Hi Angel,
Your instincts are correct – there is nothing about this idea that is good. To begin with, Cockatoos and Amazons come from different continents and have no natural instincts as far as how to interact with each other. Cockatoos usually do not like Amazons at all. Pet birds do not need to have play dates for a lot of reasons. Generally two parrots do not instantly get along, but they often have an instant dislike. In the wild, a parrot chooses its own mate from the flock, after living in the flock for years. A bird like a Cockatoo may not reach breeding age in the wild for 8-10 years and an Amazon is mature just a bit earlier. Parrots do not have friends – all interaction with flock members is part of their process of eventually choosing a mate, and once an adult bird has a mate, they no longer physically interact with flock members. Cockatoos are a powder down bird – this means they have a powder feather which released powder that the bird coats his feathers with. An Amazon is a South American bird that has no exposure to powder down birds. They and other South American birds can have an instant respiratory reaction to a powder down bird, especially if they have never been exposed to one. There is more and more evidence to suggest these species should not be housed in the same household. And there is also the concern about disease, as you have already mentioned. Her bird could be a carrier of a disease, and no matter how healthy your Amazon seems to be, he could also carry diseases. It may never affect him, but could spread to another bird and cause illness or death. While birds may grieve the loss of a loved one, I tend to doubt this Cockatoo is depressed over the loss of the parakeet. It sounds like the bird has health issues, especially since it is plucking. Feather Destructive Behavior is a very complicated disease which can be caused by physical or mental issues, but often it is both. Your friend needs to take the bird to a Board Certified Avian Vet for a full workup on the bird to try to figure out the problem. And if the bird does have one of several viruses that can contribute to self mutilation, she should not be asking anyone to bring their bir around her bird. It’s quite possible the parakeet died from whatever the cockatoo is carrying, if the Vet did in fact diagnose something. I’m glad you asked, and please keep your Amazon safe at home where he belongs.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
