Please help to zero experience cockatoo new owner

[Ms El]

Hello dear community, I need help as recently out of the blue I became an adoption owner of a 6yo female - see the pic below. She's been with us for about 2wks now and I love her loads but need advice on quite a few things , will try to be structured.
1. Her story: I turn out to be owner #3 and the previous guy seems nice but never paid any attention to her the bird just sat in the cage all alone whole day. As our gardens are adjacent, since we moved in I started coming to the gate and talking to her, which she apparently loved. Not sure why and how but sadly her wings are clipped so she doesn't fly she also had (still has) a metal sort of chain on one of her legs, I think she used to be carabined to a metal stand/perch. I also found it strange he easily gave her to us when the kids admired her, so she's been with us practically non stop since. About 2wks.
2. With us. First days in our house she just was super stressed never left the perch. I would come near quietly sit on the floor use same words I'd say through the gate. So one day, being super curious, she came down and walked next to me. Now as it stands, I'm her favourite human she allows me lots of things she'd shred my husband and the kids apart for. She specifically hated my 4yo daughter and I guess she's jealous as she behaves as exactly my parents' old small doggie who was super protective over my dad wouldn't let anyone approach. This is when I pray it's not too bad maybe she doesn't fly as she clearly is keen to attack my little one. With the 9yo she developed a sort of connection, let's my daughter pet her and feed her but will snap at her whenever I come close or just on a whim. She won't pay attention to my husband unless left out on the floor that's when she'll go for him, it's actually too cute and funny together with being dangerous for my hubby's toes))
3. Behavioural concerns. So, we're in a new and currently empty house, in a rural Asia where getting a cage is a challenge, but I'm working on it to secure a big one. But until then I have to close her in one of the empty bedrooms on the ground floor whenever I leave the house. I noticed she plucks her feathers out so it gets to ca.5 feathers a week, and I'm super worried, I know alone in an empty room kinda sucks but for her safety I need to do it until the cage comes. Any way I can reduce that stress in her? When I come home she might be angry with me and demonstratively throw around her food as a sort of revenge. She also will lay it all out on me whenever the kids start jumping around giggling - she hates that and will nip whatever she can reach at (usually me) - alone with me she's super quiet and falls asleep often, like now I'm writing this after breakfast she has fallen asleep after having brekkie sort of with me) with other family members always on stress, how do I break that stigma?
4. Food related concerns. It was super weird for me to hear the guy who gave her to us said she needs no water. First time I gave her water poor baby drank like never before. I give her seed mix for big parrots, piece of fruit daily (apple, banana, we have a plenty here but she will turn her nose down for anything else - papaya, orange, grapes, nothing - she probably was never fed it ) filtered water every day, change several times because she's a little pigand I don't like bits in the water. A lot of sunflower seeds but I read it's not a balanced diet for them in the long run, but I guess she gulls them as she's accustomed. Heard from someone they give siberian shungites to their parrots? Someone advised me to save some egg shell after boiling eggs and give a tiny bit crushed with food. I guess they need calcium.
5. How do I spend quality time with her, mental stimulation etc?
Any time she gets floor time we get a destruction in the landlord's chairs (pretty much the only furniture piece we've got on the ground floor I know I'll have to buy him a new set now) and if she wants she's super quick and quiet, even with that blooming leg chain. I want to redirect her at having some quality fun with no damage for no one when she's off the perch or out of cage in the future. Happy to get into some reading or get consultation. I don't want to give her away, she's been betrayed twice and even she is a handful I love her lots.
Thank you so very much for reading till the end of this opus! any comments questions - very grateful.
Attaching the photo of my baby almost asleep near me as I'm writing this.

 

[Shezbug]

Oh boy you jumped in the deep end lol.

I honestly would keep your children and the bird separated (hands off) as they can make some very serious damage and your girl sounds like she’s a bit tetchy and more than willing to bite/nip. You are still in what is called the honeymoon phase- once your bird has settled in properly you are very likely to see a huge change in her confidence and cheekiness/attitude.

Other cocky owners will be along to give you more help with your questions (I need to go paint my bathroom ) but I hope to see you stick around for help, support, information on health and training etc.

Hopefully you can find someone to safely remove the horrid chain from her leg asap.

Welcome to the Avenue! It’s great to have you here!

 

[Toy]

You sure jumped in it, LOL. 2 weeks is not long enough for her to settle in. It can take many weeks or months. She's in a new place, scared, etc.. She needs to learn to trust you.

1. Get the chain removed ASAP.
2. Parrot most often will chose one person to bond with & try to chase others way. They can also sense the high energy children have. So if possible have the kids try to be calm when in the same room as the bird.
3. Food: Parrots often need to be shown food is safe to eat. So take a bite & make yummy sounds or fake eat a bite. Some seed mix is OK, but a lot of sunflower seeds is not. They are high fat. A little fruit is OK, but not a lot as it's high sugar. You can bake egg shells ( wash, place on baking sheet, bake 20 minutes at a temp of 250 degrees, let cool), crush them & offer. Or buy egg shell in powder form & offer it sprinkled on wet foods. Veggies of mixed variety should be fed daily. NO Avocado , chocolate, caffeine, carbonated drinks, etc., as all are toxic to parrots. I'd also add some pellets made specifically for parrots. An almond in shell daily will offer some calcium, as well as other nutrients.
4. That metal stand is not good for it's feet. It may be OK for short periods, but not all day. She needs a wooden play gym designed for parrots. She also needs toys she can destroy and/or beat up. It's in a parrots nature to chew, which also helps to keep their beak trimmed. Once you get a cage it should also have several natural wood perches, no wooden dowel rod perches, several toys, a swing, food & water dishes. The cage should be powder coated or stainless steel. Her cage should also be her safe place.

There are many vendors on here that make or sell toys for parrots. They can give you an idea of what toys would work for your parrot. Perhaps you could find a parrot shop where you live.

 

[zoo mom]

Welcome. @Toy Has given you excellent advice. One thing more, the natural perches should be of varying sizes to better exercise the feet.

 

[Xoetix]

Welcome to the deep end! I did it too, don’t worry. You’ve got a lot to overcome but it is doable.

How many toys does she have? Lots of toys may help with the plucking, but if you can, get to a vet to rule out it being something like mites.

I have an almost 5 year old. I have to keep him and my cockatoo (female, 16 years old) as far away from each other as I can. I’m her person, and she will eat him. She tolerates my partner and my older daughter, but overall she’d rather not deal with anyone else. I’d definitely do what you can to keep them separate.

How hard is it to remove the chain?

 

[sunnysmom]

She is beautiful! Thank you for helping her. Does she have any toys? I think this is a helpful resource to just understanding birds in general and some of their behavioral challenges- www.goodbirdinc.com.