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Just Operated on a Cockatoo

1496 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Marit
A couple of months ago a friend of mine rang me telling me he had had a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo dumped in his front yard in a Budgie Cage. She/He had most of its feathers missing and an overgrown beak. He wanted to know if I could take it in, which I did. It looked like Beak & Feather Disease was a real possibility. Even with the very overgrown beak it could eat with very little problems and now after settling down a very sweet nature is coming through.

Nat called round this morning to help me clip her beak to a more normal level as the bottom mandible was jutting out to the side and was starting to make it difficult to crack seed. The operation went very well with only a tiny drop of blood being lost. Nipped the end of the top mandible and given it a nice piece of hard wood to have a good chew on to help grind down the top to a more managable length, otherwise it is going to have to be put under anaesthetic to have the beak cut back and cauterized to stop bleeding and then feeding could be a problem as the beak will be even more tender than it is now. Plus there is the risk of knocking off the scab and bleeding to start. He/She seems alot more comfortable now that the bottom beak is back to relatively normal.

We have had a good discussion about it and it may not be beak and feather but poor nutrition that has caused alot of the problems. That plus we believe there has been abuse to the bird which has resulted in self mutilation. It was obvious that this bird had been hand raised as it wants to be friends but is frightened of humans. The only places where the main feather loss is, is where feathers are easily gotten at. No feathers down the front and flights and most tail feathers gone, but secondary flights are all there as are all the wing feathers except for flights of course. Its fear of humans also indicates abuse. It is trusting me alot more now and will take a piece of bread from my hand. The way it loves bread points to the fact that this may have been the main diet the bird was on. I am slowly introducing fruit and vegetables into its diet and so far she is eating mandarin, carrots and Rockmelon (cantaloupe). It didn't know what they were at first but on seeing the other cockies eating them decided to have a go as well. Will now start putting supplements into the food and see if that improves the feather growth and overall health. But things may be looking up for this poor little baby.
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Aww, poor thing! We do mini-operations like that at work, there's a regular quaker that comes in once a month with a deformed bottom beak which will curve in and grow into it's cheek if we don't maintain it. It's really tricky, but interesting and fun to do. I'm glad you were able to help him out! And I'm glad to hear it's not beak and feather, the poor dear. Good for you for giving him a loving home and nursing him back to health!
Thanks. Poor love his beak is a bit tender at the moment but he is managing to eat some seed and I am also giving him my lorikeet mix in powder form. The beak should harden up again in a couple of days and he will be able to eat normally. He even got a couple of mulberries this afternoon as I had just picked some to make a Mulberry and Apple pie for desert. He seemed to enjoy them. I will be starting him on some Yeast Plus with Bee Pollen tomorrow. It is very high in protein and vitamins and should help him out.
oh Kate! Thank you for helping this poor baby. Keep us posted on her progress.:hug:
Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me that some people don't seem to have "hearts"....Surely, if you get a bird, and realize it's wrong for you, there are ways to handle it without resorting to neglect and abuse. Good for you, Kate! He's a lucky little guy, now!:)
Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me that some people don't seem to have "hearts"....Surely, if you get a bird, and realize it's wrong for you, there are ways to handle it without resorting to neglect and abuse. Good for you, Kate! He's a lucky little guy, now!:)
Ditto..... people who abuse animals are rotten to the core :mad:
Bless you Kate, for all you're doing for him. :lovehearts:
Great story Kate. It's wonderful that there are people like you who are willing to help abused birds. Keep us posted and some pics would be nice. :biggrin5:
Poor thing :( Thats great that your helping him/her! Keep us posted
It's great you helped the poor baby! I don't understand why people would hurt an animal on purpose.. :(
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