Once in a while we come across a story we want to share with our readers. This is one of them.

Recently, we “rescued” a male Lesser Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo, a smaller version of the “Baretta” Bird. Scotty has spent most of his 15 years in a basement isolated from his human family. Some members of his family could not tolerate the noise or mess associated with keeping a parrot. Scotty was kept on a diet of mostly safflower seeds and Ritz Peanut Butter crackers, a very deficient diet for a parrot. 

Scotty has a wonderful, but very noisy personality. He loves people, is very active, dances in time to music, and is in all respects is a genuine clown. Although cockatoos are usually considered  “talkers”,  in the last three months Scotty has learned to say three words – hello,  hi and what? He loves to be out of his cage and is completely finger trained. Scotty is extremely affectionate, mainly with women, and will quietly lie in your arms for long periods of time making low purring noises.

Like most cockatoos, he flings his food and screeches loudly (and often) for attention and will chew on window frames or other wooden objects within his reach. Scotty looks like a young bird whose feathers have not yet developed. We thought this might have been due to poor nutrition and lack of sunlight, two absolute necessities for a parrot’s good development, so we decided to take Scotty to an avian veterinarian to assess his condition.

This was the beginning of Scotty’s odyssey.

During Scotty’s examination we discovered that he might have “Beak and Feather Disease”.   Although we have had experience with birds and parrots for many years we had never personally come in contact with this viral disease. The veterinarian told us that Scotty could live a normal life but that the disease could surface at any time and cause sometimes-fatal symptoms. We learned that the disease was extremely contagious to other parrots. When asked what the incubation period was, the vet stated that he “would have to look it up,” that he really didn’t come into contact with the disease often.

We decided to make an all out effort to learn as much as we could about Beak and Feather Disease. What we learned was that we (and the other four vets we spoke to) had a lot to learn. We contacted five avian veterinarians in the area and out of state. Much of the information obtained was inconsistent from vet to vet, with information and advice sometimes drastically different. All the vets stated that the disease is very contagious to other parrots. It can be fatal and usually is with very young birds, very old birds and those with weakened immune systems. The disease affects feather and beak development and can cause death when the beak is infected. The beak may develop lesions, and became gnarled making it impossible for the bird to feed.

That is where the consistency ended. We received widely varying suggestions for Scotty’s placement, treatment and future. One vet told us that spores from the dried bird droppings spread the disease and that it was very contagious at all times. He also told us to look for placement for Scotty with a family with a bird who has Beak and Feather disease. Another vet told us that the disease was only contagious during the shedding period or when the virus was active. Finding a home for the bird where there were no other birds was appropriate. A third vet stated that the virus is always active although symptoms could be dormant for years at a time. This vet told us to “put the bird down”.                                     

We also called the specialized parrot shops in the area and again received differing opinions. Two of the shops told us to “put the bird down.”  The other suggested that a home should be found with no other birds.  The third shop owner suggested contacting a veterinarian hospital where they could keep Scotty to possibly test some newer drugs.

Not a pretty picture or a rosy future for Scotty.

Scotty is now being “fostered” in a wonderful home where he can climb out of his cage, sit on the curtain rod and watch and talk to the birds and see all the activity outside. His cage sits in a sunny window so that Scotty can receive the benefits of the sun’s rays. He is being fed a completely balanced diet of pelletized food, some seed and fresh fruits and vegetables everyday. Scotty is in a home where he is part of the family and can see and hear what’s going on and participate in the family’s lifestyle.  In all respects the perfect home. Unfortunately, this is a fostering situation and Scotty cannot stay permanently.  

Scotty needs to be placed in a home where there are no other birds, where his owners could possibly move him room to room with them so that he can get the attention he craves. Because he has the tendency to screech for attention he should not be placed in an apartment setting. Other than his poor feather development Scotty seems, at this point in time, perfectly “normal”. He is not exhibiting any symptoms, is not in pain, seems very happy, eats and plays well and heartily. Although his feathers have improved due to recent dietary and light changes he still looks like a young bird whose feathers have not yet developed.  Because of this he cannot fly.   

 We have been advised by some vets to put the bird down. Right now, we do not feel that that is an option.  He is far too warm, loving, and far too funny to consider “disposing” of him. We are far too attached to him to let that happen. Every effort will be made to find a suitable home for Scotty. 

Scotty needs your help.  If you or someone you know “fits the bill” (no pun intended) please contact us by phone at 203-426-5784 or 426-4682.  Write to us at PO Box 427 Botsford, Ct. 06404 or e-mail us at animallifestyles @ usa.net. We welcome any suggestions or advice.