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New to owning a parrot, needing any advise

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New to owning a parrot, needing any advise

Postby AlanaMarie » Sun Sep 20, 2015 3:26 pm

This is much easier than searching the whole forum for many threads containing an answer to each of my questions and concerns.
So, my mother acquired an Umbrella Cockatoo a little over a year ago. She recently started working a lot more than normal and it is up to me to take care of Gina. I have never really been interested in birds as I am more of a reptile person. However, now that I am responsible for taking care of Gina, I want to learn as much as I possibly can. Everything my mother has ever said to me about Gina or parrots in general went in one ear and out the other, unfortunately.
I have read a few of the posts containing information for soon to be bird owners and new bird owners but,think of me as someone who has absolutely no knowledge what so ever, I'd appreciate any tips or advise you can possibly give.
Thank you in advance.

*EDIT*
Also, the individual we acquired her from would punish her with a spray bottle. She HATES water more than anything and always bites/goes insane when we have some sort of spray bottle (such as cleaners). She grooms herself very well and thoroughly but I don't believe that's good enough to keep her skin and feathers healthy. She gets really scared when our hands are wet and flips out when water comes near her (unless its in her drinking bottle). How should I go about getting her used to water?

**EDIT #2 (In response to needing more direct questions)
On a daily basis, I know she requires A LOT of attention but since she is flightless, should I take her on walks with me?
What are possible treats for her? I know she likes almonds and grapefruit (we have a grapefruit tree so, she gets very fresh grapefruit with no pesticides or chemicals) but what else could I try? What should I stay away from?
Personality wise, what are some things I should I look out for? I know she can get depressed without my mother but what might I be able to do to get her mind off of it? Shes generally a very happy and talkative bird but recently shes been mopey, are there some activities she may like?
Will she pluck even though shes still getting attention? If so, what can I do to redirect her attention?
My own personal concerns at the moment are that she is often grinding her beak and biting her nails, is this a problem? I try to get her to stop by giving her paper or cardboard to shred but it doesnt last very long (obviously).
She likes to play in the corner of her cage, at the bottom, is there any reason for this behavior? She does it randomly, she'll get off of my shoulder or where ever she is, run to her cage and click in the corner. Should I be concerned?
Is there any possibility that depending on how long my mom isnt around, she could get attached to me like she is with my mom? (Just want to be prepared if that does happen)
This morning, out of curiosity, I put one of her circular perches in the bathroom and left the door open while I was taking a shower. To my surprise, she walked her happy little butt in the bathroom and sat on the perch the whole time. When I got out, she freaked, fluttered off the perch and ran to her cage but I feel as though that may be a step in the right direction. Is there anything I could do to as a second step to getting her closer to the water?
Of course, I'm just gonna be doing this for a little while but I'd like to believe she wants to get close with water and she wants to get over her fear, is that a possibility?
One more thing, do they ever get off their feet? Like, would she ever want to just lay down on her side or is that not a thing with them?
Last edited by AlanaMarie on Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
AlanaMarie
Parakeet
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 2
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Umbrella Cockatoo
Flight: No

Re: New to owning a parrot, needing any advise

Postby Wolf » Sun Sep 20, 2015 6:30 pm

Leave a dish or two of the appropriate size with water for her to bathe in where she can get to them. Some birds are extremely picky about the dish they bathe in, some birds will only bathe in a dish of a certain shape, color and or material and it can be difficult finding a suitable dish for them to bathe in.
No two parrots have the same personality, they are all unique individuals, in their own right. Other than the fact that cockatoos all require a huge investment of time and personal attention, they are different enough that it is best that you ask questions and provide as much detail as possible surrounding the question rather than to look for too much generic answers as what works for one will not work for another one.
Wolf
Macaw
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is male
Posts: 8679
Location: Lansing, NC
Number of Birds Owned: 6
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal
African Grey (CAG)
Yellow Naped Amazon
2Celestial Parrotlet
Budgie
Flight: Yes

Re: New to owning a parrot, needing any advise

Postby Pajarita » Mon Sep 21, 2015 11:18 am

Yes, leaving a bowl might work but none of my toos ever bathed in a bowl, they all liked water from above -like cockatiels also do- BUT if she is now afraid of it (stupid people!) you will have to take it very slowly with her and try the spray some other way and not from a bottle -like a trickle of water from a faucet in the kitchen sink or the bathtub... you can always try a hose but it's getting too cold. In the meantime, leave a spray bottle in the room where her cage is - far away so she doesn't react to it but in plain sight so she can see it and periodically (but VERY gradually) move it a bit closer.

Wolf is correct in that questions work best for us to give advice but, as a 'too primer' I can tell you that they are highly hormonal birds so you need to keep them at a solar schedule and in a good fresh food diet where high protein is NOT free-fed. They need, at least, 4 hours of one-on-one time daily -and this means its body touching yours (which usually means having a big-ass bird hanging from your neck :lol: ) as well as their cage been in a spot where they can see the activity (all their problems stem from been alone and isolated), lots and lots of things for them to chew (they are highly destructive birds) and strict routines (and this means no weekends, no sick days, no vacations, no nothing - every day should be exactly the same).
Pajarita
Norwegian Blue
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 18604
Location: NW Pa
Number of Birds Owned: 30
Types of Birds Owned: RoseBreasted too, CAG, DoubleYellowHead Amazon, BlueFront Amazon, YellowNape Amazon, Senegal, African Redbelly, Quaker, Sun Conure, Nanday, BlackCap Caique, WhiteBelly Caique, PeachFace lovebird, budgies,
Flight: Yes

Re: New to owning a parrot, needing any advise

Postby AlanaMarie » Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:58 pm

Okay, I added more specific questions and all that good stuff, I apologize for it being so long, I jsut have so many questions, shes becoming more and more intriguing every day. Thank you in advance to anyone who reads and replies!
AlanaMarie
Parakeet
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 2
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Umbrella Cockatoo
Flight: No

Re: New to owning a parrot, needing any advise

Postby Wolf » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:57 pm

Not to be a pain, but please just type your response to us as just another reply as it will make it easier for us to follow and go back to your questions or information to make suggestions to you.
Yes there is a chance that Gina could switch her loyalties from your mother to you either fully or in part. Gina's being mopey could be a part of this process beginning. When any parrot is rehomed or otherwise doesn't have the presence of its chosen mate, human or otherwise, it goes into a depressed state that is pretty much the same as grieving over the loss of a loved one, in this case its mate and then when the grieving is done will choose a new mate. This works ok although it is stressful for the bird if it no longer has contact with your mother. If she still has contact with your mother then it can be a bit dicey as she may revert to your mother when she is there which means a loss of priveleges for you until your mother leaves again and you privileges are restored as he favored human. If this happens then you become just a flock member while your mother is there and would not be allowed as much freedom in touching the bird as you will become accustomed to which could lead to some warning nips at those times.
Will the bird continue plucking? I don't know, it depends on factors such as how long the bird has been doing it and other factors as well If it has become a habit your guess is as good as mine, but lets hope that you can get it to stop. Most self destructive behavior is caused by lack of personal time with the favored human, by this I mean that in the birds mind there is not enough personal interaction with the birds chosen human. It is important to make this distinction because it is difficult for a human to provide all of the one to one interaction that these birds require and you may think that you are providing plenty of interaction and attention and the bird does not feel the same so it will scream or pluck or bite trying to get you to spend more time with it. By the way birds are rarely off of their feet unless sick.
It would be very helpful to know what foods you feed this bird and when you feed them and the birds schedule of waking and sleeping. Both of these affect the behavior of birds.
As I don't have the experience that Pajarita has with this species of parrot I will let her take it from here.
Wolf
Macaw
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is male
Posts: 8679
Location: Lansing, NC
Number of Birds Owned: 6
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal
African Grey (CAG)
Yellow Naped Amazon
2Celestial Parrotlet
Budgie
Flight: Yes


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