Rescued Goffins Cockatoo

[mrstweet]

I introduced myself over here (viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4671&start=0) and my "new" 13yo G2. I was hoping to gain some more insight on a couple things, as he has multiple issues.

1. Converting him from seed to pelleted diet
2. Teaching him to stop biting (he is tricky with this and will act like it is okay and then will bite, as well as typical aggression and just not wanting to be handled)
3. He was a "pet" in his last home but was locked in his cage for months. Now, when I let him out it is very difficult to get him back in without using a towel or getting bitten. Help?
4. He plucks. I have read as much as is out there on google. Is there someone here who has some method of stopping/reducing plucking? He appears to be doing it at night when he is covered.
5. While not in pristine health, he has not shown signs of illness (fluffed, lethargic, not eating/drinking, bottom of cage, etc.) but I did notice his vent was a little yucky.
6. How can I encourage him to preen and not pluck? He has been getting bathed every day since he got here.


I guess I'll leave it at that for now...sorry that there is so much in my post, he is my first cockatoo and I want to do right by him.

[TheNzJessie]

first off a avian vet visit would be great to get an overall evaluation on his health status.

second set up a routine. as his out of cage time as probably never been consistent right now he doesn't know hes going to come out again so he wants to stay out.

third. feed him after hes been out so while hes out and then put his food in his cage for him to eat once he goes back in. try to take him out at the same time of day for the same length of time for a while to show him he will come out again.

teach him how to forage it will keep his mind active and will hopefully reduce plucking (no guarantees thou)

[patdbunny]

Diet: http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/le ... n_diet.htm
http://www.plannedparrothood.com/diet.html

Personally, I'd try to get him to try fresh/cooked foods first. For me that's been easier to do. What I do is make a cooked mash and then mix the seed into it. The bird has to dig through the mash to eat the seeds and at least starts tasting a variety. I can't live without my food processor. I munch everything through it so my birds can't be too picky choosy about that they will and will not eat.

Plucking - I've taken in a few older toos that were pluckers and/or mutilators. I haven't been able to stop those behaviors w/out an e-collar. I've seen new bubble collars out there, but have never used them. So basically the collar is so the bird can't pluck and over time forgets about habitual plucking. But again, it's an ingrained habit so it's easy to revert back to it under stress. Then back on the collar goes. It's a long process. I'm a nail biter, so I kinda understand their neurotic plucking behavior. Nail biting's a go-to behavior when things are stressful or it's too quiet and I'm not otherwise occupied. I have my own "collar" - acrylic nails.

Yes, on the foraging. I was doing foraging before foraging was popular as it was the only thing that kept our goffin occupied for longer than 5 minutes. To this day she does not get food available in a bowl. You of course can't go straight to this. One way we'd feed Sally was w/ my hubby's old tube socks. Wash w/ hot water and bleach so it's clean. Put the bird seed in the sock. Tie the sock off. Poke a few holes in the sock so the bird can see what's inside. Affix to cage. After the bird figures it out you don't need to poke holes in it. You can also tie the sock off into multiple compartments.

[mrstweet]

The sock idea sounds really great--I think he will like that. I have been hunting for ideas for puzzle toys. So far the couple I have haven't even grabbed his interest.

I've gotten him to eat human food--toast, fruit, couscous, peanut butter, cereal, lettuce...so I'm not worried about him starving, thankfully. He has an appointment with the avian vet on the 1st.

[debbieknd]

I have taken in many cockatoos that are pluckers also..some I can get to stop and some just won't
And unless they draw blood on them self I now just let the pluckers stay pluck..BUT..For the ones I did get to stop..is kinda of odd
Routine is so important . I have sit many hours with the pluckers and when they start the ideal of plucking I go entertain them Dance , sing, jump ,play even ring a bell.
Once I got a Too to stop by whistling a tune of Mayberry .
Every time he started to do the plucking behavor I would go stand by him and whistle the tune. He nows whistle that all the time and has most of his feathers but, some did not grow back.
Another Too, like to climb in the covers..that help him
You have to find his nitch..and his trust..once you find that he will start getting better
Even my naked babies I love to death

[sherillynn]

Its been a while since you posted on your Goffins and I am wondering how things are going and what you found out at the vets. Give us an update when you have a minute.

Sherill