Gryffyn
New member
- Mar 23, 2013
- 3
- 0
- Parrots
- Gonzo AKA "turkey buzzard, old man, Big Bird" - Blue Front Amazon, age unknown, but estimated approaching 40
Tye - 11yo male Goffin Cockatoo who likes dancing to Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5, and Paramore
For starters, I would like to apologize if this is a repeated question. I searched the forums, but was unable to match my question.
I have (now, again) two birds, a blue front amazon, and more recently, a Goffin cockatoo.
Gonzo was a rescue from back in '04. An older couple (mostly the wife) had two birds for years before she became sick and passed away. Her husband of 50+ years had no idea how to care for them, and through a friend, they came to me. Another friend and I drove about 350-400 miles round trip after work to go and get them. Their toenails were corkscrewed, beaks grown around to their chest and actually parting the feathers. Our vet saw them the next morning and said they were actually in really good health, despite their neglected appearance.
Rosco was immediately back to full strength and he bonded with me almost instantly. He was an awesome orange wing. He died about 2 1/2 years later, in my arms, from what was assumed to be a heart attack. That came from my bird guy, who my wife was frantically on the phone with when it happened.
Gonzo was back to speed as well, although he has a couple of issues. His beak was scissored sideways, and through careful, periodic trimming, is coming close to being normal. He also is missing a couple of toes, and has one that is backward. We assume that is from being broken (probably due to the toenails being corkscrewed and snagged in the small cage he was previously housed in). Aside from that, he is healthy, although not overly active. His foot gets slightly swollen on rare occasions. The vet said it is more than likely arthritis due to the previous broken toes.
About a month and a half ago, we acquired Tye from someone who couldn't keep him. He said he only had him about 3 months, and actually got him from my same bird guy. He was delivered to us in a cardboard box with a couple of small air holes cut in it. My wife and I were NOT happy with him being closed up like that, but he jumped right out of there onto my hand, and was super sweet. He puts his head down to be scratched, and bobs around when a song catches him right. I mentioned the music because while I know they sometimes bob around as another sign, he is perfectly in time with the music with his crown up and having a good time. He does have to cockatoo calls that he does at certain times of the day. We let him go for a bit, but are slowly getting him weened of it being excessive.
My question is this. He has recently started grabbing at my hands through his cage with his feet, and I have been unable to find anything defining what he is trying to tell me. Anyone know what it means, what he is telling me? He's not trying to step up to get out of his cage, and if I let him just roam, he goes straight for Gonzo's cage, and has been very aggressive toward the old man. Actually bit at Gonzo's toes the first day. He doesn't seem to be trying to bite at me, he just grabs and pushes my finger back and forth.
Also, how can I get him to want to step up? Treats, maybe? When I try, he puts his head down for me to scratch, and goes almost acrobatic in nearly hanging upside down, rather than stepping up. On rare occasions he beaks at me. Not trying to step up kinda beaks at me, almost strikes at me, but isn't aggressive about it. I move my hand, he stops.
I'm new to cockatoos, and this little guy is chock FULL of personality. I just want him to be happy with me, and me, him.
Again, if this a repeat, please accept my apologies.
Thanks,
Bill
I have (now, again) two birds, a blue front amazon, and more recently, a Goffin cockatoo.
Gonzo was a rescue from back in '04. An older couple (mostly the wife) had two birds for years before she became sick and passed away. Her husband of 50+ years had no idea how to care for them, and through a friend, they came to me. Another friend and I drove about 350-400 miles round trip after work to go and get them. Their toenails were corkscrewed, beaks grown around to their chest and actually parting the feathers. Our vet saw them the next morning and said they were actually in really good health, despite their neglected appearance.
Rosco was immediately back to full strength and he bonded with me almost instantly. He was an awesome orange wing. He died about 2 1/2 years later, in my arms, from what was assumed to be a heart attack. That came from my bird guy, who my wife was frantically on the phone with when it happened.
Gonzo was back to speed as well, although he has a couple of issues. His beak was scissored sideways, and through careful, periodic trimming, is coming close to being normal. He also is missing a couple of toes, and has one that is backward. We assume that is from being broken (probably due to the toenails being corkscrewed and snagged in the small cage he was previously housed in). Aside from that, he is healthy, although not overly active. His foot gets slightly swollen on rare occasions. The vet said it is more than likely arthritis due to the previous broken toes.
About a month and a half ago, we acquired Tye from someone who couldn't keep him. He said he only had him about 3 months, and actually got him from my same bird guy. He was delivered to us in a cardboard box with a couple of small air holes cut in it. My wife and I were NOT happy with him being closed up like that, but he jumped right out of there onto my hand, and was super sweet. He puts his head down to be scratched, and bobs around when a song catches him right. I mentioned the music because while I know they sometimes bob around as another sign, he is perfectly in time with the music with his crown up and having a good time. He does have to cockatoo calls that he does at certain times of the day. We let him go for a bit, but are slowly getting him weened of it being excessive.
My question is this. He has recently started grabbing at my hands through his cage with his feet, and I have been unable to find anything defining what he is trying to tell me. Anyone know what it means, what he is telling me? He's not trying to step up to get out of his cage, and if I let him just roam, he goes straight for Gonzo's cage, and has been very aggressive toward the old man. Actually bit at Gonzo's toes the first day. He doesn't seem to be trying to bite at me, he just grabs and pushes my finger back and forth.
Also, how can I get him to want to step up? Treats, maybe? When I try, he puts his head down for me to scratch, and goes almost acrobatic in nearly hanging upside down, rather than stepping up. On rare occasions he beaks at me. Not trying to step up kinda beaks at me, almost strikes at me, but isn't aggressive about it. I move my hand, he stops.
I'm new to cockatoos, and this little guy is chock FULL of personality. I just want him to be happy with me, and me, him.
Again, if this a repeat, please accept my apologies.
Thanks,
Bill
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