I am from the frozen tundra, also known as Wisconsin, and currently have a house full of rescued animals, to the point that most days I am quite sure I live in a zoo. I don’t mean for this to become long winded, however I know it will as I know in order to help my boys, you’ll need specifics.
This summer I was asked to step in and rescue a goffin cockatoo, after learning of his living conditions I stepped up to the plate and drove a total of 14 hours to bring him home. He was named “Bore-Us”, because he does not talk and was a bore to his former owners. I refused to call him something so degrading so we renamed him Tuffy, as he hisses whenever we come near and wants us to believe he is Mr. Tuff guy.
There is some debate as to his age, I had him to an Avian Vet, and they suspect that because he is unbanded and due to the damage on his feet, he maybe wild caught. The vet also suspects that he is in his mid twenties or so… I live 10 miles from the Kaytee Avian Research Center and am good friends with one of their “top dogs” and she too feels that he is wild caught but estimates his age as being much older, obviously, we’ll never know.
I can pet him, he is as sweet as the day is long, and he loves attention. But I cannot seem to get him started on clicker training. He is mortified of everything; I am just now getting to the point where I can put toys near his cage without him having a panic attack. Don’t even think about changing anything in - on - or near his cage! He will not accept treats from the hand and has little to no interest in anything food related. I use a long bright yellow knitting needle as a target, and the poor thing almost had a heart attack when I put it on the entertainment center where he could see it. Clicking it anywhere in the same room as him sends him back into his cage as a quivering ball of feathers. I try clicker training the other in front of him, however he isn’t falling for monkey see, monkey do… He does not step up, and is allowed free time out of his cage all day every day. He does not come off his cage and at night I point to his perch and tell him to go home, and he goes in. He really is a gem.
My next rescue was Buddy a 16 year old Rose Breasted Cockatoo; He was going to be euthanized as his former owner was a breeder and could not find a home for him. He had been used as a breeder for 12 years until last winter when an unusually cold snap hit and he lost his mate. He had been kept in an unheated barn, and had no human interaction other than to have food put into his cage. He refused to accept another mate and was not a pet so she felt having him put to sleep was his “best option”. I couldn’t see that happening so I bought him… She couldn’t give him away, but she could euthanize him… go figure… At any rate, I had him flown in, and started acclimating him too life in a house… After 6 days we could pet him through the cage bars and two weeks later we had him stepping up.
He too was vetted, and checked out healthy; He is plucking extensively (bald) under his wings, on top of his wings, his neck, back and legs. According to the previous owner, he started plucking when he lost his mate and he just never stopped. The vet does not believe the plucking is health related and I have been trying various things to help him stop the habit. He has countless food foraging toys, and I give him aloe vera juice baths in an effort to alleviate dry skin if that is the issue.
I have started clicker training, and this boy is sunflower seed motivated! I can target him anywhere for a sunflower seed. However that’s as far as I have gotten him. I am trying to teach him to wave and while I have seen Michaels you tube video on how to do it, I cannot seem to get him to understand what I am trying to get him to do. If I put my finger too close he steps up and if I don’t have it close enough he looks at me like I am on crack.
He has horrid foot issues! He does not grasp. He is as graceful as a buttered turnip! I have made cage accommodations for him to ensure his safety however he likes to climb to the top and come crashing down frequently. He doesn’t fly! He flaps his wings and lands like a rock. He climbs down off his cage and walks around the house, perfect as can be, however if he falls, look out! He will attack anything and everything he can get to! He has attacked feet, table legs, the entertainment center, shoes, a sweater hanging off a chair, you name it! The only way to deal with these attacks is to towel him quickly and quietly and set him on his cage floor. I have been to the vet to see if there is something we can put on his feet to help with possible pain and so far all of the ointments for neuropathies are toxic if eaten. He has a barrier of pillows around his play stand so if he falls, he has cushion, but he’s learned he can jump off his play stand and use them as a quiet launch pad to come find me where ever I am.
He loves my 18 year old daughter; she is the only person he will talk to. He mimics everything she says. He sits quietly on his cage / stand all day and when he knows she should be home, he starts calling her. He does not act aggressively, he does not puff up or act scared. He reaches out for her in an effort to step up the moment her hand touches the front door. She can let him step up about 50% of the time and he is the perfect little guy but the other 50% of the time, he clamps down on her and refuses to let go, and I don’t understand why, or what the trigger is. He gives no warning; he will be standing on her arm talking away to her then viciously bite the hell out of her. I am able to handle him without issue, as is my husband, so I really do not understand the aggression to my daughter or how to break it.
As I said, I have a friend who is one of the “top dogs” at Kaytee; however she believes I should bring these birds to a sanctuary and allow the professionals to care for them, as I am unqualified. And I openly admit that I am, however because I am inexperienced and unqualified, I am unworthy of her help. She told me I’d never be able to touch him and was livid and stomped out of my home when I showed her he was stepping up for us.
I am currently in Wisconsin, I am looking to move once the thaw hits to warmer weather and sunshine. I will not be rehoming any of my animals. Knowing that no one would rent to us, my husband and I purchased a 32 foot camper so we have a place to stay with the animals as we move and as we look for a new place to live. As a result, I need to get the boys into shape and at least to the point where we can safely work with them quickly...
So I need to know how to start working with the Goffin when he won’t accept treats and is mortified of everything, and I need to know how to stop the vicious attacks on my daughter. Those are my main two concerns at the moment.
I am sorry for the length of this, I just hope the details will be able to shed some light on how to help my boys
