New Goffins owner

[dolphin3212]

I just got a goffins cockatoo on feb 12th. they said she is 10 months or 1 year they were not sure. already have a couple questions, why won't she eat fruits or veggies like my conure does? and how come when she is on my shoulder she scrapes my shirt with her beak? she also keeps running her beak back and forth on the bars of her cage if she cant come out right away, I heard that is bad for her beak? I don't think she had good nutrition at her previous home, I've tried broccoli, apple, different colors of bell peppers, snap peas, carrots, if I keep offering her the fruit and veggies will she start eating them because I know parrots are suppose to have more than just a seed diet to be healthy!!

 

[MikeyTN]

Give her time and keep on trying, your being impatient already as it hasn't been that long since you got her. During the beginning I don't push the change, I offer it to them and if they eat it great, if they don't I'll give them time to get settled in before I make any changes. I usually start making the change after a month of being with me. But that depends on the bird, if they take to it right away then I make instant change. I give them whatever they were being fed in their last home for the time being. Then when I start, I give a bowl of pellets that's available all day everyday. Then a bowl of fresh fruits and veggies in the morning. Then in the evening time I give a table spoon full of seeds. Next day I start all over again. During anytime you see them start eating pellets real good, yank the seeds and don't give it to them anymore. No nuts or treats during this time!!!! Let them be on the new diet and after they've been on it for a month or two, I would start offering treats and nuts again.

I would highly suggest you not having your cockatoo on your shoulders! Especially since she's not used to you at the moment nor are Cockatoo trust worthy to be on shoulders. She needs to learn early on to entertain herself if you can't be with her. It is detrimental to them if you do what she wants you to do. That's when people start having issues with Cockatoos.

 

[dolphin3212]

thanks for the info, it is very helpful, I thought it would take longer for her to adjust to us being different owners but she jumps onto our shoulders whenever we pass her cage when she is on her play top, we will correct that mistake right away, we will definitely use the information you gave us to make her a happy bird, I don't want her to suffer because I didn't know how to correctly do certain things so thanks again

 

[getwozzy]

I also second Michael on not letting her on your shoulder, especially so early on in your relationship...my galah is very beaky, especially when over-excited, so I don't let her on my shoulder hardly ever- I don't want her to accidentally bite my face or ears

As far as the beak scraping on your shirt- she's either cleaning her beak or investigating the texture....my galah rubs her beak on a lot of things that have different textures...my shirt, zippers, tile, the wall

 

[Charleymomma]

I have had my Goffin Charley for almost a year and he is wonderful, but glad to hear about the running of the beak on the cage. I always called it his jail break. It is funny to us. As far as the diet is concerned, he is a very picky eater, but I just keep trying different things and he eventually will try them.