First Cockatoo First Night-Biting and Screaming

[CookieBirdsMom]

I joined this thread because if this mainly. I have some smaller birds but my friend runs a small rescue and a Goffins Cockatoo she just adopted out 6 months ago has been returned so I asked to foster him with plans to adopt if things work out okay but he is running at me and biting when I don't pet him or screaming.
When I put him near his cage he pulls away but when I finally get him on or in it he won't let me touch him.

I'm very new to this type of bird or larger birds in general so I will need some help. He used to pluck but his feathers are mostly grown back and he is about 8 I think.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi and here are is some useful info for you if you not already been there?

Cockatoos - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Hope Scott, our Moderator will see this later on and give you some pointers. He has several Goffins.

Remember to reward the good behaviour and ignore the bad. Just turn your back until he stops being a brat.

 

[itzjbean]

Hello and welcome! You have come to the right place to seek advice on this. I have no experience with cockatoos, but I know they are very different from other birds in that they are sort of neurotic, demanding, and can be a huge challenge.

Just my 2 cents here -- It sound like in his past he may have been spoiled so much that he became dominant over his family, biting them whenever he didn't get attention. I have heard of this behavior before, and it is unfortunate the bird was not given proper boundaries. This behavior needs to be eliminated, and to do so, whenever he demands more attention (aka attacks, bites), return him to his cage for a time-out, every single time. No matter how many times it takes, be consistent on this. You need to make him learn that you are the one in charge, not him. Time-outs for bad behavior and reward good behavior with treats and pets.

It may take a while for him to understand what you expect out of him, so in the meantime you really have to treat him like a toddler, and work at his level. Build your turst bond with him, work at his pace. Get him lots of cool chewable toys so that he can learn to play independently on his own.

I'm also hoping Scott reads this thread and adds his experiences with his Goffins!

 

[Scott]

Cockatoos are frequently known as "velcro birds" because they crave handling and attention. The screaming is icing on the cake to get your attention! The prior posts offer great advice!

Your Goffin carries the baggage of unknown experiences and homes. While they don't readily "forget," behaviors can be modified. Plumsmum's link suggestions are an excellent place to start. Try this one as well; it was written about macaws, but the principles apply to most parrots: http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

I would recommend letting your Goffin acclimate for at least a week or so before attempting serious interaction. He needs to feel secure, so the basics of a safe cage, proper nutrition, and a non-threatening environment are crucial. You might try sitting quietly and talking, hand feeding through the bars, or reading stories. Setting limits and consistency are extremely important to developing a relationship. A well-check with an avian vet may be warranted to rule out chronic or lingering illnesses.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Sadly, I cannot offer you any positive suggestions for your little 'too.

Jonesy,my little goffin (a.k.a. "the beady-eyed monster") yurned in to a little hellion with his screaming and biting. He was an awesome little guy in the beginning,but he was my first 'too ( and my LAST) and I really didn't do any research when I adopted him from a friend ( who was also not too forthcoming about Jonesy's behavior!)

I give our member SCOTT much praise in living with FIVE of those...delightful little creatures !


Jim

 

[BeatriceC]

I had a lot of luck with my goffins 'too by approaching him like I would approach a human toddler. Kind and gentle, but firm with boundaries and expectations, and patience while he learned how to do what I expected of him and even more patience while he tested boundaries over and over again. Just like with a human toddler, I've had to re-teach all of these lessons several times, and I'm quite sure I'm not done yet. But patience, gentleness and firmness are the key here. Set your boundaries and insist on them. Talk to your bird using human words. He might not understand the actual words, but he'll understand the tone. It'll take some time, but he'll learn eventually.

 

[Siobhan]

Think of a cockatoo as a 2-3 year old child, who lacks the verbal skills to articulate fear/unhappiness/need/etc. and the only way the bird can convey emotion is to shriek. 'Toos are needy and reactive, and this one has probably, like most of them, been shuffled from home to home to home, and very likely abused along the way. He's scared. He's defensive. He expects the worst. He keeps thinking he's found a home, only to be moved to yet another new place.

Now, knowing this, and also knowing he has the weapons to do real damage if he chooses to, you have to approach him with the idea of starting from scratch to build trust. Don't get pushy. Don't demand trust and compliance. Especially don't raise your voice, even if he's screaming like banshee. Take baby steps. Be patient. I think he's probably mostly scared and unhappy and, basically, a baby among strangers in a scary place. It's not YOUR fault the place is scary, but that's how he sees it.