New goffin help please

[DonnaO]

Hello, I'm new here
Just adopted 10 year old goffin. I am third owner. Ezra came from home with little attention, no toys, poor diet and was a plucker. Checked out healthy at the vet though he's a little fat from inactivity. Doesn't scream or bite, just meows, lol. Been a month now and feathers are coming back in..yay! Just now discovering toys finally. Problem is...
He is not very active nor responsive with me and runs away from me . I'm quite familiar with training techniques, body language, the need for patience and time to develope trust .. I've been trying clicker training, and am spending lots of time witb him. But he's just constantly trying to get away. I understand i need to stay relaxed, calm and positive. I just don't understand his unresponsiveness and overall inactivity ( unusual for a cockatoo)and desire to get away from me. Would appreciate any suggestions on how i can connect with this sweet bird. Love him to pieces!Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and Ezra! Thanks for adopting, hope you are his final home - a daunting task for cockatoos.

The amount of "baggage" Ezra carries might be staggering. That you are not encountering some of the typical byproducts of abuse is encouraging. He may have learned to not trust, or perhaps doesn't feel close to you. Yet. A month is relatively short in the life of a 10 year old and serially re-homed parrot.

You might find something unique from our favored "bonding" thread: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Aloofness is far from the typical Goffin repertoire, so keep attempting to socialize, use a favored treat if helpful!

 

[DonnaO]

Thank you for your response and encouragement Scott.

It's the strangest thing. He will not perch, is afraid of sticks, rope perches, and branches, even small ones. But he will come on my arm very briefly. He's so afraid of everything.

Will continue reading the bonding posts and hope he comes around.

This is his last home.

Can birds ever really recover from past "baggage" or should I learn to just accept his personality?

Whatever the case, he's staying

 

[Taprock]

Welcome and thank you for taking on Ezra. I don’t have much advice as I’m in a similar situation, but I’ll share some so hopefully it might give you encouragement.

It’s been just over a year since Jasper came to live with us, he’s a Goffin who had one perch and two toys in his cage when he arrived. He didn’t make any noises, play with toys and hid in the top corner if you came near. It took him about 3 months to make any noises and to try out toys. Progress meant instead of hiding he stands his ground and hisses at me. Just in the last month he has been routinely accepting ONLY tortilla chips from my hand through the cage. He will see the bag and hang on the side of the cage closest to me just looking at them. I’m in process of trying to learn to make them correctly and healthier so I can feed him more. He has a play top but rarely comes out of his cage. It’s not easy because I’ve never even been able to pet him but it is about letting Jasper set his own pace.

I guess be patient, pay attention to see what Ezra likes. Celebrate the small steps he makes, each one is another sign of trust. You might try get a shelf perch for him, it may look less threatening to him.

 

[DonnaO]

Wow, I admire your patience!
It's very sad when you have so much love to give your little friend and they don't understand.

I so hope your little guy comes around soon!

Thanks for your input

 

[BeatriceC]

In addition to what's already been said, pay attention to cues Ezra gives about what he likes and doesn't like with hands approaching him. I have one bird who will only step up on a right hand and acts terrified if he's presented with a left hand (he can be transferred to a left hand, but only after initially stepping up on a right hand). I have another bird who I have to cover my entire arm with a white towel. No other color will do. And I have to present my arm with the inside of my forearm facing her. She's scare the other way around. Yet another bird will only step up on the fat part of a hand; the fatty part right below the thumb, with the back of the hand facing her. And a fourth bird who's terrified of anything with long sleeves, but especially the color blue. So if you want him in his most cooperative mood, wear a t-shirt that isn't blue (but jeans are fine...I don't get it.) It did take time to figure these things out, so just be patient and observe Ezra's reactions, looking for subtle clues that something is received more positively or more negatively, and then use that to your advantage.

 

[DonnaO]

Thanks!
I've had birds for years and never knew they paid THAT much attention to such subtleties.

I just lost my dear Sophie, a redfront macaw who was with me for 16 years. We were so bonded, I could do just about anything without a negative response.
I guess that's why Ezras attitude toward me is so confusing.

I will try and watch for those clues you mentioned.
Thanks for your input

 

[Scott]

My deepest condolences for your loss of Sophie. There is almost nothing as precious as a closely bonded bird.

As creatures of prey, parrot survival requires keen observation and flight from that which frightens. It may take time and patience, but you will likely socialize Ezra to a high degree.

I have 5 Goffins, two of whom were wild-caught. Their 3 hand-fed offspring are virtually fearless, but they were raised in my home with consistency. Both parents are socialized to a large degree, though the female is just as cuddly as her babies. Yet she won't perch on an offered finger, preferring to be approached and have my hands wrap around her back to cuddle. Once on my chest, she will transfer to a finger with ease! Go figure!!

 

[DonnaO]

Thanks. I miss her terribly. She was very affectionate.

One of the reasons I took a goffin was that they are, by nature, very cuddly. I am hoping for but not expecting that to happen soon.
Thanks for the encouragement!
You are very fortunate to have such well adjusted birds. I am surprised that a wild caught bird can change so dramatically. Kudos to you for getting her to accept you. That's amazing!

 

[Scott]

Early socialization helps, but certain species are more amenable to human contact. Peanut (wild caught female) was housed in a walk-in flight cage with her mate Popcorn once purchased. They were quite tolerant of people and would take food by hand. Many years later, the infamous male cockatoo aggression kicked in and they were separated. Peanut proved very adaptable over a few month transition period in a bird room where nobody was caged.

I believe once you earn Ezra's trust he will be more friendly and cuddly. It will take patience and concerted effort. Glad to see you are committed!!

 

[smbrds]

Welcome to the forum! Don't have much to add, and the already added is great information and advice! Very sorry about your Sophie, a respectable and loving 16 years. Thank you for taking care of Ezra. Great that you're in the for the long haul and it will for sure be one but will be rewarding along the way!

 

[DonnaO]

Good to know.
I do have Ezra in a bird room (not a cage ) ... and he does seem happier to move about freely. He had been plucking a good bit. The vet gave me some aloe Vera spray which he freaked over, so I just poured it into his bath dish water..
He has stopped plucking and feathers are growing back. I'm taking that as a good sign.

What did you do specifically to get Peanut to come to you? I am surprised he accepted you with his mate and little ones around.

 

[BeatriceC]

Consider having a cage available, even if you don't use it regularly. My goffins and one of my amazons put themselves in their cages when they're stressed, grumpy, moody, etc. Oscar is particularly dramatic and includes a door slamming worthy of a teenage human. Also, if for any reason you do need to cage him he'll be accustomed to a cage of some sort, so it won't be as stressful.

 

[Scott]

Good to know.
I do have Ezra in a bird room (not a cage ) ... and he does seem happier to move about freely. He had been plucking a good bit. The vet gave me some aloe Vera spray which he freaked over, so I just poured it into his bath dish water..
He has stopped plucking and feathers are growing back. I'm taking that as a good sign.

What did you do specifically to get Peanut to come to you? I am surprised he accepted you with his mate and little ones around.

I believe Goffins do best in small flocks (many will accommodate other cockatoo species) and given the freedom of remaining uncaged, if safely possible. As BeatriceC mentioned, a cage does offer security when they wish, and as emergency measure.

When Peanut and Popcorn were in the flight cage, they would take food by hand and playfully "dive bomb" me. I didn't go in much when they were nesting, but the babies were removed within 2 to 3 days of hatching. (not desired, but parents abandoned them almost immediately - long story!)

Once Peanut and Popcorn were separated, she lived in a smaller cage for a few weeks to acclimate. I had a hunch she would integrate well with 2 of her 3 adult children and a Moluccan and Citron in the bird-room. Turned her loose and there were no squabbles! Peanut frequently made eye contact with me, so I began giving her attention and eventually she let me gently approach and cuddle. Popcorn, the male, remains in the large flight cage and is let out several hours daily. I can scratch his head and hand feed; that seems the extent of his desires. Doubtful Ezra will remain that aloof as he was surely not wild-caught and has more potential.

 

[DonnaO]

Honestly don't know where he came from. The woman who gave him up only had him for a year. Said she got him from a pet store.

When I first saw him , he seemed so sad in his small cage with only one 8 " perch and nothing else. No wonder he plucked. I couldn't wait to set him free in the bird room. I cant stand to see them locked up. But guess you're right about a cage. Hes just so afraid of everything..branches,perches,toys,hands... i had put a boing up in one of the windows and he hid on the other side of the room til I took it down.
I don't want to do anything else to stress him out. I do understand what youre saying though.
Thanks for all the info...very hrlpful.

 

[Scott]

Honestly don't know where he came from. The woman who gave him up only had him for a year. Said she got him from a pet store.

When I first saw him , he seemed so sad in his small cage with only one 8 " perch and nothing else. No wonder he plucked. I couldn't wait to set him free in the bird room. I cant stand to see them locked up. But guess you're right about a cage. Hes just so afraid of everything..branches,perches,toys,hands... i had put a boing up in one of the windows and he hid on the other side of the room til I took it down.
I don't want to do anything else to stress him out. I do understand what youre saying though.
Thanks for all the info...very hrlpful.

Chances are overwhelming Ezra was hatched in captivity, you'd have to go back decades to find legally imported wild-caught cockatoos into the U.S.

That he remains very skittish probably speaks volumes about his past. You've had him just a month, not terribly long given his unknown history. Is he food-motivated, perhaps that is one way to his heart? Some of the bonding techniques involve just sitting nearby softly reading to him, conversing, etc. Goffins will make eye contact and give expressive body language, ie craning towards you and preening vs turning his back or moving away. It may be necessary to revert to the very basics of socializing.

 

[DonnaO]

He will jump on my arm if I offer avicakes but quickly turns and flies away. I know it's just going to take a lot of time and patience.
One bright spot... I was outside in the garden near the bird room and Ezra meowed and followed me from window to window watching me with his crest up.....so at least he is interested!
I'm going to call that progress
I will continue to do all you suggested. Many thanks!

 

[Kiwibird]

You have already been/are being given excellent advice by other members. Just wanted to offer encouragement for sticking with this guy and letting him come around on HIS timetable, however long that may be. Celebrate every step forward no matter how small! Age 10, he is a young bird and you have plenty of time (try another 50 or so years) to earn his trust and companionship It took years before we won our defensive and distrusting amazon over (also a 10 y/o rescue with 2 known prior homes). He is a very sweet bird now but there were times in the first year I wondered if he'd ever stop hating us and punishing us for the sins of humans who broke his trust in the past. Our bird has never has become fond of petting, but definitely likes being near us and interacting with us through playing, talking at him, coming in the shower, sharing bird safe food etc... Amazons aren't known cuddles though. Cockatoos are, so given enough patience, he very well may become a cuddly little guy once he feels safe and like he won't be abandoned again.

It also took time and improved diet for him to become more active and playful with toys. His original vet noted his muscles were weak from lack of use due to sitting doing nothing for years straight. Sounds like your little guy may have been in a similar boat. Keep in mind, a bird who's been inactive for years except to eat/drink is going to lack muscle and stamina just like an overweight and out of shape human who has spent years sitting on the couch and only getting up to hit the fridge. It'll take time for him to build the strength required for high-energy playing. It'll also take time for his body to respond to better nutrition, at least a few months before he'll be feeling any major effects of improved diet. Parrots health improvements run on a comparable timetable to humans so think of how long it would take a person to go from overweight, undernourished and inactive to competing in triathlons (which is the human equivalent of those birds you see on Youtube acting crazy over toys and who are total balls of energy)!

Just remember, no matter what, this little guy needs you to be the human who loves and cares for him unconditionally. Whether it takes a few weeks or months or years to gain his trust, DON'T give up. They all come around eventually. Patience and persistence is key with rescues!

 

[DonnaO]

What wonderful information!
I'm so glad your little guy came around!
Thank you so much for the encouragement.
I am hopeful!

 

[Scott]

Please keep us updated, share the progress and seek advice (or just a sympathetic ear) when challenged!