The Continuing Capers of Companion-ing Cotton

[Cottonoid]

I love that thread and look forward to ticking each item off as time goes on

It occurs to me that Cotton is almost a featherless biped.

Yes!

Willow looks soooooo happy in that photo

 

[HeatherG]

I just read the beginning of this thread and saw that Cotton had a yeast infection of his skin and that’s caused some of his plucking and elective nudism. I didnt know you’d found a cause and I am very glad you did.

I had a yeast infection of the skin for many years. They can be very itchy and very sore. I finally figured out that was the problem after years as an adult with acne and weird skin problems/sores. Suddenly after a systemic antifungal med for another issue my skin looks beautiful and doesn’t hurt or itch. (Yes, now that I’m getting grey hairs around my ears, I don’t have zits any more.)

I got scolded for “picking at” my skin when I was a child and teenager. If a human does that, just think how a bird must feel with his feather shafts infected, too. I’m sure it’s itchier than the infection in hair follicles like I have had. Cotton is probably much more comfortable and happy after this treatment and in your home. I hope he can grow in some feathers and not looks so cold! I think Cotton will keep warming up to you. I really admire your patience with him.

 

[Cottonoid]

I just read the beginning of this thread and saw that Cotton had a yeast infection of his skin and that’s caused some of his plucking and elective nudism. I didnt know you’d found a cause and I am very glad you did.

I had a yeast infection of the skin for many years. They can be very itchy and very sore. I finally figured out that was the problem after years as an adult with acne and weird skin problems/sores. Suddenly after a systemic antifungal med for another issue my skin looks beautiful and doesn’t hurt or itch. (Yes, now that I’m getting grey hairs around my ears, I don’t have zits any more.)

I got scolded for “picking at” my skin when I was a child and teenager. If a human does that, just think how a bird must feel with his feather shafts infected, too. I’m sure it’s itchier than the infection in hair follicles like I have had. Cotton is probably much more comfortable and happy after this treatment and in your home. I hope he can grow in some feathers and not looks so cold! I think Cotton will keep warming up to you. I really admire your patience with him.

I can only imagine what it must feel like to be itchy all over! And definitely can see how plucking starts rewarding the pain centers even when it hurts, just like picking for us or chewing for dogs.

My vet didn't see any evidence of a current yeast infection either on his skin or in his mouth or crop, so I really hope that is in Cotton's past! He's starting to get more downy feathers now and has sprouted a few shoulder feathers (shhhh don't tell him!). I also rearranged his cage a little bit after his vet visit when I cleaned it, because I think hitting his feathers when flapping might have been part of why he started snipping them off. And he'd left his tail alone until he fell off his perch in the car, so maybe he bonked that too. I'll have to be more vigilant about how he's using his space if he lets his feathers keep growing.

He might already be a feather chewer/plucker out of learned habit, of course. My first dog had chewed the skin right off his tail, and it took a couple years of intensive medical intervention and constant e-collar wearing to prevent chewing. So far the vet wants to just see how Cotton does with transitioning food and continuing to fight his respiratory infection before trying anything more substantial for plucking, especially since he's still terrified of being handled.

He beats his wings quite a bit and it's sooo cute! I felt bad the other night when he was trying to get down off his cage because he kept trying to fly - but hopefully that means he does know how! My vet said his chest musculature was well developed so fingers crossed he'll be able to fly again some day.

At night lately since it's been cold again, he has a room heater, the Sweeter Heater on top of where he sleeps, a blanket covered with a sheet for darkness over 2/3 of his cage, and a humidifier. My plants in that room are very happy

 

[HeatherG]

I can only imagine what it must feel like to be itchy all over! And definitely can see how plucking starts rewarding the pain centers even when it hurts, just like picking for us or chewing for dogs.

My vet didn't see any evidence of a current yeast infection either on his skin or in his mouth or crop, so I really hope that is in Cotton's past! He's starting to get more downy feathers now and has sprouted a few shoulder feathers (shhhh don't tell him!). I also rearranged his cage a little bit after his vet visit when I cleaned it, because I think hitting his feathers when flapping might have been part of why he started snipping them off. And he'd left his tail alone until he fell off his perch in the car, so maybe he bonked that too. I'll have to be more vigilant about how he's using his space if he lets his feathers keep growing.

He might already be a feather chewer/plucker out of learned habit, of course. My first dog had chewed the skin right off his tail, and it took a couple years of intensive medical intervention and constant e-collar wearing to prevent chewing. So far the vet wants to just see how Cotton does with transitioning food and continuing to fight his respiratory infection before trying anything more substantial for plucking, especially since he's still terrified of being handled.

He beats his wings quite a bit and it's sooo cute! I felt bad the other night when he was trying to get down off his cage because he kept trying to fly - but hopefully that means he does know how! My vet said his chest musculature was well developed so fingers crossed he'll be able to fly again some day.

At night lately since it's been cold again, he has a room heater, the Sweeter Heater on top of where he sleeps, a blanket covered with a sheet for darkness over 2/3 of his cage, and a humidifier. My plants in that room are very happy

I am glad you caught the infection quickly and it seems to be gone. I hope that plucking is not a fixed habit for cotton. I was trying to give you some context in comparing cotton’s situation to a human. I am amazed at how much better my skin looks, and I don’t have sores on my face that make me look bad and cause pain.

It’s hard not to mess with something if your skin always hurts! You can imagine if you were a bird and itched all over—that would be awful. Besides that it sets up a low grade infection in the damaged skin areas.

 

[Cottonoid]

I am glad you caught the infection quickly and it seems to be gone. I hope that plucking is not a fixed habit for cotton. I was trying to give you some context in comparing cotton’s situation to a human. I am amazed at how much better my skin looks, and I don’t have sores on my face that make me look bad and cause pain.

It’s hard not to mess with something if your skin always hurts! You can imagine if you were a bird and itched all over—that would be awful. Besides that it sets up a low grade infection in the damaged skin areas.

I'm so glad you finally found a solution yourself, btw! Thank you for sharing that, I do see the parallels and I always think it's helpful to compare to something we can empathize with as people.

 

[StormyPica]

Oh Cotton,
you crazy chicken

If I don't get more pics of you,
trying to fly
I will surely die

Tell your slav- EHM human
to post more ASAP
OR ELSE

 

[Cottonoid]

Today's installment of Cotton Trusting Mom:

When I get home from work, the dog hears the garage door and barks. Today I heard Cotton start talking and he chattered my whole walk to the house. Silence once I entered

I eat in front of Cotton and offer him bites (holding up the fork etc and asking if he wants xyz) and talk about how yummy it is and share with the dog.

I also drop millet or walnut pieces in his treat bowl fairly often, alternating with pellets or steamed veggies or scrambled eggs or whatever I am offering him.

Today he was VERY interested in my eating an apple with peanut butter, cocking his head a LOT and listening very intently.

I put a little piece in his treat bowl and for the first time he went straight for it!!

He decidedly did NOT eat any

But! He went right to his fresh seed/pellet mix and started eating while I was still eating.

and now he's watching me and clicking his beak, which I'm starting to wonder if it's an affection sound because he's done this as long as I've known him when it's just us. It's not grinding; and he stops the second anyone or any dog is around. Time will tell but how cute if it is

 

[Cottonoid]

Stormy here's a Taken Just Now pic in the meantime - I'll try to catch him flapping sometime this week; it's crazy cute!

 

[Laurasea]

So many pins getting ready to come in!!!

 

[StormyPica]

Stormy here's a Taken Just Now pic in the meantime - I'll try to catch him flapping sometime this week; it's crazy cute!

View attachment 38910

How can something so judgemental be so cute!?

 

[Laurasea]

is like 4 inches high?
So precious
Skin looks wonderful
Your humidity has paid off plus some nibbles of healthier foods.

 

[Cottonoid]

is like 4 inches high?
So precious
Skin looks wonderful
Your humidity has paid off plus some nibbles of healthier foods.

Are you using kabob-measuring-meter?

(I just went on an internet tangent reading about neck length in birds)

When he's squat like this, Cotton looks smaller than a cockatiel!

Doesn't his skin look better?! I remember looking up ARN a couple months ago and noticing how grey their feet looked in photos while his were bright pink and so flaked and dry!

 

[Cottonoid]

This photo is from exactly 5 weeks ago today - he was still in his little cage at the rescue then. He's been home for 3 weeks and 2 days! @HeatherG your comments about Cotton being cold without his feathers made me think of this because even I was a little chilly there if I wasn't wearing a sweater. Look how poofy his down is! And @Laurasea look at his scaly red toes! I've noticed the difference in his feet especially over the past week.

 

[HeatherG]

This is from exactly 5 weeks ago today - he was still in his little cage at the rescue then. He's been home for 3 weeks and 2 days! @HeatherG your comments about Cotton being cold without his feathers made me think of this because even I was a little chilly there if I wasn't wearing a sweater. Look how poofy his down is! And @Laurasea look at his scaly red toes! I've noticed the difference in his feet especially over the past week.

View attachment 38914

I see some buttfeathers and some wing feathers! Way to go, Cotton!

 

[Cottonoid]

Diet change progress

I'm 99% sure Cotton is regularly eating pellets - I'm still grinding them a little bit but leaving some chunks too. He goes back to his bowl a few times during "family" meals and spends a lot of time eating quietly - so, not seeds.

He also is investigating whatever fresh food I put in his treat bowl - every day since Friday ! He hasn't actually tasted any since the Broccoli Scam Incident but that's massive progress!

 

[Cottonoid]

Trust progress

I held a walnut piece next to the cage above Cotton's treat bowl (about 12 inches from his boing spot) and he didn't move away or even turn away. He studied the walnut very hard, and looked at me, and just before he looked like he'd think about moving I dropped it in the bowl and walked away.

Inching ever so slightly closer to him being ok with my hand/body being close.

I'm hoping we get the treat bowl concept down enough to try linking it to target training. I've also had advice from someone who's worked with a lot of untame ringnecks to not target train an object but just keep working toward the hand/finger, and I got to work with some of her trainees to practice. I'll have to pay attention to what Cotton might prefer.

 

[Laurasea]

Trust progress

I held a walnut piece next to the cage above Cotton's treat bowl (about 12 inches from his boing spot) and he didn't move away or even turn away. He studied the walnut very hard, and looked at me, and just before he looked like he'd think about moving I dropped it in the bowl and walked away.

Inching ever so slightly closer to him being ok with my hand/body being close.

I'm hoping we get the treat bowl concept down enough to try linking it to target training. I've also had advice from someone who's worked with a lot of untame ringnecks to not target train an object but just keep working toward the hand/finger, and I got to work with some of her trainees to practice. I'll have to pay attention to what Cotton might prefer.

Wow that sounds so cool!!
Any other details?

 

[kme3388]

Cotton has made so many improvements sense I was last on here...

He's throwing his broccoli out of his bowl I don't think that it was an accident. That was a deliberate throw out of the bowl. He didn't look sorry either

He's eating pellets, and coming out of his cage now? He is looking so good.

 

[Cottonoid]

Wow that sounds so cool!!
Any other details?

If I remember right the progression she uses is cloth over hand w/treat until taking treat while also lots of calm proximity time otherwise, then work toward rewarding bird for being calm getting closer, to arm/hand showing, to hand, then train "touch" to finger with treats

The IRN I got to practice with were so cute!!! One of them was still working on bite pressure so it was really helpful to see the differences in their behaviors when offering a finger.

 

[Cottonoid]

Cotton has made so many improvements sense I was last on here...

He's throwing his broccoli out of his bowl I don't think that it was an accident. That was a deliberate throw out of the bowl. He didn't look sorry either

He's eating pellets, and coming out of his cage now? He is looking so good.

It was totally on purpose! The day before he got his first accidental taste of broccoli and looked right at me as he threw it down! Haha! He has his disapproving glare down perfectly

It was so helpful for me to go back to find older photos because I didn't realize he hasn't even been home a month yet!