, most parrot species prefer cool to cold water more than they do warm water, maybe cool water & some Dawn dish washing liquid & shower with your SC 'too will help.....that's what the rescue orgs use on all the rescued oil slick birds.....

Good luck.....

 

[chucka]

I wouldnt advise useing any cleaning agent !!

Just cool water and maybe wash your hands before you pet him

 

[Kiwibird]

Cockatoos, as white birds, show dirt more than colorful birds. Look at it as a sign your baby is much loved

Parrots do need baths at least twice a week. Sugar will probably come clean with no detergents or cleaners after a few regular washings, and will probably stay clean once he starts getting regular baths (and it will cut down on his dander too!). Generally, when the wings start doing the vibrating thing like you describe, it's a happy sign, so it sounds like your bird likes baths already! Try warm (not hot) water in a mister bottle, and make bath time really fun (lots of verbal encouragement and a reward afterwards) so he associates bathing with fun times. Oh, and don't freak if he gets "stained" lol. Things like blueberries, blackberries, pomegranates and even dyed wood toys can stain cockatoo feathers until they molt out. IMO, a pristine white cockatoo isn't having enough fun!

 

[Delfin]

I wash my hands before handling Delfin and Delfin gets a shower around three times weeks. There is bird shampoos available But I never used any so I can't comment on these products. Logically I can't see a company making a product that will hurt or kill Parrots. Not good for business.

 

[punkindave]

I would agree, don't use soap if you can avoid it. We have a Cockatoo shampoo that we have used only a couple of times when he got into something that made him pretty stinky!!

Are you using newsprint to line the cage?? I used to and noticed there were times the squeaks would roll around on the cage bottom and get quite dirty!
I use white butcher paper and it's not only more economical (like $17/roll that lasts 6 months for 8 birds!!)

 

[Delfin]

Here in Australia the wild Sulphur Crested Cockatoo are very clean. In Sydney Central Park you can feed the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo and they will crawl over you. of course you need to have food.

 

[Scott]

Here in Australia the wild Sulphur Crested Cockatoo are very clean. In Sydney Central Park you can feed the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo and they will crawl over you. of course you need to have food.

I assume they are wild but respond well to humans in typical Cockatoo behavior? Is it possible some of the flock were former pets that escaped and have changed flock behavior by befriending people?

 

[Delfin]

No they are totally wild birds But because they live in the city they have more interaction with humans than ones that are out in the bush. There is a group of scientists who have tagged around 80 Sulphur crested Cockatoos
have a look at this link

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fnsw%2Fsydney-cockatoos-take-over-royal-botanic-gardens%2Fstory-fni0cx12-1226690720270&ei=3HVDVP2iEcvW8gWyvYL4Dw&usg=AFQjCNFasdZxW34FxOxVK2iYqk4WYSTBFg&sig2=-xnsqj9_NZCeZ3cRRdNoCg

 

[Scott]

No they are totally wild birds But because they live in the city they have more interaction with humans than ones that are out in the bush. There is a group of scientists who have tagged around 80 Sulphur crested Cockatoos
have a look at this link

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&r...OxVK2iYqk4WYSTBFg&sig2=-xnsqj9_NZCeZ3cRRdNoCg

Thanks for the nice link. If I ever visit Sydney, I'll be spending some amazing time in the Royal Botanical Gardens!!

 

[Moonlight]

I think sulfer crested cockatoo are self-cleaning because my Alice hates water and the other day she broke a blood feather and was all bloody (and soo was the living room) and after 2-3 days, its like the powder she produces had clean everything! The same thing happens when she's dirtying herself eating blueberries, cherries, strawberries or raspberries (wich che absolutly love ...Lol!)

Audray

 

[mh434]

In my case, getting Sammy the 'Zon to bathe is as easy as turning on the vacuum cleaner. As soon as it starts up, he dives into his water dish & starts bathing. When we first noticed this, I changed his water dish to a big stainless steel one, suitable for swimming...