Goffin Cockatoo Common Problems

The Trials And Tribulations Of Owning A Goffin’s Cockatoo, And How To Solve Them Without Losing Your Mind!

Don’t let anyone ever tell you that owning a bird is easier than having a child, particularly if you’re considering a Goffin Cockatoo! Goffin Cockatoos are wonderful, affectionate, and intelligent birds no doubt about it.

And you certainly won’t have the headaches of teaching them to drive when they’re older. But you will have to deal with their hormonal surges during adolescence, their moodiness, and their constant need for your attention. We highly suggest you get in the habit of trick training your goffin at a young age to prevent as much of this bad behavior as possible.

And if you’re thinking, “yeah but I don’t have to worry about where they are or who they’re with when they’re away from home”, think twice because they’re intelligent and they can get out of their cage. So while it is true that you don’t have to worry about who they’re with, you will not like what they do to your home when you are gone. Yep, they can be destructive when left to their own devices. (Make sure they can’t get out of their cage when you’re not home!)

They’re loud and prone to screaming bouts when they’re unhappy, stressed out, bored or jealous. They bite and they have the tendency to pull their feathers out. YIKES! Never mind you say, I’ll skip the Goffin Cockatoo and get a hamster.

Wait, don’t grab that little furball just yet. What the Goffin lacks in manners it makes up for in affection and personality, unlike a hamster, and the bad manners that they’re prone to adopt can be stopped in their tracks with a few tried and true tactics.

So what are the tried and true tactics, you ask.

Since behavior problems have a few common causes the first step is to determine the cause of the behavior problem. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Is your Goffin’s Cockatoo getting the sleep they need? (Another parallel to a small child. Have you ever seen a two year old in dire need of a nap? Goffin’s and children need their sleep or they behave miserably.)

Is your Goffin’s Cockatoo getting the proper nutrients? A diet that lacks the vitamins and nutrients will make your Goffin feel downright awful and who do you guess bears the brunt of their poor disposition? You! Skip the nuts and seeds, except when you’re training them, and feed them a balanced diet of pellets, fruits and veggies. We discuss diet more in depth at FeedYourFlock.com.

Is your Goffin’s jealous? Goffin’s form a strong bond with their owner and when someone or something new comes into their lives, like a pet, a new child, or even the mailman, and that new person demands your attention, then your Goffin will resent them and let you know how unhappy they are.

Is your Goffin’s frightened or stressed? Occasionally little things can set off your Goffin. Maybe they’re afraid of loud noises. Maybe you’ve moved the furniture. Maybe they simply hate the color blue and your new blue sweater is driving them nuts. A careful evaluation of your Goffin’s environment can answer many questions about their aggressive behavior.

Is your Goffin’s bored? Imagine how wonderful you’d feel if you sat in a cage all day without toys or interaction or the ability to get out and stretch your muscles. Pretty unhappy, right? Your Goffin’s feels absolutely the same way.

They’re intelligent creatures who long to be part of your family and that means being able to interact outside of their cage. While their in their cage make sure they have plenty of toys that give them the ability to explore, learn, and play. A stimulated Goffin is a happy Goffin.

Speaking of stimulation…training is the best way to make sure your Goffin is both happy and well behaved. Training stimulates their problem solving ability. It teaches them the rules of the house and who makes the rules – you. It also strengthens the bond between you and your bird. Training is one of your strongest and best tools a Goffin’s owner has in their arsenal to prevent and eliminate those unfortunate behaviors Cockatoos are prone to have.

Of course training can’t solve all your problems, your Cockatoo has to have a great environment, a healthy diet, and an owner that loves them and cherishes them enough to spend the time required to care for them properly.

Is a Goffin easier than having a child? Yes and no. They’re both loud and they’re both wonderful. You can put a Goffin’s in a cage when they act out but they will live in your home for 30 to 40 years. The decision about which is easier is yours to make!  For more information on training see Trick Training