Phalen - Male Cockatoo (Denver, CO)

Phalen - Male Cockatoo

Phalen s been with TGF since November 2010. He was one of a group of 17 baby birds (8 Goffin s 3 Black headed Caiques 4 Jenday Conures and 2 Quaker parakeets) from a MI breeder sold to Petco in 2005. Petco ggs sales guarantee is to sell only scientifically tested healthy birds so blood samples from these chicks were shipped off to University of GA Athens tested for Chlamydia psittaci and PBFD. The breeder vaccinated them for Polyoma virus a Petco requirement. Phalen ended up at a Colorado Springs Petco in August 2005 and sold for 1000 at 3 months old. In September 2005 he went to the vet for his first full exam and nail trim. By the end of 2006 he was back at the vet due to feather picking. Diagnosed with candida (yeast) infection he was put on Baytril and Nystatin. Phalen was living in a big cage and his caregivers were a single father and 3 children. With no improvement in his FDB 3 months later the owner contacted the vet for advice about purchasing another cockatoo as a companion for Phalen. The vet suggested more enrichment more activity recheck for PBFD but not to get another cockatoo. By 2008 Phalen s FDB was worse and the owner contacted the vet to mm find a new home for Phalen. 2009 saw no improvement to Phalen s FDB. The owner contacted TGF in June 2010 to relinquish Phalen who went back to the vet in September 2010 for additional diagnostics including testing (all negative) for Avian Borna Virus and PBFD (the 3rd time). Now Phalen was more feather plucked. By November 2010 Phalen was in TGF s care. Phalen is shy somewhat fearful and due to feather loss his balance is poor. TGF asked a foster care provider to care for him along with her 3 Goffin s cockatoos she agreed. A year later she moved to Hawaii. Her adopted budgies and 4 Goffin s cockatoos including Phalen returned to TGF. Phalen is nearly naked at the close of 2013. His physical and nutritional needs are provided for. he has human and bird companions around him spends time in the sun outdoors and inside and He hkkkdnnnjnnas social time to spend with other disabled cockatoos - his choice. No special friend yet. Phalen s story summarizes the ugly side of some production and sales oriented aviculturists that fail miserably to provide basic skills to their product socialization foraging and enrichment failure to teach the bird to explore its environment develop confidence build curiosity and build basic independence. Except for a successful hatch Phalen s life has been series of failures from the big box retailer and its failure to invest in the animal s s developmental skills and the unprepared kind hearted owner overwhelmed by the downward spiral of the bird with expectations dashed. Birds like Phalen pay the price. If you can pay it forward for Phalen he s in need of a patient teacher realistic expectations and even a small mixed flock to share his life. Primary Color White Secondary Color Peach Weight 0.277 Age 10yrs 9mths 3wks... More Info