Help wanted almost bald cockatoo

[lindab1955]

Hi all
This is my first time on here, I am hoping someone can help us.
Our 5 yr old Cockatoo, this yr and last yr around the same time, has been pulling out feathers, he/she does it for a few weeks until he/she is almost bald in places. Last yr Sonny did it the feathers eventually grew back again Does anyone have any ideas why he/she could be doing this

[starreys]

can you tell us more about its environment, does it live inside or outside, does it have toys anything changed in its environment/diet. I adopted a plucker an eclectus last June he was completely bald except the head and he has made huge improvements almost got all his feathers again. I changed his diet, he also shared a cage with a bird who he was terrified of and overall i think he is a happier bird.

[Robyn]

Hey Linda,

I am assuming you have a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo. And that he is on a nutritious well-balanced diet. Now i know with my sulphur-crest he goes through a very heavy moult around the same time every year, although he doesn't go almost bald but he has permanent bald patches on his back between his shoulders and a bare patch on his breast area. You can't see these bald areas unless he is wet or i am checking his feathers out. Not having owned a cockatoo before i also wondered what these bald patches are about and apparently its normal in the Sulphur-Crest.

Also it is possible to be hormonal if this is happening around breeding season. Your also not sure what sex he/she is. OK males have dark brown to black eyes and females has a lighter coloured, sometimes reddish brown eyes. But it is hard to tell with some birds.

A little more info would be great. We may be able to help better.

[vankarhi]

Another question.....do you live in Australia?? Breeding season for the too's is from around Oct/Nov till around Jan. Overseas that might be different.

[Robyn]

Yes i agree with you on that but Blacks tend to breed all year round if eggs are taken or chicks are removed for hand rearing. A friend and I do the hand rearing for a bird park. The Blacks will have 4 clutches a year, more if the eggs are taken as soon as laid and incubated.
Sulphur-Crests go to nest in spring.

[Robyn]

OOPS looks like a couple of posts have been deleted.

[vankarhi]

Yeah they probably do go to nest a bit earlier.......I see the chicks fledging around Oct/Nov so I guess they were laid earlier ;D ...... I live in a rural community and we have heaps (and I mean heaps) of wild 'toos, galahs and corellas that fly around here and roost in our gum trees and silky oaks ..... actually in my yard.

As for black too's ...... I can only say I see a family of them ... about 7 in the flock now every year from around Feb/till now and they usually have at least one baby with them (yes the flock is slowly growing ;D )

So I guess knowing the country you live in and the type of 'too might help.....along with a little more info.

[vankarhi]

Oh and Robyn it sounds like the black 'toos are like ekkies.......breed like rabbits if the eggs are taken

[Robyn]

They do Tracey, well up here anyway. Probably because we have such a mild winter, and they are fed well in captivity. But i do know the Sulphur-Crest have a clutch around the time you mentioned and will have a second clutch if the chicks are taken for hand rearing. After the second clutch is taken that concluded the breeding season for these toos.

Although i think your right regarding the wild ones. Sounds like it's a lovely area you live in with all that wildlife.

[vankarhi]

You are lucky Robyn to also be able to have the experience of raising so many different types of birds...especially black 'toos ;D