Hello from Adele and Coco in Hong Kong

[Adele]

Hi all, a couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to adopt a young, homeless cocky who we've named Coco. I'm calling him a boy by default but have no idea if he's Arthur or Martha and I don't really think he cares!

He was found in the stairwell of an apartment building here in HK and was in a rather sorry state. I've spent a couple of weeks fattening him up and giving him buckets of love and he's turning into a lovely pet!

I had buckets of budgies and lovebirds as a kid but he's my 1st big parrot so I'm sure I'll have lots of questions.

So far I've taught him 'step up', 'come' and he's repeated his name a few times. He spreads his wings when I say 'Coco wings' and seems to have caught on to what treats means (sunflower seeds!). He LOVES really vigorous head massages and seems to enjoy rough-housing!

He has a cage to keep him safe when need be but spends most of the day on his 3 perches around the flat and is mostly starting to understand that those places (with newspaper underneath) are the places he's allowed to go.

He's an enthusiastic flyer, so-so at landing. I bought him an ankle tether for going for walks and he took a ride on my bike handle bars the other day! He just loved it!

I think he's pretty young. He's small and I'm not sure if it's a sign of his age, but under his wings and on the sides of his rump, he's not properly feathered and just has downy fluff. Is that normal in an adult or is he still super young?

I'm looking forward to getting to know you and your birds and sharing photos of my baby!

Cheers, Adele

 

[Anansi]

Hello Adele, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family!

Sounds like you and Coco have gotten off to a wonderful start. We're looking forward to getting to know the two of you as well. As for the feathering under his wings and by his rump, could you include pics so that we might give you a more informed opinion?

 

[LeaKP]

Welcome! Pictures of this lovely baby please! We love pictures...

 

[Adele]

Hello Adele, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family!

Sounds like you and Coco have gotten off to a wonderful start. We're looking forward to getting to know the two of you as well. As for the feathering under his wings and by his rump, could you include pics so that we might give you a more informed opinion?

Thanks Anansi,

Here's the pic for you. I hope it is clear enough. He didn't seem impressed to have to hold still for the photo!


He seems 'little' compared to other cockies I've handled and feels quite light, I've also never heard him screech like an adult cocky can. He chats and chirps and he also has a whining little cry which he does when he sings along to the radio (he likes Latino pop!) which sounds more like a falcon cry than a cocky! He also does the 'falcon' when I have left the room and he calls for me. (Thank goodness he hasn't discovered screeching....let's keep it that way!!)

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi and welcome to the forums. Would love to see more of him. http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

If I can pass along some tips to help you and help keep Coco healthy?

Sunflower seeds are very high fat and should be given not often. There are other treats such as nuts and seeds or anything healthy that Coco likes and works as a reward.

Enclosing some links you may find useful, are you aware a mainly seed diet is not healthy for a 'too? I used to have budgies also but a while ago, the nutrition information available now is so good. Feeding the correct diet means that your bird will stay healthy and hopefully have a long and happy life.
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/

In the US and UK foot tethers are not considered good and most either use a Pak O Bird, bird carrier or a harness to take their birds out and about, wdyt?
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Hello, and welcome!
Glad you found us!!!

 

[Adele]

https://instagram.com/p/BXKGh0sAj0m/

I just shared this shot to my Instagram. Look at how far the poor little plucked chicken has come! He comes up to the roof to water the plants with me and whilst I don't directly hose him off, he gets lots of misting and then has a nice grooming session! He was very brown and stained when I got him so I think this is helping him whiten up a bit quicker.

 

[wrench13]

Coco looks like he is coming along nicely. I've been to the Hong Kong bird street many time. I see a lot of folks using a leg chain. But that is not accepted practice here, parrot legs are too frail to take a hard yank if the bird falls or gets scared and tries to fly away. I would be happy to send you a harness if they are not available in HK.

 

[Scott]

Welcome Adele and Coco! Thanks for rescuing this beautiful cockatoo and giving him a good home. He does appear young, so feathering may not be complete. So much progress, he'll be a wonderful lifetime companion.

Please do consider the use of a harness in lieu of a leg tether for safety!

 

[Anansi]

As Scott (one of our resident cockatoo experts) said, Coco's feathering might not be complete. But that said, it does look like there is at least a bit of plucking going on from the first pic you posted. Just in case that's what's going on, here's a link to a very helpful thread started by our own Allee: http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/52217-plucking-search-answers.html

I concur with the views already expressed regarding leg tethers. Those are fine for falcons and such, due to the strength and relative thickness of their legs, but not so much for parrots. A flight harness would definitely be the better option.

 

[Adele]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The body harnesses are available in hk and I understand the concern with the tether potentially causing harm, it's not a 'yank tool', don't worry!

The sunflower seeds are used for reinforcement of positive behaviours and to create a positive connotation/connection. He often gets 3-4 when he gets put back in his cage so he comes to associate the cage with treats, or one or 2 as a reward for doing as he's asked. He's on a mix of 2 commercial foods, one is totally pellet form but smells overpoweringly sweet which worries me, the other is a mix of kibble and grains/seeds. They both have added vitamins and probiotics. They were both at the more expensive end of the scale....not sure if that counts for anything. He also gets a little apple, cherries, watermelon, carrot.....whatever I'm having!

I'm convinced he's still young, based on some behaviours that I've seen in other people's young birds like the submissive body language when asking for food or attention, and his vocalisations. He just doesn't yell like an adult and only does his 'falcon'.

He's a good little chap! Thoroughly enjoying having him around, even though it means a lot more vacuuming! Ai! The mess!

 

[Adele]

As Scott (one of our resident cockatoo experts) said, Coco's feathering might not be complete. But that said, it does look like there is at least a bit of plucking going on from the first pic you posted. Just in case that's what's going on, here's a link to a very helpful thread started by our own Allee: http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/52217-plucking-search-answers.html.

I understand where you're coming from with the plucking advice....but he's only going from strength to strength in his feathering. We don't know his past, but he is so chilled out and happy with us, it's hard to imagine him stressed at all! A month ago, he was looking pretty ratty as you can see from the instagram post, but he's looking really great now and seems to display no neuroses.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi Adele, it is great you have come back on, so pleased. Had to laugh at Arthur or Martha. Please forgive if my reply to you was a little brusk? We have a lot of one shot wonders lately, ask a question and hardly wait for a reply. My aim was to give you the max amount of info in that reply.

You are clearly well smitten with Coco, why wouldn't you, 'toos are great. Love mine to bits! Dont know if you want to put up pics of the pelleted foods you feed for feedback, smelling sweet is worrying. You can of course examine the contents of the packets and you need to see no colours, low fat, no sugar ideally. If you let us know what makes are available either mail or in shops, pleased to help?

Diet is really important to keep Coco healthy and happy. So many things stem from a rubbish diet from illness to behavioural problems. Please have a look through the links I gave earlier they will help you.

 

[Adele]

https://instagram.com/p/BXUMwK5g3ec/

More Instagram! ��

I have a 'sometimes', remarkably respectful and understanding of the rules cocky... just before I took this photo, he was on the ground with half a foot off the paper. He chirped at me and I replied 'Na-uh', so he took 3 steps back! Hahahaha The play tree is where he happily spends much of his day. His cage is open and he goes back there to eat and drink. He still tries to follow me into other rooms but so long as he can hear me he's happy! He's been up and down the tree, entertaining himself for the last hour. Good bird!