Goffin's Cockatoo

[jbottino]

Hi, my name is Jane. I have been lurking for a while and have experience with ringnecks. I have recently acquired a baby Goffin's Cockatoo about 4mo. She seems to be very independent and requires very little interaction. She is not mean or aggressive as I can have her step-up and even though she pretends to bite she never bites hard. She is just content playing in her house (ie. cage or on it). She is not wanting to explore, like my ringneck did and she seems to only want attention when she wants it and that is very limited. I have barely been able to pet her much less have her be a velcro pet. It is good and bad; I wanted an interractive bird who would be fun and sociable, the Goffin's seemed perfect. Now it is like I have a bird who doesn't need anyone. She/ he will give kisses and will be vocal if we are persistent, but she is very quiet and reserved most of the time. I know lots of you have had problem toos and this is probably not the problem majority, but how do I socialize her and make her part of our family?

[EngTeach]

We have 2 Goffin's in our home; one that is independent and the other who is extremely cuddely in the evenings only. I don't think there's really any cut rule to the behavior of a G2. As long as you have a good size cage and lots of toys, G2s will entertain themselves very well throught the course of a day. You new baby might be just sizing you up to see if your worthy of his affection. My oldest, Chaucer who is almost 3, is pretty independent, although, he started out pretty needy. Right now he's going through a bit of "sexual frustration" as my vet says and is moody and picking terrible sores on himself; therefore wearing a collar. He has decided that we are evildoers and won't have anything to do with us (to the point of biting us if we try to take him from his cage). Are other G2, Meme, came to us at a year old. She was given very little attention at the place we got her and would rock back and forth crying when anyone came near her. She also didn't like exploring her suroundings due to being cooped up in a small cage for so long. But in a short 4 months she has developed into the most loving birds who seems afraid of nothing.I tell you this because Chaucer and Meme's personalities have both changed drastically since bring them home. Like humans, their personality changes with their maturity....so maybe you baby will become more like the G2 reputation of being Velcro bird once he's bonded more with you.

[huntress]

You are actually one lucky person to get a goffin who is trained to keep itself occupied. If it were mine I would simply take it everywhere I can with me. Playstands in other rooms , ect. It will eventually see you as transportation to "other" fun places. Also you can get allot of foot toys and spread them out on a sheet on the floor or bed to play and just sit with him and play with the toys too.

[jbottino]

Thanks so much for the input. I do take her everywhere with me in the house. She especially likes the bathroom where she can look in the mirror, take a shower and then get blow dried. I have only had her for a week and a half and she seems to be doing fine. She gives kisses, laughs and loves her toys especially the foraging ones. She will do anything for an almond even with the shell. I hope she becomes a little more cuddly and bonded with our family, but I don't want to trade her independence for a demanding spoiled bird either. I just want to be a good mom and raise her to be a happy and not neurotic bird!!!

[EngTeach]

Watch the blow drying, it will cause dry skin on your G2 and he'll itch like the devil and pull feathers. Just regular air dry is best. My G2s love to shower with me. They have a perch that sticks to the wall they sit on and I have a spray bottle in there to wet them down with. But Meme....she likes me to hold her directly under a regular shower and soak her.....which I do about every two weeks, the rest of the time she just gets a regular misty shower while I'm getting clean myself.

[jbottino]

I will watch it with the blow dryer for sure as I don't want to start any bad habits from dry skin. Maya, my g2 also love to get under the shower spray. Do you use any shampoo and if so kind?

Thanks

Jane

[SisterBlue]

We've had our 15 month old G2 for about a week now and I'm very surprised at how independent he is. He came from an exotic bird store, so he was used to being around LOTS of other birds, and maybe keeping himself entertained. Of course, after just a week with us he's still really settling in and hasn't shown us all of his true personality, but I'm very surprised at how content he is to be "with you but not on you" if that makes any sense?

He also goes to sleep quite early compared to the rest of our house, and we always put him back in his cage when he starts looking sleepy and he goes back in without complaint.

-SB

[EngTeach]

Once every 4-6 weeks I use Ivory Bar soap...only the original Ivory Bar no copycats...if my birds have gotten particulary dirty, the rest of the time I use either a spray called dander down that reduces the white dander a bit, or a preening spray that contains oils especially formulated for birds (I get my from Dr. Foster online), or sometimes just nothing but the water spray. If I use a product....its always after they've had their fun in the shower with the water...and then I spray them.

Cathy