Umbrella Cockatoo Plucking!!

[moni.k]

First off, these are NOT my birds. They are my friends U2 that she has had for a few years. Everyone has been giving us different advice, and I just wanted to hear it from some experienced owners. Before getting the male, she adopted a female U2 that was about 34yrs old, 3 years later she adopted the male (7yrs old). They fell in love, and are literally inseparable. However, the male cockatoo has been plucking the crap out of the female... To the point where she literally looks like a bald chicken. The vet says keep them together, because the stress of separation could be threatening. But, breeders tell us to separate them because her feathers may never grow back if it continues. I no longer know what is best, we have tried separating them and they go NUTS, screaming for each other and refusing to eat. Please help!! any advice would be helpful.

PS: what would be good for her feather growth? We have tried aloe vera water baths...

What is a good source of calcium that I can give (a little reluctant to put her on supplements, natural food source would be better)

Thanks

 

[greycloud]

Definitely separate them. You can put the cages next to each other. He may have done to much damage already and feathers may not grow back. You can spray her 2x day with aloe/water 50/50 ratio. Avitec sells featherific that may help. As long as they are together he will continue to pluck her.
You can purchase calcium at mysafebirdstore.com.

 

[MonicaMc]

What is their diet? Can you show us a picture of their cage setup? Do they have plenty of toys? What about foraging?

When you separated them, did you put the cages side by side, but far enough away that they couldn't touch each other?