Breeding Question: Goffin Cockatoo

[andrabhi]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum and this is my first question. I hope I am posting in the right location. Please let me know if I am not.

I have a pair of 5 year old Goffin Cockatoos and they have started showing nesting behavior. I think they might lay eggs soon.
I have read on the Internet that they lay a clutch of 2-4 eggs.
However, I didn't find any information related to how many clutches they lay per year on average?
This would help me plan out when I should provide them more nutrients and calciums.

Thank you.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum.

Wow, you're right, it wasn't easy finding out info on how many clutches they 'can' have per year in captivity. This is the only source I found, and don't know how reliable/accurate it is.
Goffin Cockatoo

 

[Scott]

My Goffin breeding experience may be atypical, but together with other research should give you balanced information.

My pair were wild caught and purchased by my family about 25 years ago. Well bonded, they had a nestbox and were unproductive for about 7 years. Only an occasional unfertile egg was observed. We subsequently moved, placed them in a flight cage, and voila! They ultimately bore 3 surviving chicks in a four year span. Their single clutches of 2 to 3 eggs were generally laid in the Feb-Apr time period, with typically only one hatching. Only once did two live chicks hatch, and the second survived a matter of hours as there was no discernible vent area. While Peanut and Popcorn were good incubators, they stopped feeding their offspring within a few days. First time caught us by surprise, and he lived. The others were closely monitored and as a result all there were hand-fed 'round the clock. Because this was terribly arduous for a working family, the nest was subsequently removed. Peanut and Popcorn continued to thrive together until just a few years ago when the infamous male cockatoo aggression began. It increased in ferocity, so they were permanently separated. Popcorn lives in a huge flight cage while Peanut (hen) was introduced to 6 other mostly uncaged parrots in a "bird room", including her 3 adult offspring. She has closely bonded with all but one of her sons, and is now quite tame.

Long story, but I have tried to answer your questions! Why Peanut hasn't laid multiple clutches over the years is unknown - may be a function of our temperate weather, nutrition, etc?