Birds are some of the most commonly mistreated animals in homes. It’s not always intentional, either: birds are hard. They’re very much “impulse” pets a lot of the time, despite the fact that birds actually need more care than a lot of other animals.
As a result, a lot of these birds end up in rescues. On Tuesday, August 27th, we got to see one of these poor Cockatoos who ended up finding her way into the most loving home. You can just see the transformation, and it’s incredible:
@theparrotladyWatch my cockatoos glow up 🥹 #cockatoo #parrot #healing #adoptdontshop
The Parrot Lady is excellent at bringing these beautiful birds back to life. It’s obvious that she cares so much about the birds she brings home!
This Cockatoo’s name is Sweet Pea, and she is a star. She’s genuinely so popular on TikTok: her videos have garnered millions of views and likes! People love her sass and her incredible relationship with her Labrador Retriever brother, Copper!
When her mom first got her, though, she was not quite so sparkly. She was in really rough shape: she had plucked out most of her chest feathers as well as a good portion of the feathers on her legs. She’s been in this home for about 5 years now: she’s 21.
She also hates stuffed animals:
@theparrotladyMy cockatoo doesn’t like stuffed animals 😂 #cockatoo #bird #reaction #funnyanimals
From being posted on Craigslist and plucking herself crazy to beefing with stuffed animals and running her household. She’s finally living her dreams! Her vet wasn’t sure that her feathers would ever grow back.
While feathers do often grow back a few times after being plucked out, if they destroy the follicle, the feathers won’t come back. She goes through phases even still: sometimes, she wears a little chest cover that makes her look like a pilgrim.
Feather plucking in Cockatoos
Feather plucking is never something a bird does for fun. If your bird is plucking their feathers, it’s because something is wrong. There could be many issues, but some of the most common are:
- Stress
- Illness
- Aggression
- Boredom
If you notice your bird plucking their feathers, you need to take them to the vet for a check-up. From there, they’ll be able to let you know if you need to be concerned!
