any advice or thoughts welcome

Debbmarie

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My husband and I have decided to add a Goffin to our family. I am a stay at home mom, we have a 3 year old son. We currently have 2 fur children my 16 year old poodle and our 6 year old cocker spaniel. This will be our first large bird. I do have some bird experience, I had little birds. My mother has a galah so I'm not a complete stranger to cockatoos.

So here's what I've found a young male goffin, 10 years old. He's currently in his second or third home and they are now rehoming him. The reason they are rehoming is because he's biting. I'm just looking for some feedback on thought. I've got mom in my corner to help out with behavior mod. But I don't have much experience myself. Also any thought on introducing bird to child n child to bird.
 

Doublete

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"Loki" turquoise GCC 1/4/15 hatch date-- "Chiqui" amazon 9/2010 hatch date---- "Banner" green parrotlet hatchdate 11/22/16

RIP "pineapple" lovebird
I have no experience with cockatoos and someone will come on to answer your question but sadly my opinion would be that a child that age and a too would NEVER mix.
 
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Debbmarie

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Even if your 60+ or a young child bird etiquette has to be learned at some time. Thankfully he does well around moms bird razberry and typically gives her space when there but a bird in our own home I know will be different.
 
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Kiwibird

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I'll share one of my first memories as a child- I was all of 3 and unbeknownst to my parents I went to try and pick my dads goffin up (they were teaching me how to hold the amazons at the time, who are much more understanding and laid back birds). Well, Alfie does bite and did not appreciate a toddler trying to pick him up. He attached himself to my cheek. He remained firmly attached as I ran screaming through the house, cockatoo dangling off my face and he had to be pried off by my dad. Yes, my dad still has him (and I'm 27 now, Alfie is 40), and no, that was not the last time I was bit by that bird.

As a parent, you must understand ALL parrots bite. It goes with the territory. of parrot ownership that at some point even the best trained most loving bird could nail you. The bigger the bird, the nastier the bite and toos can have the propensity to latch on and not let go. If you are not ok with your child being bitten by a bird, you need to consider carefully whether or not a bird is really the right choice then. Also if it would be fair to the bird to be rehomed yet again because it bit your child. Some parents are totally fine with it and view it as a learning experience for the child in parrot care (mine always did). Other parents just aren't ok with an animal that may inflict a nasty wound on their child. That's a very personal decision, but not one to be taken lightly.

All the negatives aside, I *LOVED* growing up in a home with parrots! They are just fun animals to have in the house with kids. Yes, I got nasty bites from time to time growing up, but they always healed and my parents always explained why I was bitten so I didn't make the mistake again in the future or learned how to read their body language better. Overall though, 99% of my childhood interactions with the birds were positive. The amazons liked me a lot better than the cockatoo and I generally avoided him, but even he has his sweet moments;)

img004_zps9901984f.jpg
 
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Birdman666

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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
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Yeah.

With a three year old, it would be look but we don't touch. CURIOUS LITTLE FINGERS FREQUENTLY GET BIT!

And if this one is presently biting adults, there's no way I'd trust this bird to allow a child to handle him. Good news, is biting is the easiest thing to behavior mod. (It's plucking that's hard.)

I think Sarah was five or so before she started being allowed to handle our birds. And she was around 7ish when she began going down to the rescue with me and helping rehab birds, so she got A LOT of large bird experience VERY QUICKLY... (Including HYs!)

Once she knew what she was doing, the training wheels came off. But she's grown up with this stuff...
 
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Debbmarie

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We definitely don't plan on him holding especially with not having a full history and even then he's still got to learn. And that will be in either situation of we get an older bird or decide to buy and raise. It'll be a learning experience for him. But once older and able I do want him to be able to hold. As of right now he knows how to look and not touch because that's the rule with moms bird. And it's never if we get bit but when.
 

Birdman666

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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
We definitely don't plan on him holding especially with not having a full history and even then he's still got to learn. And that will be in either situation of we get an older bird or decide to buy and raise. It'll be a learning experience for him. But once older and able I do want him to be able to hold. As of right now he knows how to look and not touch because that's the rule with moms bird. And it's never if we get bit but when.

Bite pressure train them and they pinch instead of draw blood.

It still hurts... but it doesn't leave scars.
 
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Debbmarie

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I'll add that into my notes to look up. I've been doing alot of research and taking notes. hubby laughs but I'm anything if not an over preparer. he came I from work to me with books and sites open on kindle and tablet and note cards scattered around. Said I looked like I was preparing for a high school exam hahaha
 

Kiwibird

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As long as you know what you're getting into and that toddlers don't always listen (especially if mom has been distracted for even a moment!).

Personally, I am partial to rescue birds, especially ones past puberty. The reason being birds who have gone through puberty already will not have a sudden and often unexpected change of behavior a few years down the line due to the onset of hormones. In fact, I wouldn't doubt the G2 your looking at is in puberty and "started biting" when he started experiencing hormones and his prior owners are not educated on how to handle it. Our amazon was a biter, a bit of a screamer and had a generally unpleasant disposition when we adopted him at 10 y/o. He was going through puberty at that age (and I'm pretty sure a G2 would be at that age too, it lasts a few years for parrots). The good thing is, by the time we worked through his behavioral problems, his hormonal problems had also decreased as he matured and we have a very stable, nice bird now we shouldn't have any further (major) hormonal issues with down the road who still has a very long life ahead:) With a baby bird, you can raise it and put tons of time and effort into training, have the sweetest, most loving bird ever then puberty hits and it all flies out the window. If you are prepared for a G2, I wouldn't discount the little rescue guy. Some rescue birds are true diamonds in the rough! Different species, but Kiwi is a real gem of a little bird (he just needed some polishing;)) and I can't believe no one recognized his potential before us! Have you met the rescue goffin yet?
 
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appu1489

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seems like you're adding another 3 year old to your family ;). if you monitor it well everything will be fine in time. goodluck.
 
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Debbmarie

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Yes, that is about right.
I'm either crazy, asking for trouble or completely in love with a beautiful animal. Maybe a combo but either way I can't wait to say I'm bringing home a new baby
 
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Debbmarie

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It did not work out for us to get the 10 year old Goffin. Hubby just didn't feel confident enough on behavior mod that the bird was going to need. So back on the search I go
 

Scott

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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
It did not work out for us to get the 10 year old Goffin. Hubby just didn't feel confident enough on behavior mod that the bird was going to need. So back on the search I go

Thank you for making the effort and due-diligence. Goffins do require much attention and boundary setting. Better to spare the bird and your family the angst of a potentially uncomfortable situation leading to re-homing.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
It did not work out for us to get the 10 year old Goffin. Hubby just didn't feel confident enough on behavior mod that the bird was going to need. So back on the search I go

Thank you for making the effort and due-diligence. Goffins do require much attention and boundary setting. Better to spare the bird and your family the angst of a potentially uncomfortable situation leading to re-homing.

I agree with Scott..I adopted a Goffin after my grey passed away,and failed to do any research on him,my heart won over my head,and I was looking for something to fill the very large void Amy and I were feeling.

Jonesy could be the sweetest little guy you ever saw! Loved loveys..head scratches allll day and he was literally a little clown! Made friends fast with Amy...then for whatever reasons <probably for me not knowing a 'toos needs> he turned into a little beady-eyed monster :eek: Very untrustworthy. A Dr Jeyckl Mr. Hyde..sweet one moment then CHOMP! Blood everywhere! <mine of course :eek:> Then the constant screaming started..and never stopped.
He is in a new home now,and doing fabulous! His new parronts love him to death! He is in a fairly large family,where someone is always with him. I was told he simply loves the womans hubby and vise-verse.. Hubby taught Jones how to play fetch..he'd roll a little golf ball sized whiffle ball to Jonesy and jones would run/hop over to it,pick it up and bring it back lol.
It all worked out great in the end.


Jim
 

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