Hello from Gresham, Oregon

[Amanda_Bennett]

I'm a new bird Mommy. I haven't had a large bird for over 20 years, have always wanted another one after having my African Grey, but never thought I would be able to afford the expense of purchasing a bird and the cage and everything else they need to be healthy and happy so I had kind of put it out of my mind and made myself content with visiting the bird store occasionally.

Then 3 days ago a friend called and said he had been given a Peach Wing Cockatoo and he didn't want to keep it after having it only about a week. He said he would bring it to me if I wanted it, cage, toys, everything! Of course I said yes!

When he got here I knew it wasn't a Cockatoo, I knew it was a variety of Amazon, I just didn't immediately know which one. He said he was told it was a 6 year old male and had been hand raised by the people who gave it to him.

I took the bird for a well bird check, wing clip and toenail trim and was told HE is a SHE and is at least 25 years old and is an Orange Wing Amazon. I was also informed it was a wild caught imported bird, not a US hatched bird (apparently the leg band gave that away as soon as the vet looked at it)

None of this changes the fact I was in love with her before I ever saw her, I just feel sorry for the life she had before coming to me. As I learn more about how she has been housed, fed and treated I get more and more upset and determined the rest of her life she will be taken care of properly and loved more than she ever has before.

Her cage is very small (2' X 2' X 3') and rusting bad all over, so I have a brand new much bigger (36" X 28" X 56") cage on the way for her. She had only one worn out old toy on a rusty chain so I ran to the bird store and she now has lots of new toys for inside and outside her cage.She also had old butter containers with curtain hooks in them for food and water dishes so I got her new stainless steal bowls. She was eating parakeet seed, no pellets and being fed whatever her owners were having for dinner, so I got her all the right food, seed, pellets.

Then I ran to the grocery store and got her fresh fruits and veggies. I made her some brown rice, which she adores! She likes carrots, romaine, spinach, orange, apple, grapes, & bell pepper so far. Hates broccoli (actually runs from it squawking) doesn't like yellow squash, and is not thrilled with green beans.

I would appreciate some advice on her care and feeding. I know I don't know everything and there are people out there who know a lot more than I do. I got some good advice from the Bird Hut here in town and they are great for answering my questions when I call, but it would be nice to know I have this group to help me be the best birdie Mommy I can be.

Thank you all in advance for any help you might be able to give me.

 

[Kiwibird]

Welcome to the forum from me n Kiwi the BFA right up the road in Cedar Mill So glad the OWA found his/her way to someone willing to do some research and treat him/her right! I had to laugh a little at a "peach wing cockatoo". Not only is there no such thing, but I don't think you could get any more different in parrots than a cockatoo and an amazon. White Australian bird with a big crest and bright green South American bird with an attitude!

Sounds like you got off easy with this one, already liking a healthy diet (many zons are junk food junkies and very reluctant to eat anything fresh). Have you thought about a name yet? Any pictures of the new baby to share?

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Thank you! So glad to know someone is so close. I laughed at the "Peach Wing Cockatoo" also, but had thought maybe a Rose Breasted Cockatoo? Then I saw her and knew she was an Amazon.

Her name is Woodstock, Woody for short. They had thought she was a boy. I was told I couldn't change the name since she is already over 25 years old. I would love to change it to a more appropriate name, but for now I am calling her "Woodzilla"

For only being with me 3 days she is doing great. So far no bites, just a bit of tude when I try to get her to step up, but she eventually does it.

Can she have wild rice? I know she loves brown rice but I eat more wild rice and it would be nice to be able to feed her something I already cook instead of cooking her something I don't eat much of.

I am trying to upload some pics of her but my phone is having issues, I will try from the computer later.

 

[Allee]

Welcome Amanda! Thank you for sharing your story. I admit I was confused for a couple of seconds there. I saw orange winged Amazon listed under parrots, but was reading about a peach winged cockatoo? I'll bet you were surprised when your Amazon arrived! Poor girl, sounds like she's been through a lot. You've changed her life so much already, thank you for that. I know she appreciates the bigger cage, toys, kindness, and good food.

Folks may disagree, but I don't think it's awful to change an older bird's name, unless it's obvious they know the name and respond to it or say it.

Our Zon lovers will be happy to help you with diet questions.

Enjoy your stay on the forums, I know you are going to be a great Mommy!

 

[getwozzy]

Welcome to the forum Amanda!!

Me and my flock are not far from you either! Just a bit southwesterly

As I read "peach winged cockatoo" I thought hmmmm...this is going to be interesting lol and then to read she's an OWA HAHAHAHA wow- far from what I had pictured in my head of what this bird looked like [emoji33] lol

Sounds like you're on the right track with fixing her up properly! that's nice that she's taking to a fresh food diet so quickly!

It's nice that you're so close to The Bird Hut! That's pretty much the only store in the general area (that I've found/know about) that specializes strictly in bird supplies and has such a vast selection (for their tiny store hahaha).

Can't wait to see pictures of Woodzilla!!

 

[Timothy]

Omgosh. This post had me laughing so hard!! I was like what in God's name is this girl talking about?! Sounds like you are doing such a wonderful thing for your new family member, peach wing cockatoo. i'm still cracking up.

I think you will find this girl is going to open up to you quite a bit in due time. regardless if she was wild caught.
wild rice is fine, but it must be cooked

(Not sure if its entirely true, but i heard from several sources that if they eat uncooked rice, and drink water, it will expand and make their crop/intestines burst)

Good luck and best wishes
:jumping40

 

[aether-drifter]

Welcome! We're practically neighbors, haha...I live in NE Portland. Thank you for giving Woodstock a good home. She must be so much happier already.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! It's nice to know so many of you are close to me.

Imagine my surprise when I thought I was getting a large white Australian bird (never heard of a peach wing cockatoo, but I don't know everything there could have been such a thing) and then this smaller green bird showed up. To top it off I was given a vets name and number that her original owners had supposedly taken her to a couple times! If they took her to a vet how could they not know what she is???

The bird Hut has been wonderful,(and they are only about 2 miles from me) Zilla (that's what I am calling her now & she seems to like it) and I spent almost 2 hours there the other day! She loved it, especially the Amazon room where she could scream with her "friends" LOL I was afraid the owner was going to make me an offer for her, he seemed to really love her and she fell for him right away. He said she is the nicest OWA he has seen in a long time!

She is opening up to me more and more everyday. Getting me trained to what she likes and doesn't like..LOL Apparently I am NOT allowed to have coffee before she gets breakfast, I'm NOT allowed to be in the kitchen making dinner for more than 30 seconds, I'm NOT allowed to eat my dinner without "sharing" off my plate (I'm putting some of her foods on my plate so she thinks she is eating what I am eating)

She is so much fun! I am lucky enough to work from a home office. Being an apartment manager my office door is just a few feet from her cage and I can leave the door open all day. She really likes to be on my shoulder so maybe after we are more settled in she can come into the office with me for short periods.

She loves being on my shoulder and getting head scratches, she steps up fairly easily after only a small protest, she loves coming out of her cage and just checking out the toys on top or sitting on the open door preening. She is pretty tame and I can tell she was handled a lot at some point in her life, just maybe not so much very recently. She doesn't scream except when I am taking too long making dinner in the evenings. She does make little "chattering" kind of "growly" noises throughout the day. She says "thank you" when I give her treats.

I'm glad to hear she can have the wild rice, I will just cook a bit extra when I make it for myself. I've been trying to find a list of safe foods online, but some of them conflict each other??? Some say asparagus is safe and some say it isn't.

Does anyone know where I can find the right list of safe foods? I don't want to mistakenly give her something bad thinking it was good.

How often should she shower? Should I warm up the living room for her when she showers? Should the water be room temp or a bit warmer?

I know I'm asking a ton of questions, I just want to be the best birdie Mommy I can be.

Thank you all again for your kindness and help!