Looking for corals and a bird question

[garvin90]

Im looking for BLACK sun polyps, heard theres only a handful of people in omaha with them and if so are you willing to frag even 2?

As far as the bird question goes; how hard is it to bring a "feather picker" back to trusting people again? Recently I've been presented with a Goffins Cockatoo "rescue" of sorts(male family members poked at it through the cage and it has no toys) and Im wondering if I should leave this to a expert or with some tlc could "Barney" be a good bird again?

 

[Kisskiss Girl]

I can answer your bird question...
With LOTS of TLC and time the bird should come around again. Offer lots of toys and treats for good behavior.(Birds are a lot like kids!) Be patient an with time it should come around!
As far as it goes with the Blk Sun Polyps...I'll ask a friend, I'm sure that he has some he would part with.

Haley

 

[garvin90]

Thanks for the reply haley, even if its one or 2 polyps thats cool.


Thats what everyone I have talk to has told me to do with the goffins so hopefully it will come around.

This is Ray btw.

 

[salty89]

Sorry... He didn't have any. I will have Greg look for them and I can ask the FW suppliers. BTW I got you FW fish in...

Haley

P.S. Still looking for the Apistos.

 

[mcox33]

my molluccan cockatoo was a picking mutalator when I rescued her. She trust me fine and is the lovingest bird you could ask for, but almost three years and she still picks. Vet said it is because it itches when it starts to heal. Hope this helps.

 

[garvin90]

Thanks for the gudgeons haley, they are so tiny but very colorful.

Can you ask chris if the reason Max does a onslaught of 5-10 minute long "cooings" throught the day is due to him needing a female or if that is just who he is?

 

[sage1970]

Cockatoos love lots of attention and tlc....My Mikey came to me as a feather plucker (my grey also) and now they are both doing just fine.

Lots of stimilation in the form of your interacting with him and lots of different toys for him to play with when you aren't there.

I have found mixing one part pure aloe to 3/4 part water and misting them down does help with the itchiness. Also, a good soaking helps keep the skin more supple and less itchy and dry feeling. I put mine in the bath tub for this.

Some people will disagree with this...but it works for me... I don't keep my birds on ANY type of schedule...I don't always feed them out of the same bowl, I don't let them out at the same time every day, sometimes I don't let them out at all for a couple of days.

I have the theory that if a bird is on a schedule and something goes wrong...ex: the bowl breaks, you get a flat and aren't home at the right time to let them out, etc they tend to get overanxious and thus the picking can start again easier.

Oops..didn't mean to write a book....hope this helps.

 

[Kisskiss Girl]

Hey Ray~

Our male does that to the female all the time. They are just showing that they are the big man on campus!! I wouldn't worry about it. He could be hearing other doves outside too.

Haley

 

[anabolic_1]

Try wrapping the bird in a towel when you have time with it, makes them feel secure. Most birds pick when they are bored. I had birds for many years in my youth, now I am an old fart! I even had a humming bird at one time, took it to the vet because it wasn'y doing so good....and he laughed at me!!!! He said what am I supposed to do with this???? Leave your TV on during the day, sometimes that helps......or the radio. Oh....and don't leave the TV on Jerry Springer! Best of luck with it.
Mike.

 

[garvin90]

Do you guys know what size toys the goffins should have? I hear they are more in the destructive range like a umbrella and should have appropriately sized toys.