Okay Goffins owners...need advice asap!

[Marley21]

I just went to visit my new Goffin, I discovered its a girl for sure, and they had no idea. The trailer I went in to see her was smoke filled, and one of her toys is a cigarette filled ash tray....discusting. She bit me hard twice but that didnt stop me from putting down a deposit and Ill be taking her home on Friday. Im concerned that she is female and wont tke to me because so am I. She spent the whole timr testing my limits, tryign to attack me, but I got her on my arm and stopped a few good tries. She is so sad, she was kept in a parakeet cage, maybe a foot tall in the dark for the first 2 years of her life...she is 4 years old and came from Florida. Her cage now is big but nasty and has no door, im not taking it, and Im going out to buy her a brand new one for her safety and mine. She has no toys, well maybe 2 and she eats crap...sunflower seeds and corn...shell be sick with all the rich foods I give mine daily. I stopped at the local bird rescue and bought her new toys on the way home. Anyhow shes being rescued fri morning, but how can i convince her that we can be friends and she doesnt have to keep biting the crap out of me? Any hints to win one over...should I ignore he until she acts nice and let her out to cuddle? Thanks guys for any help!

[Valo's Moirana]

give her some time to settle in when she moves to your house. let her get accustomed to the routine and switch her slowly to the new diet. quarantine her from your other birds!!!
i'd leave her in her cage for the first few days for sure - play with her through the cage bars, offer her treats (if she's used to sunflower seeds you won' thave a problem to find a treat she likes) through the cage bars, show her how to play with toys etc.
i'd also check if she feels like a bath - sounds to me like she would

an ashtray for a toy - that's distgusting

[loyallyroyal]

I would take her to the avian vet and have her lungs checked out, all that cigarette smoke will kill her

Be prepared for a bird with lung problems when she is older, its good that you are getting her out of there

[ndeben]

Please have her checked out, and I feel that in a short time, she will figure you out. Patience, and lots of it. She will figure you are there for her, good foods, good toys, great company, and most of all for toos, someone to finally cuddle with. This may take some time, but you have the rest of your and her life to be together.

[Marley21]

I've been reading articles and I feel just awful for that bird now. I hope she wont die on me, we are def. not smokers....and if she is wheezie at all she will go straigt to a vet, Im just tight on money having to rush to get her out of there for so much...I figured thats more important than a vet trip at the moment but she will go next week if possible. I also have to find her a cage asap because the one shes in has no door so Im frantically calling work trying to get one shipped in asap. They are being very helpful and said it can be here by tuesday, or sooner. Ive also decided on naming her Eloies(sp?) or Kelli. Ill pick when she gets her...its better than Buddy...because she sure isnt a boy. Im really excited....this is my dream bird

[Marley21]

Not only is she pmsing, she'll be quitting smoking too.....she will be in a great mood to bite me Im sure.....

[xafsmom]

I would get her checked, definitely. Then once you get her home, start bathing her to get the tobacco out of her feathers. I've never had to do that, but I'm sure several rescues have had to in the past, might contact them and ask what to use, or ask an avian vet.

She'll relax with you and love you once she gets over her um.. addictions lol. Gender preferences according to the bird's gender has never once been proven. Birds don't see male and female in humans. If a bird was treated mean or dislikes some guy with short hair, a lot of times a female with short hair brings out that same dislike. It's always something either explainable or bird decision based on the person, not the gender of the human with no extenuating circumstances, or all birds would be that way. Someone, and I'll have to dig out the study to see who did it ...did a study on African Grey's and opposite gender preferences once. The Grey's went by vocal ranges, not appearances. It was an interesting read!

All of my birds prefer women... why? Because we bring the food! LOL My CAG Izzy prefers blondes... seriously! He looooves blonde hair! He'll make kissy noises and solicit pets from blonde girls. He'll even let ANY blonde woman CUDDLE him! Anyone else, even his favourite person? Forget it! LOL /sighs Typical guy. hmph

[Addicted to Tequila]

Dawn dishsoap baths.
Once every other day for a good week.

Poor dear!

If she likes to bite... you might try a tug toy. Goffins are playful active birds that enjoy interactive play. Like puppies... with feathers.

Actually... with no toys, smoking around her, a nasty cage, and people who obviously don't give a rats arse... no wonder she bites! Once you get her out of there I am willing to bet she will get MUCH better.

I hate to say it... but I would NOT visit her again until pickup. You want her to associate you with all the GOOD things you will be giving her... not as a part of her old life that I am sure she deplores. It is that whole "guilt by association" thing your Mom warned you about. The more she connects you with that house and those people... the more she will hold a grudge.

BTW... the whole thing about 'toos liking only the opposite sex is bunk. A self-fulfilling prophesy at BEST! No worries on that account... I assure you.

Get her LOTS of destructible toys. You may or may not have to introduce them slowly. As she has not had any/many... she may be suspicious. But I have also known many a fearless Goffins!

[Marley21]

Thanks everyone! Ill bath her and Ive got tons of toys for her already, and Im not going until tomorrow when I pick her up! Im sure she'll see how happy my other birds are here and just love it...I know shell love the clean air and the treats! Im going shopping for her tonight to get her cage and everythign else...thank god I work in a pet store with a huge huge discount on everything! She'll be spoiled rotten in no time....no more ash trays for my little baby....

[mmr]

Well I don't have a Goffin, but I have and Umbrella (actually a mombrella) Cockatoo. VERY Similar but different. ANYWHO...
If she is that old why did you have to put down a deposit? Can't you just get her total? She needs to get out of that environment ASAP.

Also I am a memeber of MYTOOS.COM. It is specifically for too's and too owners. Please keep in mind though it is a " no fluff" board, so you deffinetly need to have tough skin. They are also totaly against breeders and pet store buys. That being said, you can get a lot of help and great information on there. Don't get scared off, some people get mad and leave. Remeber it is for your baby! I got here for My Ellie and have gotten tons of help!

Not seeing and being there it sounds like she hasn't had a lot of hand contact! So you will need to move slow with her and move at her pace. My Ellie is a rescue she was 9 when I got her, it took me 4 months before I could even touch her. So yes, you will need lots of patience.
I also suggest clicker training. I have been doing this with Ellie and it is the most effective and best way for us to learn and teach her. It isn't all about doing tricks. It also teaches lessons such as stepping up on your arm or dowel rod, them going back to their cage on their own, etc.

You will also have to think about hormone season. Ellie who is the sweetest too and NEVER Bites has become this possesed little chicken too who now chases feet and bites. Their personality changes 360. I am having to re learn everything in a different way, as she is a different bird right now. Thank god hormone season only last about two months!

Best of luck to you. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions.