Goffins Cockatoo Not Eating!

aayush · Aug 30, 2017

Hey Guys I'm new here!
I bought a goffins cockatoo 5 months ago from a breeder who was almost weaned at that stage.
Since the day I have bought him i have to forcefully feed him till now using a syringe.
I offer him everything possible.
Even took him to vet several times.
He is really active and playful with no signs of sickness.
What can I do such that he eats on his own?
Please Help!

aayush · Aug 31, 2017

aayush said:
Hey Guys I'm new here!
I bought a goffins cockatoo 5 months ago from a breeder who was almost weaned at that stage.
Since the day I have bought him i have to forcefully feed him till now using a syringe.
I offer him everything possible.
Even took him to vet several times.
He is really active and playful with no signs of sickness.
What can I do such that he eats on his own?
Please Help!

Please helpppp

LordTriggs · Aug 31, 2017

how old is exactly is the bird? It can take up to a year to properly wean a Too according to the stuff I've read.

You just keep offering formula and normal foods until they're eating the normal food and refusing the formula.

Why did you buy an unweaned bird anyway? There's only benefit to the breeder saving on all that formula you have had to pay for. Depending on what part of the world you're in that's highly illegal. I'm guessing the breeder doesn't want to know anymore?

plumsmum2005 · Aug 31, 2017

Keep feeding him until he is ready to eat on his own. Pretty much like a child.

Offer fresh veggies (sweet potato, broccoli, carrots etc) perhaps mashed to start feeding using a small spoon, see if he will take some this way also.

It is vitally important that you ensure he gets enough to eat per day or risks sickness. You can give him pieces of veggies, peppers, apples etc on a skewer, he will destroy it initially.

My 'too was five when he came to me and he still had a strong feeding reflex by spoon. Relax and enjoy your baby, oh and don't forget to feed him

aayush · Aug 31, 2017

plumsmum2005 said:
Keep feeding him until he is ready to eat on his own. Pretty much like a child.

Offer fresh veggies (sweet potato, broccoli, carrots etc) perhaps mashed to start feeding using a small spoon, see if he will take some this way also.

It is vitally important that you ensure he gets enough to eat per day or risks sickness. You can give him pieces of veggies, peppers, apples etc on a skewer, he will destroy it initially.

My 'too was five when he came to me and he still had a strong feeding reflex by spoon. Relax and enjoy your baby, oh and don't forget to feed him

I would have given him.
But even the hand feeding he takes is forcefully not by any means his choice.
He takes bits of veggies and other food items and then throws them away and gets on with playing.What to do?

plumsmum2005 · Aug 31, 2017

Well it just sounds like he is too busy learning, playing to spend time eating. Great he wants to play! You are sure that the Certified Avian Vet ruled out any illness aren't you?

Carry on doing what you are doing, ie giving those feeds, he will change.

Tip: Weigh him every week at the same time. Keeps track of how they are doing. Dips in weight would be concerning.

This is one of the pit falls of buying and taking home an unweaned parrot! Buyers beware!

wrench13 · Aug 31, 2017

Ditto on weighing him. A scale, with a suction cup perch, are less then $30 on Amazon. Thats the only way to tell if your bird is eating anything or not. That is odd though that he will neither eat on his own, and also give you a hard time about eating formula. Talk to us more about his eating habits, do you have to towel him to hold him while you are forcing him to eat. More info will help the Sr. members ( not me) here offer you sound advice.

LordTriggs · Aug 31, 2017

just noticed that he's refusing even the hand-feedings. Do you make sure the food is at the correct temperature all the way through? They may not like it because it's too cold which is dangerous or it's too hot and burning him which is equally dangerous

plumsmum2005 · Aug 31, 2017

This is interesting and perhaps throws some light

"A young Goffin’s, regardless of age, should always be offered hand feeding once or twice a day when it first goes to a new home. This is to reassure it that it is loved and wanted and should continue for a week or so until it is settled in and eating well. Unlike many parrots, cockatoos are not particularly motivated by food. A stressed, unhappy baby may become depressed and uninterested in food if allowed to remain hungry for any length of time."

Goffins Cockatoo, cacatua goffini - Hornbeam Aviary

Hope Scott comes on soon?

itzjbean · Aug 31, 2017

Maybe the formula you are feeding him is not warm enough/not the right consistency? Taking on an unweaned baby bird is a risk that no one should take without proper experience. You could call the breeder and ask for advice, maybe even let them continue to wean your baby until it will accept no more formula.

Scott · Aug 31, 2017

Welcome to you and your little Goffins!

I'm guessing he is a bit under one year old? Are you in contact with the breeder? Has your little guy seen an avian certified vet? Not just any vet, but one with special training for birds. Many with "exotic" experience know little more than the traditional dog/cat vet.

As plumsmum2005 posted, Goffins are *not* highly food motivated. However they do have some favorites, and once you identify something enjoyable it can serve as the appetizer for greater variety. Some of the foods mine especially enjoy are peas, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, edamame in the shell, cooked yams and sweet potatoes, apple, orange, pear, melon and especially the seeds, banana, pomegranate seeds, corn (small quantities) various grains such as quinoa and oats. Cooked cereals such as oat meal and oat bran, Malt O Meal are enjoyed at room temperature. Cooked whole grain spiral noodles are a favorite. Small pieces of dense whole grain breads as a treat.

Another consideration is that Goffins are flock eaters. When one begins the others follow. He sees you as a flock member, so prepare a bowl for your Goffin and one for you. Begin to eat, bob your head up and down, make "Mmmmmm" sounds as if enjoying. You'd be surprised the impact this has and he may join. Try giving him a piece with your finger and encourage nibbling. (just not any food from your mouth!)

Finally, your bird has not finished weaning properly and never learned the purpose of food. There will be a transition between syringe feeding and a healthier enjoyment of solid food. Let us know how things go, but I would really advise a visit to a proper vet just to rule out any issues!

aayush · Aug 31, 2017

Scott said:
Welcome to you and your little Goffins!

I'm guessing he is a bit under one year old? Are you in contact with the breeder? Has your little guy seen an avian certified vet? Not just any vet, but one with special training for birds. Many with "exotic" experience know little more than the traditional dog/cat vet.

As plumsmum2005 posted, Goffins are *not* highly food motivated. However they do have some favorites, and once you identify something enjoyable it can serve as the appetizer for greater variety. Some of the foods mine especially enjoy are peas, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, edamame in the shell, cooked yams and sweet potatoes, apple, orange, pear, melon and especially the seeds, banana, pomegranate seeds, corn (small quantities) various grains such as quinoa and oats. Cooked cereals such as oat meal and oat bran, Malt O Meal are enjoyed at room temperature. Cooked whole grain spiral noodles are a favorite. Small pieces of dense whole grain breads as a treat.

Another consideration is that Goffins are flock eaters. When one begins the others follow. He sees you as a flock member, so prepare a bowl for your Goffin and one for you. Begin to eat, bob your head up and down, make "Mmmmmm" sounds as if enjoying. You'd be surprised the impact this has and he may join. Try giving him a piece with your finger and encourage nibbling. (just not any food from your mouth!)

Finally, your bird has not finished weaning properly and never learned the purpose of food. There will be a transition between syringe feeding and a healthier enjoyment of solid food. Let us know how things go, but I would really advise a visit to a proper vet just to rule out any issues!

I'll visit a vet asap.
I'll use variety of foods available.
Thanks a lot for your support.

Scott · Aug 31, 2017

You're very welcome! Please keep us updated with his condition and progress!

aayush · Oct 23, 2017

Still not much success achieved.
He hardly eats 20 to 25 nos of sunflower seeds and a few pellets.
I am tensed now,what to do?

LordTriggs · Oct 23, 2017

did you go to a vet? What did they say?

Laylatoo · Oct 23, 2017

Are you offering a large variety of fresh foods served in different ways? My baby galah came home at almost 5 months and was more than ready to come home as she ate anything and everything offered because her breeder was great at introducing her to new foods. I suggest asking exactly what the breeder was feeding. Smaller Toos typically wean at 12-16 weeks but may still need a comfort feed for a while. It would not be normal to be needing to be sustained on baby food past 16 weeks of age in my opinion for a small species cockatoo. I’d get your baby to a vet ASAP for a checkup. My older girl is fighting a reoccurring yeast infection which made her appetite next to nothing so I was hand feeding her daily to keep her weight up. I’d also recommend trying some of the Higgins cooked foods. My Galahs love the creamy zen and I use that as a base to add lots of puréed veggies into their diet.

clark_conure · Oct 23, 2017

Also if things continue on....next time you're at the store get some Orange juice with vitamin D and Calcium added. If he doesn't drink that...you may actually have a guinea pig or hamster wearing a goffin outfit.

Scott · Oct 23, 2017

aayush said:
Still not much success achieved.
He hardly eats 20 to 25 nos of sunflower seeds and a few pellets.
I am tensed now,what to do?

Have you taken him to an avian vet? There may be a medical condition that can be treated. Or, he may not be fully weaned.

Sunflower seeds are about the worst as his primary nourishment. Here are some ideas to make healthy foods more attractive:
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/49831-chop-day-recipe.html (this will give you some suggestions)

Goffins Cockatoo Not Eating!

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