Goffin Too...please talk me OUT of him...

Nakiska

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May 30, 2011
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Washington
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4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
Hello everyone,

I'm begging all Too owners to please please PLEASE talk me OUT of purchasing this bird :)

He's 8 years old, he is a rescue, was a plucker, almost all his feathers have now grown in, he's had several homes, his name is Junior and from the very first time I saw him over 6 months ago, I was IN LOVE!

The person/store who's selling him is extremely particular in finding him his absolute forever home. I stop in this store several times a month and I always spend a particular amount of time in front of Junior, talking to him, watching him and...looking for reasons to NOT absolutely LOVE him!

And it's not just me...he really IS different toward me than any other people I've watched look at him. There is something about Junior, a connection, I can't describe...that I can already feel with this bird. If you've ever had an undescribable bond with a pet, then you may know what I'm trying to say.

My situation is that I have 6 birds already. 4 Cockatiels, 1 conure, 1 pigeon. I absolutely DO NOT NEED another BIRD! But...that being said...I ask myself and you all...What's one more?

I have 5 dogs, 4 horses, 2 cats and 2 fish tanks I really don't NEED anymore pets. I know this...but...arghrrrrrrrrrr!

I am a forever home person. My oldest horse is 24, I've had her since she was 7...after she went through 9 homes...I'm her 10th and final home.

Every pet I have taken in is either still with me, (even through the loss of my home and relocation) or has passed.

I'm no stranger to pet behavioral issues, including birds and I don't "get rid" of my pets because they "misbehave" or "have problems."

Financially...I am COMPLETLY Aware of pet/vet care costs.

In my heart, I know I am the perfect home for Junior.

But my mind is telling me...STOP! WAIT! THINK THIS THROUGH!

I've never had a Cockatoo, Junior is a Goffin:

Can anyone tell me what I'm REALLY getting myself into taking in a cockatoo.

Noise isn't an issue and that is not my big concern.

My biggest concern is that of...if my husband and I want to go out of town for a week here and there... (not more than a couple times a year), leaving our pets in the care of my best friend and or my grown daughter (both extremely good house/pet sitters with lots of pet experience.) ... What is the likelyhood of Junior plucking out his feathers because he misses me, or having some kind of behavioral issue because I'm gone?

Really....how much different is a Cockatoo to care for compared to our Conure or tiels?

Could Junior "tie me down" more so than Franklin, or our tiels and pigeon?

Do cockatoo's in general, have more emotional demands than say...our super spoiled conure?

I'm a school bus driver, because of this...I have LOTS of home time with our pets, all summer, winter break, spring break and because I work in the a.m. and afternoon.....I'm home several hours during almost every day.

Please...I beg you all...help me come up with a list of "cons" so I can fall on one side or the other of this fence I've been sitting on for over 6 months.

If you can't come up with the "cons" then absolutely give me "Permission" to bring in another pet to our already huge family! ;)

My spouse is no help...he just shruggs his shoulders and says..."Honey, I don't care if you get him, but it's up to you to find a place to put him :) and then he sternly :mad: looks at me and says...but this is IT!" :p

Hhhhhhhhhhhheeeellllllllllllllllllllpppppppppppppppppppp!

Toni
 
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Mare Miller

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May 14, 2011
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sierra foothills of central California
Parrots
13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I don't have experience with goffins, but I do with an umbrella. Amigo is very needy of attention, when he want's it, demanding, but also a love. I have a hard time leaving him for any period of time because It's hard to find people you can trust with their emotional care.

I did have to go away for about a week and a half recently and he did, just,,ok, with my family that could handle him, (daughter, only, bummer being she's scared of him, but he likes her). Don't get me wrong, he and they survived, he never had been a plucker, so I had no worries there.

If goffins are anything like umbrellas, I think you need to consider whether you have more time and energy to give, to this one bird, than you do to your other birds. Their emotional needs are great, mine is anyway. Maybe having more birds in the house will help, I wouldn't know about that.
 
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Nakiska

Nakiska

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May 30, 2011
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Washington
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4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
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OMG! I think maybe you just nailed it for me.... :D

I do believe the ultimate reason I'm even questioning this decision at all...is because I'm struggling with the wonder and perhaps, I have to be honest here... the knowledge that I don't want to admit to myself...and that is...I'm absolutely "used up" with all the pets I currently have...

It's not about whether I can or can't...it's not about financial, it's not about a couple trips a year, it's not about cleaning another cage, or the space in the house....

Deep down, I must be realizing...I'm nearing the end of my rope...because dadgummit! No matter how hard I try...there really is NOT enough hours in the day...

Could I care for him...yes, absolutely...but could I DEVOTE to him....hhhmmm......

Thank you Mare!!!!

Toni
 
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Nakiska

Nakiska

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May 30, 2011
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Washington
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4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
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My husband used to tell me....Honey...you can't save them all...and my response...as I was bringing...yet another pet into our home....has always been "maybe not, but I can die trying."

Yes...he's given up fighting the issue...

Toni
 

Molcan2

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Jul 19, 2011
783
1
Lake Co., Florida
Parrots
Princess Rome- Moluccan Cockatoo (18yrs old), Rosie - Galah/Rose Breasted Cockatoo (2yr old)
Hmmmm....

Of all the Toos I think the Goffins are the least Too like. They are the clowns of the Too world, full of energy (of all the ones I have met, I'm convinced they all have ADHD). I have seen several videos of them in their natural wild habitat doing things like swinging in circles around power lines. It seems to be in their nature to goof off. Don't think I'll be much help to you considering that I adore them. I like their quirky personalities and their size. I am also one of those people that goes with their gut feeling. So probably wont help you when I say that if it feels right then why not?

Heres the problem with Toos: (mostly with the bigger ones - the bare eyed and goffins shouldn't be lumped in with the M2s and U2s) The BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION is that Toos need more time, they DONT require anymore time than any other parrot. I cant bold that, underline it or scream it often enough. Toos however want more time, so what happens is (esp. since they can be pushy, a loud voice can go a long way) owners give in to them and give them more time. This creates a monster that has an insatiable appetite for time and attention. If you have a Too you just have to have a structured environment and you have to stick to the rules. Toos can be very independent, if that is the behavior you encourage (foraging toys, destructible toys, toys that require thought, toys, toys, and some more toys). On the flip side, people who encourage clingy behavior are the ones that end up where they cant leave the room without the entire neighbor hood knowing it. If you want lets equate it to horses, you have the owners that enforce the rules all the time, have a well balanced sound minded horse and then you have the owners who get on randomly let the horse do what ever they want and then get mad because their not listening when they decide on a whim that they want the horse to listen to a particular cue when the horse is usually allowed to have the run of the mill.

Now as far as the plucking/shredding. Never expect that to go away. Act as though he doesn't do it at all. It may clear up, it may not. It has nothing to do with your environment if you bring him home and he continues to do it. You can provide them with the best environment possible and they may never stop it. Its very disheartening to come home and find feathers on the floor, you cant allow it to bother you. Its a problem within the bird and there isn't anything you can truly do to stop it. Just except it and love the bird for who he is.
 
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Nakiska

Nakiska

New member
May 30, 2011
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0
Washington
Parrots
4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
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Oh Molcan2 ....

Seee! I wondered...and this brings me back to...YEP! I want him :D

Our conure, he's the biggest clown I've ever met...and Junior...well, perhaps that's some of what I love about him from day one...his antics! We always joke about Franklin being ADHD! Hahahaha....

When I look deep at my situation, with all our pets...I have to stick to a schedule or nothing works...even when I'm home during school breaks, I stick to my work schedule with my time with our pets and especially so with our birds...so that when I go back to work, it's not a dramatic transition.

Again, I truly think I am the perfect forever home for Junior...I just have a hunch...

THANK YOU for confirming the "misconceptions" with regards to "Too's"

Toni
 

Mare Miller

Banned
Banned
May 14, 2011
1,260
Media
2
3
sierra foothills of central California
Parrots
13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I was all set up to bring in another parrot, a B&G Macaw. My husband was wondering whether or not dementia was settling in, although, he was supportive of me. My dad became ill with cancer, needed my help, and I had to back out of adding on to our family.

Someday I might add another addition, just not now.
 

Molcan2

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Jul 19, 2011
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Lake Co., Florida
Parrots
Princess Rome- Moluccan Cockatoo (18yrs old), Rosie - Galah/Rose Breasted Cockatoo (2yr old)
Now I've never owned a Goffins but I'm sure people who have will post about them. I can only go off of the ones I've met and talking to their owners. Now the M2s, U2s, Majors, Sulfers, Citrons, seem to be more of a handful than the smaller Toos. If I was only allowed to ever own nothing but Toos then I would have a Rose Breasted and a Goffins. Good luck with whatever you decide ;)
 

Mare Miller

Banned
Banned
May 14, 2011
1,260
Media
2
3
sierra foothills of central California
Parrots
13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I'm wondering if larger cockatoos want, and therefore demand more time, is maybe, they NEED more time! I would never say anything against owners of these birds, I think you all do an amazing job. I just find it hard to have a captive bird of this caliber.
 
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roxynoodle

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Dec 1, 2011
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I am nowhere near a 'Too expert. I have never had one, nor do I think I want one. But, I thought Goffins were considered by many to be the smartest of them, and the most manipulative? Little maybe by 'Too standards, but very cunning despite that, lol!

I guess I can't answer whether you should get him or not. You have a lot of animals. I used to have that many animals as well, but now that I'm older, have arthritis and am sick with my pancreas, I just can't do it anymore. I guess that is only something you can answer, Nakiska. I, too, keep my animals until they pass away. I do have one more bird now than I used to, and 3 parrots keep me pretty busy, and my cat is very demanding and of course you know what it takes to take care of horses.
 

luvmytooo

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Dec 22, 2011
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New York
Parrots
*Yoshi* Goffins Cockatoo
* Rosie*Rose Breasted Galah
*Stella*Hyacinth Macaw
*Baby*Catalina Macaw

*Multiple Parakeets*
I am absolutely crazy for Goffins :p I can tell you mine likes to welcome dawn and dusk with his usual TOO serenade .
After that , he is mostly quiet . He is a comedian and a love bug :)
I was told by my avian vet that cockatoos do like to have other bird companions around.
If you have such a connection with him , and if I were you , he would be home with me already , lololol.
But you are doing the right thing by asking yourself if you are capable to care for another bird. The last thing you want to do is overwhelm yourself with the responsibility of taking care of multiple birds , including one that may have issues that you dont know about.
When it becomes more of a chore then a pleasure , you know then that you are overwhelmed.
I would find out more about this bird first ,like why was it rehomed and what was its previous home like and maybe a little history why he started to pluck. This way , if he started to pluck because he is afraid of dogs ( just saying ) would your home be the right home for him ?

Birds are a huge responsibility and if you feel you cannot commit yourself to him , then let someone else adopt him that can....
If you still have doubts in the back of your mind , then something is trying to tell you to second think this decision ..

Good luck with your decision :)
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Out of all the goffins i've been around, they're NOTHING like the smothering big toos!!! As long as you teach them alone time, provide toys, and proper diet. They'll do just fine. Unlike the big toos that will hold a grudge, well all toos do it but bigger ones are worse! I have noticed if you provide good lighting and place them where your at often along with other birds they're quite happy!!!
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
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Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Luvmytoo, you post it right before I did...lol...the part where they like company of other birds is very true!!! But it takes a bit for them to get adjusted as they freak out with new stuffs easily. Dixie LOVES it when the canaries and parakeets visit her. She got sneaky and start dumping hanging toys on their heads which is very funny to watch! :)
 

mnkeastman

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Jan 6, 2012
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Pixie-White Capped Pionus
Hey I came to this site because I was seriously tempted by a Goffin. I had to let it go because of my situation and inexperience but because you know you can provide all of that and the noise isn't an issue for you I would go for it and let me enjoy your pictures till I can have a Goffin for myself cause I will eventually! When it is the right situation for me as well as the birds!
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Hey I came to this site because I was seriously tempted by a Goffin. I had to let it go because of my situation and inexperience but because you know you can provide all of that and the noise isn't an issue for you I would go for it and let me enjoy your pictures till I can have a Goffin for myself cause I will eventually! When it is the right situation for me as well as the birds!

They're really not that bad on noise issue. Very quiet over all...

By the way I just noticed Pixie's hatch date is actually my b-day...lol
 

mnkeastman

New member
Jan 6, 2012
509
2
Parrots
Pixie-White Capped Pionus
Hey I came to this site because I was seriously tempted by a Goffin. I had to let it go because of my situation and inexperience but because you know you can provide all of that and the noise isn't an issue for you I would go for it and let me enjoy your pictures till I can have a Goffin for myself cause I will eventually! When it is the right situation for me as well as the birds!

They're really not that bad on noise issue. Very quiet over all...

By the way I just noticed Pixie's hatch date is actually my b-day...lol

Is it? lol then you must be a good egg to :)
 

luvmytooo

New member
Dec 22, 2011
1,914
1
New York
Parrots
*Yoshi* Goffins Cockatoo
* Rosie*Rose Breasted Galah
*Stella*Hyacinth Macaw
*Baby*Catalina Macaw

*Multiple Parakeets*
Hey I came to this site because I was seriously tempted by a Goffin. I had to let it go because of my situation and inexperience but because you know you can provide all of that and the noise isn't an issue for you I would go for it and let me enjoy your pictures till I can have a Goffin for myself cause I will eventually! When it is the right situation for me as well as the birds!

They're really not that bad on noise issue. Very quiet over all...

By the way I just noticed Pixie's hatch date is actually my b-day...lol

The Goffins are very quiet compared to other Toos. (in my opinion)
My Yoshi would yell if he was in the cage and I was in the same room. He started to throw temper tantrums because I wouldnt let him out...But , he has to learn that he doesnt get what he wants when he wants it...Once we got that established , he rarely gets loud during the day , only once in the morning and once at dusk and that's only for about 5 minutes. :white1:
 

luvmytooo

New member
Dec 22, 2011
1,914
1
New York
Parrots
*Yoshi* Goffins Cockatoo
* Rosie*Rose Breasted Galah
*Stella*Hyacinth Macaw
*Baby*Catalina Macaw

*Multiple Parakeets*
Luvmytoo, you post it right before I did...lol...the part where they like company of other birds is very true!!! But it takes a bit for them to get adjusted as they freak out with new stuffs easily. Dixie LOVES it when the canaries and parakeets visit her. She got sneaky and start dumping hanging toys on their heads which is very funny to watch! :)

That must be a hoot to watch , lolol. My Goffin is getting more and more comical as he gets older...he has started to do this "head swag" I call it , when he does his "patrol" across the top of the cages.
He gets to one end and he does his head swinging , always the same exact way , and then runs towards the other end of the two cages , then he sort of chuckles and does the same thing over again.
Its very funny to see and my Rose Breasted Galah seems to enjoy watching him , lolol. She gets her front row seat and sits back with a snack and takes in the show :) And if she gets in his way , he gets mighty upset and then goes to swing on the chains like a madman.:09:
 

lene1949

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Sep 26, 2011
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Brisbane, Australia
Parrots
Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
RIP Shrek: Quaker
Put your questions to mytoos.com and they'll be able to talk you out of getting him... and more... lol
 

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