Nikki is a precious Moluccan Cockatoo who came to live at the Refuge as a result of a seemingly innocent environmental change at her former home. Nikki had been comfortably settled in her home for ten years, until one day her human owner installed a new linoleum floor. Many people are unaware that parrots are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. When parrots are in the vicinity of many synthetic substances, e.g. teflon pans used in cooking, and in Nikki’s case, the toxins given off by new linoleum, they can become very ill and in some cases, die.
Nikki didn’t know how to explain the toxic overload on her system to her human owner and began to self-mutilate. She over-preened herself in her distress, plucking out her feathers and tearing at her sensitive flesh. Her owner turned to the Refuge for help. Nikki now has a new home and is beginning to heal. With time, we hope she will learn that she is now in a parrot-safe environment, and no longer needs to pluck.
I want to Virtually Adopt Nikki!
Click on the ‘Virtual Adoption’ button below to proceed to our Virtual Adoption page, where you will be able to make a secure monthly or one-time donation, and nominate the parrot you wish to adopt.
Hey what a good home pets,i will need to have a pet from you as listed : I am interested in one Jacinto, and one blue and gold macaw.and i will like to tell you that i will only proceed if you send to me a some pohotos of you and your wife holding some birds today please so i will proceed with my choice okay.
call me on 2063331590
mcjsh01@yahoo.com
Is Niki the Moluccan Cockatoo that was sent to you from Calgary this summer?
Hi Gwen – Yes, Nikki is the same bird. I made a mistake with her species when I was writing the article, but Wendy confirmed that she is the one. All the best, Jane.
Please let me know of information on keeping parrots if you have been diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis.ANYONE dealing with this disease that can help me keep at least one of my 8 parrots contact me.
Your facilty is amasing and so is Wendy and all her wonderful staff & volunteers !!!
God Bless You All ……. MJ
hi i just adopted nikki at the brant festival carving competition i cant wait to cuddle with her thank you for evrything you do with perrots
I have new linoleum going in during my 3 weeks holidays this month. If I have it installed at the beginning of my holidays and then bring my birds in after three weeks will it be safe for them to be in my apartment if I’ve left all the windows open for the three weeks? Where can I get this info please? I’m worried about their safety. I have 5 small parrots lovebirds, parrotlets and quaker parrot.
please e mail me with your suggestion.
Thanks very much!!!
Rosemary
Hello Rosemary,
It is a quite complex question that you’ve asked, and I would think depends on a lot of variables. I am forwarding your message to our founder, Wendy Huntbatch, to see if she has knowledge specific to this situation, or can refer you to someone who can help.
While keeping the birds out of the apartment for several weeks during installation is a very wise idea, I would think other factors come into play that would be specific to the linoleum, how hot your apartment gets (especially in summer or if well heated) and what chemicals are released when heated, etc. Obviously you have to maintain a constant ambient temperature to keep the birds healthy and happy – birds are susceptible to cold, drafts, or large changes in temperature, but I would also ask the manufacturer of the linoleum if they have data on gases released from the linoleum initially and the decay of this “outgassing” over time. This is just my personal opinion as a physicist – I am not a chemist or flooring expert, but a good manufacturer should be able to help you with your inquiry.
Thank you for considering the health and safety of your birds.
Best wishes,
Jane
Hi, when I was there on august 30/08 I saw a Moluccan Cockatoo running around the special needs room. It looked like it couldn’t fly and kind of ran around came back and nibbled your shoe then your pants and ran off again chirping while looking up at you sideways.It was also wearing a little shirt. Who was this one and is it up for virtual adoption or sponsorship?
Hi David,
That could be a couple of birds… One of the Peaches? Or Merlin? Merlin has destroyed at least one pair of running shoes for me.
I’ll try to get a better answer for you – thanks for visiting.
God bless you all. You know sometimes
when I think of all the birds in the
in the world that have been hurt or
abused and I cry there are lots of
videos on youtube.com like a story about bo the Moluccan Cockatoo.