Cockatoo Advice

Hello all, I am new here. I am just looking for a couple pieces of advice.

First of all, my husband and I have two cockatoos. An Umbrella(10) and a Red Vented(30). Both of whom we adopted about a year ago through an avian adoption agency. We adore them both. They are both pluckers, and have been most of their lives (as far as we know). The Red Vented much more than the Umbrella but both pluckers just the same.

To answer some preliminary questions: I have had them both vet checked and they are very healthy. I have them on a pellet diet (Harrison's) with the addition of some seed, fruits & veggies and "crazy corn". They are both out of the cage a minimum of two hours a day. They are given a spray bottle bath about every other day. They have plenty of toys.

While we love them just the same whether they are pluckers or not, we would love to have birds that people don't think are sickly and feathers that don't poke your fingers when you pet them.

Two solutions that I have not tried yet are the full spectrum lighting and adding aloe vera extract to their bath (spray bottle) water (to prevent dry skin, hence, hopefully, plucking).

My questions are this:
1) Those of you who use the full spectrum lighting, do you notice a big improvement? I know that even if they don't stop the plucking, it is good for them to have this.
2) What brand do you recommend?
3) What wattage bulb do you recommend?
4) For the aloe vera extract, does anyone currently do this? With good results?
5) If yes, where do you purchase it?

Thanks for reading my long post

Libby

Libby

Hi as far as the diet have you tried the elimination diet removing certain things from their diet such as corn,wheat etc?I am owned by quite a flock and 1 of my B&G Macaws that I rescued 4 years ago plucking.I have had her to the avian vet and tested for everything and nothing it is said to be habitual.I also am owned by 7 Eclectus and a few of them seem to be sensitive to certain foods they began plucking,bartering as well as other things.After I removed certain foods like corn,wheat and some nuts this behavior stopped.I'm not guaranteeing that this will work but I know how upsetting it is to have plucking birds with no answers.The Aloe Vera that I use is George's Aloe Vera I buy it at a nature food store in a gallon bottle it's also available online I can get the information for that.I don't really use the lighting because they get plenty of sunlight but I'm sure others may be able to help with that.(sorry)

Marcia

Thanks Marcia! That's definately worth a shot. Regarding the aloe, what is the percentage of aloe to water you use? I found it the George's online.

Thanks
Libby

Libby

The George's Aloe Vera that I buy you don't have to mix with water.You want the Fractionally Distilled Liquid from Aloe Vera Leaves it's already to use.

Marcia