Hi,
I just joined this forum seeking some guidance about my newly accuired Goffin Cockatoo. I got him from a lady who was very very good to him but is having a baby and could not keep him. She had him from 12 weeks old and he is now 5 1/2 yr. I have him for two months. He got used to our household very fast. He grew up with dogs and we have two dogs, and two little boys, and a cat, among other little critters and Gameboy (his name) synced in very well. He runs after the dogs at home and plays.He grew attached to me instantly. He is a beautiful happy bird usually. Two weeks ago we left for 3 nights over the weekend and my nephew house/pet sat. When we returned I noticed that he started plucking the tip of his left wing and the inside of his thigh, by his toes. I had parrots before and I know this is due to stress. He goes to work with me daily and so I can watch him most of the time, but now this has become a habit and he won't stop. He is not doing it so often because he is near me and with us in what ever we do, but still, it is a new pattern. I took him to the Vet. No infection, negative fecal, no parasites. I gave him a bath and he is still occasionally going for that area or I see nice little feathers at the bottom of the cage. There are a few issues: 1) What to do to make him break the habbit? He constantly has new toys to chew and break, a phone book, eucalyptus branches to calm him down, etc. 2) He does not eat as well since that weekend we left. He is not his happy self running around the cage, and he does not screetch as much. He does come down the cage and want to physically be on us or with us on the floor or he walks around the house looking in the rooms for us. 3) Is there a "Seasonal change in feathers"? I am sorry I am not using the pro's language but asking if they change "coats" like dogs do before winter. We live in LA, it is still very hot here but maybe they know that fall is coming and that is also the reason for those feathers at the bottom of the cage...
Please give me answers and advise. I need some pro goffin owners to help me here please.
I had a picker before (a Grey) and it devestates me to think this will happen to Gameboy. He is such a good bird, his diet is well balanced and I just want to break that habit before it is too late.
Thanks.
Limor
PS You can watch a video of Gameboy on youtube
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ooI9WAGbI"]YouTube - Cockatoo Gameboy chasing the dog[/ame]
I just joined this forum seeking some guidance about my newly accuired Goffin Cockatoo. I got him from a lady who was very very good to him but is having a baby and could not keep him. She had him from 12 weeks old and he is now 5 1/2 yr. I have him for two months. He got used to our household very fast. He grew up with dogs and we have two dogs, and two little boys, and a cat, among other little critters and Gameboy (his name) synced in very well. He runs after the dogs at home and plays.He grew attached to me instantly. He is a beautiful happy bird usually. Two weeks ago we left for 3 nights over the weekend and my nephew house/pet sat. When we returned I noticed that he started plucking the tip of his left wing and the inside of his thigh, by his toes. I had parrots before and I know this is due to stress. He goes to work with me daily and so I can watch him most of the time, but now this has become a habit and he won't stop. He is not doing it so often because he is near me and with us in what ever we do, but still, it is a new pattern. I took him to the Vet. No infection, negative fecal, no parasites. I gave him a bath and he is still occasionally going for that area or I see nice little feathers at the bottom of the cage. There are a few issues: 1) What to do to make him break the habbit? He constantly has new toys to chew and break, a phone book, eucalyptus branches to calm him down, etc. 2) He does not eat as well since that weekend we left. He is not his happy self running around the cage, and he does not screetch as much. He does come down the cage and want to physically be on us or with us on the floor or he walks around the house looking in the rooms for us. 3) Is there a "Seasonal change in feathers"? I am sorry I am not using the pro's language but asking if they change "coats" like dogs do before winter. We live in LA, it is still very hot here but maybe they know that fall is coming and that is also the reason for those feathers at the bottom of the cage...
Please give me answers and advise. I need some pro goffin owners to help me here please.
I had a picker before (a Grey) and it devestates me to think this will happen to Gameboy. He is such a good bird, his diet is well balanced and I just want to break that habit before it is too late.
Thanks.
Limor
PS You can watch a video of Gameboy on youtube
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ooI9WAGbI"]YouTube - Cockatoo Gameboy chasing the dog[/ame]
