Should I adopt a Goffin Cockatoo?

[Tangie]

Lately I have been looking for a larger parrot or two. I have tried to contact people on here and on other websites, instead of a breeder. I want to give an adult parrot a chance. My friend's father has a Goffin Cockatoo, and he wants to give her to me. The Goffin Cockatoo is a female, and she's at least 20 years old.

She seems healthy enough, and her feathers look fine. As healthy as you could be with an all seed diet. I really want to give her a better life with a ton more attention. Their coming down on Wednesday to visit, and they want me to adopt her then. But I feel it's a little stressful, because their family is living in my house now, so I have no quarantine place for her. And because of the 6 extra people in our house, I don't have several hundred dollars to spend on a vet bill to test her for diseases until next month{I never do XP, but I make do}.

In the past two months she has been moving from apartment to apartment, and no illnesses have sprung up yet{But I know that doesn't mean she doesn't have any}. So, I don't know if I should adopt her because of all of this..... Kiko is my top priority.

 

[Sterling1113]

Honestly... 'Quarantine' is really hard to accomplish 100%, even if you have your birds in separate rooms, things still travel through AC vents, air, and of course yourself (unless you change clothes and shower between handling sessions.) I'd be less concerned with the lack of proper quarantine space if you could at least get her checked by a vet. Maybe her current owner would be willing to help out for the cost? Just so you can have some peace of mind. I hope things work out for you in the least stressful way possible!!

 

[RavensGryf]

Honestly... 'Quarantine' is really hard to accomplish 100%, even if you have your birds in separate rooms, things still travel through AC vents, air, and of course yourself (unless you change clothes and shower between handling sessions.)

Right sometimes there just isn't the space, and certainly not different a/c sources within a home. We just have to do the best we can... Not too practical to change and shower (or wear a hazmat suit) every single time we switch from touching bird to bird. You know ME in my paranoia :52: but it's just impossible to be 100% in a home setting!

 

[RavensGryf]

It sure sounds like the owner of the Goffin's is TRYING to give her away asap! Do you know why (since he heard you wanted a bigger bird) he's really trying to push this one onto you? Like he's thinking "oh good, here's someone who would want her, great now I could finally get her out of here!"

Can this guy hold onto the bird until you have had enough time to think things over about the pros and cons, and whether this is the right time, or the right bird, or if you even want this bird for sure (not just cause you feel sorry for it) but really want it despite potential unknown problems, extra powder dust, etc?

Just because this person wants to get rid of the Cockatoo, don't let it pressure you into making a big decision without really thinking over what's best for you and your current birds. Good luck.

 

[Tangie]

Thanks for the info guys! If I do get her, I'll try and do the best quarantine that I can.
The reason why he wants to give her to me is because his health has seriously declined. He's older, and one of his lungs have failed. And he has common heart attacks. Of course he would give her to someone else, but he would definitely prefer me, since he knows I'm a parrot person.

 

[aliray]

That sounds like he has a really good reason to want to rehome her and the fact that you are a bird person I am sure makes him feel like the bird would have a good home.