Goffin Wont Stop Crying

Hello everyone! Ok I havent been here in a few months. I am in desperate need of some advice! Kia, my goffin will not stop crying. The cry they do when they are babies. This is not a scream. She does this constantly. Its driving me nuts. She does it with me, my oldest son, and my aunt. If any of us are in her sight she does this. She crouches down real low, puffs up and does this constant cry. I dont know what Im doing wrong and i need help!!

Hi not quite sure but this could be the begging food behaviour, my cockatoo used to do similar actually almost exactly what you're describing. First off how old is she?

She about 2. Her cage is plenty big enough, and she gets a bowl of fresh fruits and veg twice a day. I used to think this was about food. But there are times she does it when she has her fruits/veg. She even does it at times when shes eating them.

Okay maybe not, basically what I thought it was, was things baby cockatoos and other birds do when they're begging for food. Im out of ideas, how often do you take her out and interact with her? She maybe begging for attention... Maybe you should try taking a video, give us a clearer idea of what she might be doing

Thanks for trying to help Its definitely that cry they do for food when they are babies. I remember her doing this cry when I would visit her before I was allowed to take her home. Once I had her home she would only do it every so often. Now its constant. The door on her cage is pretty much open all day. Only gets shut at night or when no ones home. But Im a stay at home mom so Im home alot. I give her a good hour of one on one daily. She also has a play stand in my sunroom and still will cry if she sees me. I dont want to have to keep hiding from her.

Tanimbar Corella (Cacatua goffiniana) :: xeno-canto On the bottom of the page are two recordings. I was wondering if the second one is what you are describing. Click on the link marked XC38399

If it is, it could be that this call is just very similar to a juvenile's begging sound. It could be a flock call.

What I would suggest is that you teach her another sound to make when she wants your attention. I'm not familiar with this species so I don't know their capabilities, but if the can learn a short whistle type sound, that is what I would do. Start using it when she makes this annoying sound, and also when you are in another room and she is being quiet. See if you can get her to repeat it. It may take a couple weeks.

But if you succeed, then she will have an acceptable way of calling you and getting reassurance from you. Plus, she may use it when she sees you if she knows it gets a nice response from you.

I've been doing a lot of research lately on the subject of spring hormones and my 2 year old conure. I read something about reverting to wanting to be fed by their favorite person as being something that a parrot will do during this time. Just my two cents...the article is: www3.upatsix.com/articles/spring

Sodakat I cant get it to play.

Riosmom thank you. I'll have to read that article when I get a min. Do you know how long that would last? She's been doing it for a few months.

Sorry, it didn't say! I think it is probably different for every bird!

I agree with sodakat...try making a sound you prefer. Your goffin is trying to get your attention. Be persistent and don't give up.

Lesa1211 said:

Thanks for trying to help Its definitely that cry they do for food when they are babies. I remember her doing this cry when I would visit her before I was allowed to take her home. Once I had her home she would only do it every so often. Now its constant. The door on her cage is pretty much open all day. Only gets shut at night or when no ones home. But Im a stay at home mom so Im home alot. I give her a good hour of one on one daily. She also has a play stand in my sunroom and still will cry if she sees me. I dont want to have to keep hiding from her.

Click to expand...

Could she be hormonal. Spring is here... When do the we birds mature?

What else does she eat other than the fruit and veggies? Do you know her current weight?

If fruit and veggies is all she is eating she is having way too few calories a day! This would explain why the noise became a little worse over time. Start feeding a larger portion of grains and nuts to see if that works to stop the noise before you assume its a behavior problem.

This kind of crying and begging behavior is common in birds (even fully grown adults!) that are not receiving enough calories to maintain a healthy weight. You can find video clips on Youtube of so called "trainers" who's birds are too heavily weight managed that make this noise as well. Every time I hear a bird begging like this is sends chills up my spine.

I too have a bird that does this. She crouches down, sort of flaps her wings, and makes a constant noise "Hup- hup-hup-hup" She does eat well, pellets, fruits, veggies.....It has been happening since I got her about 4-5 years, constant- its not seasonal. Im going crazy! Some days are worse than others. I feel sure shes begging, but shes never content! Unless shes walking around on the floor destroying whatever she wants. She has plenty of toys, but doesn't play. Shes been to the vet and he said shes healthy. I have ropes I hang from the ceiling in multiple rooms so I take her around with me. I have one on one time with her but I cant seem to figure out how to get her to stop begging all the time!

Lesa my Goffin does the same thing with my Oldest Son. Every time he walks into the room Silas start in with the crying. When my son can't take it anymore, I put Silas on his gym and that seems to quite him down. I have also been putting things in his cage that keeps him occupied while my son is in the room.
I'm really not sure what it is about my son that gets Silas going, But we understand what your going through.

I know exactly what you guys are talking about [I have one also]. Mine came off craigslist and came with "This". I think their being insecure [when their doing this].Especially when their not that interested in toys . I keep trying different things [ have to think outside the box with Toos ]. What has worked for me is "Pearl" has a consistent time out of cage with me. Hes good just don't go off his schedule [he will let you know |.Also when hes out we make A super big deal about him .He wants his "shine moment".Just found out he loves to rip through cardboard boxes. Its a big mess but he loves it !! Pearls the "Black Sheep" of my 15 birds [they cant all be good right LOL]. But as I said the routine does seem to work. Hes not all worried about "his time "cause he knows its going to happen later.

Hi Lesa
I was wondering if Kia has settled with the crying as my black too has been doing it since we got him at xmas.and we are going insane

I adopted a goffin that had been in and out of homes. She was nine years old and extremely spoiled! If she couldn't see me she was crying. It took a lot of patience and time to get her to stop. I found that having her own room really helped. When I got her she was no seed so I switched her to pellets which she ate very well. I made sure the room gets a lot of natural light. She has a huge cage with foraging toys (pine nuts are her favorite treat). Also shredding toys and she loves plastic rings and will take her frustration out on them. I leave her in her room and will not enter until she is quiet. This taught her screaming or crying will not get her attention. Since I have done this for so long she usually won't cry until evening. We get her out and then of coarse she is like velcro and since she is flighted she fly back and forth between us and her perch. She has a habit of stealing our food off our plates and falling asleep on our chest. She knows several tricks and is always tormenting our dogs. She pulls our hair when we are ignoring her. She is a all around fun bird to own but that first year I pulled out my hair trying to figure her out! She was a pistol and never stopped crying for me. This is why I am sure she was rehomed so many times. stick with it and try several new things till you find what works! But space, proper diet, unfiltered sun rays, and toys are the basic mandatory needs. they have to find a way to entertain themselves on their own.

Hi shesocalifornia I have posted a new thread called crying if you want to read through that it explains everything but it give me hope that you have been able to work through the same thing thank you for the advice