Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!inmet!mary
From: mary@inmet.inmet.com
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: INDOOR: cockatoo questions
Message-ID: <15100002@inmet>
Date: 13 Jun 91 16:04:00 GMT
References: <214413@<1991Jun10>
Lines: 64
Nf-ID: #R:<1991Jun10:214413:inmet:15100002:000:3947
Nf-From: inmet.inmet.com!mary    Jun 13 12:04:00 1991


/* Written  9:44 pm  Jun 10, 1991 by cjqx@vax5.cit.cornell.edu in inmet:rec.birds */
/* ---------- "INDOOR: cockatoo questions" ---------- */
>Hi, my name is Kate and I've been tuning in periodically over the last year. 
Congratulations Kate, for owning a wonderful breed of bird!  My name is
Mary and I owned a medium sulfer-crested cockatoo named Sunkist.  My boyfriend
and I bought her when she was 14 weeks old and still being hand-fed.  
I dug up all the bird books I could find, talked to breeders and Avian Vets
so that our bird would live a long and healthy life.  We gave our bird more
freedom around the house that we realized was good for her considering her
age.  Cockatoos can live 60 to 80 years so they are baby's for a long time - 
about 4 years and they act like them too!  The one thing that cockatoos like 
to do is to walk/wander around and if you are not paying close attention to 
WHERE they are ALL the time, they will soon be underfoot. Unfortunately, our 
bird was climbing the stairs and my boyfriend accidentally stepped on her.  
He had a large box in his hand and didn't see her.  In telling you this story,
I hope that you will take extra precautions with Kala as she continues to grow
an wonder.         
>I have a couple of questions about my two(?) year-old female umbrella cockatoo
>that maybe someone could enlighten me about:

>1) I have never seen Kala sleep with her head tucked behind her wing, or in 
>any other position than sort of hunched down on the perch. Is this normal 
>for a cockatoo? In fact, probably related to her sleeping position, is that 
>I've never really seen her sleep! She always wakes up when I come into the 
>room, and never sleeps while I'm there. I keep her in the living room, out 
>of the main traffic area, but she is free to fly to the couch if she wants. 
>She seems to be healthy and all, she just doesn't sleep!
  
Sunkist rarely slept with her head tucked behind her wing.  She would also
sleep hunched down on the perch at night.  I don't think this way of sleeping 
is a problem as long as Kala is perfectly healthy and active during the day.
Just in case the obvious is not overlooked, do you cover her cage at night?  
Cockatoos need around 10 to 12 hours of sleep.  Sunkist would also wakeup
when we would enter the room. Kala probally doesn't wanted to miss out on 
any action going on.  Young cockatoos that are by themselves tend to form
a much stronger bond to its owner(s).  As they become sexual mature, the 
bond get even stronger. They can become depressed and despondent without a
mate.  It may be something you should consider when Kala is around 6 years
old.  

>2) Kala also has a deathly fear of sticks. I've been trying to stick train her
>on and off for a year. At first it wasn't so bad, because her grip wasn't very
>strong, but now it's fierce! BTW, she was wild caught and has had this fear
>since I bought her. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how to help her
>overcome her fear? I've even tried using perches from her cage, and that
>doesn't help. The minute it moves by itself, it's a monster! 
My guess is that when Kala was captured, sticks where used to prevent her
from using her powerful beak on fingers.  She may never overcome that fear
of sticks.  They have outstanding memories!  Keeping her nails clipped will
help to ease the pain of handling her.  Sunkist had to learn to balance herself
on our arms and shoulders and at first she held on for dear life.  I know
how hard they can grip!  but as her balance improved her grip loosend up. 
I could get going at a pretty good clip up the stairs or around corners 
and she'd be leaning into the turn enjoying the ride.  
Good luck with the training, it take lots of time (daily) and patience to
undo fear!
Hope I was of some help!  I'd like to hear about her more when you have the
time.
Mary 
>Any and all comments will be appreciated!

Kate
/* End of text from inmet:rec.birds */