Grandpa Coco the 70 year old Cockatoo
What do you do when you are 70 years old and you don't feel like accepting your age? Well, you do exactly what Grandpa Coco the cockatoo does: just enjoy life!
Coco has already lived a whole human life and even now that he has reached retirement age, he is still an energetic and sometimes a bit naughty bird. Time for a look into the life of this special bird!
The life story of Coco!
As a young bird Coco lived with Hilco's aunt. However, when she could no longer care for him, he found his new home with Hilco and his wife Joke.
There he lived for many years in a loving environment. Unfortunately, Joke passed away and the loss of his dear wife had a huge impact on Coco.
He withdrew and often lay on the bottom of his cage, clearly in mourning. Hilco, who only wanted the best for Coco, then made the difficult decision to look for a new home for Coco.
With the help of the daughter of Hilco's neighbor, Coco was put up for adoption via Hope for Wings Foundation. And that's how Coco ended up with Axinja and her birds 3 years ago!
After the loss of his mistress Joke, Coco fell into deep mourning. Hilco granted him a new home! And so, 3 years ago, he found a warm spot with Axinja and her birds through the Hope for Wings foundation.
A Morning Mood and Pop Singer?
A fun fact about Coco is that his old owner, Hilco, was a pop singer in the 60's and 70's. He was part of the band The Buffoons!
Because of this nocturnal lifestyle, Coco still has a pronounced morning mood. He is therefore often active at night, with his characteristic fire alarm sounds and imitating dog Bo.
Old, Wise and Gray? No, Grandpa Coco is Very Young at Heart!
Although Coco is old enough to enjoy life at his leisure, he has absolutely no intention of taking it easy.
His days consist of loudly announcing his presence, making a mess of things or taking a strategic nap in his familiar box. Which he also seeks out when things get too busy for him.
He doesn't talk, he does meow, bark and his favorite is unfortunately a fire alarm. And softly is absolutely not part of his actions.
The other birds must also get out of the cage before Coco is allowed out, because if he can, he will seize the opportunity to terrorize the place. But Coco has hit the jackpot with Axinja! He has his own extension on his aviary, because he prefers to sit separately, and that works fine.
Coco is a real bon vivant who fills his days with making noise, turning his surroundings upside down, but also seeking peace and quiet when he needs it.
Coco's Picky Eating Habits
Coco is quite a picky eater - and that's not surprising, because he grew up with cheese, whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. He also got a sandwich with chocolate spread every morning.
It's almost a miracle that he's still so fresh and fruity, considering his history with this not-so-healthy diet!
Vegetables and fruits? He only wanted to try that after three years! Pellets? The gentleman would rather starve. Fortunately, he now accepts the vegetable chop and some fruit, although he prefers to stay seeds food.
Nuts? They won't come in, only peanuts can appeal to him.
Now he still gets a piece of bread with peanut butter every day to hide his medication in. In the past his hip was broken and now he has osteoarthritis which is treated with loxicom.
From vegetables to a piece of bread – Coco is a picky eater, but with some patience he has now expanded his eating habits somewhat.
Axinja: Adopt an Elder Bird!
Adopting an older bird may not always be the first choice people make, but it can be an incredibly valuable one.
Axinja believes that giving an older bird a second chance is an experience you will never forget.
Although adopting an older bird can sometimes require a little more patience, especially when it comes to handling, feeding and housing, the special bond that is created makes it absolutely worth it.
Additionally, if you are over 40 years old, it may be a better choice to provide a home for an older bird rather than starting a young bird.
Given the long life expectancy of some birds, you can give an older bird a happy life for the rest of their years.
Giving an older bird a second chance can be a wonderful experience, especially for those over 40 who can provide them with a loving home for the rest of their long lives.
Hope For Wings Foundation
Is a non-profit organization that is committed to the welfare of parrots.
Since 2015, we have helped over 800 birds with Hope for Wings.
They do this through emergency rescues, but they also help in finding a suitable new home.
