thinking about adopting a goffin, need some feedback

[Brisch]

Adopted a goffin, videos and updates

I currently have 4 conures, 2 green cheeks, 1 fiery shoulder, and one black capped conure. All are rescues. I also work in a store that houses a blue and gold macaw and an african grey. I am not the most experienced with birds but know a fair bit.

At my store right now we have a 5-10 year old male goffin. His first owner passed away, and his second owner could not deal with him. So he was given to us. This whole story makes me want to bawl my eyes out.

He is a sever plucker, he has wounds on his chest where he has plucked himself clean. he seems to over preen quite a bit. Apparently he pulls his feathers out and tries to givee them to you :´( . I spent a few hours with him today. I fell in love with him.

He also seems to have what i am going to call fangs. his lower beak seems to come around the sides of the upper beak. does this need to be trimmed or should I leave it. It isnt my bird at this point but I will still get anything done he needs done.

He doesnt step up, you have to physically pick him up, but he doesnt bite. I helped him with pin feathers today and hit few sensative ones and he still never bit me. He will not sit on your hand, he wants to be on your shoulder, but doesnt touch jewellery which I have a ton of in my ears.

What I need to know is basically what am I getting myself into if I take him. I understand the time/period of time commitment but I need to know more about the rest of it. Again I dont mind vet bills, but does anyone believe he is saveable? Can the plucking be stopped or will he always do it. and can these birds bond to a family or are they one person birds. I am the oldest ¨kid¨ in the house but would like it to be a family pet.

Any input is appreciated but please keep it constructive/positive. Thank you for your input/help

 

[Brisch]

So, I brought the little goffin home. His name is Liam and he has issues, which I knew already. I have coned him so he can no longer reach his chest, where he has ripped a good 2 inch gash open on himself. I let him out of the cone most of the day while hes being monitored, but as soon as he starts to get to close to his chest he gets to wear the cone of shame again.

Heś a total sweet heart and wants nothing more then to be scratched and pet all day, I have told my mother not to give into the urge to do so though. He has a couple quirks. He plays one game that is funny but isnt all at the same time. He pulls the down off a feather then rolls it up and gently places it on his shoulder/wing, then he waits for you to blow it off but if you wait too long he will blow it off himself. Then he picks it back up and does it all over again. the problem with this game in my opinion is where he is getting his ¨snowballs¨ from. when he does this for too long we again cone him.

Today while working on some pin feathers under his chin, which he ironicly loves having pet, I noticed a cyst on his upper chest. This cyst is soft, not solid. It is about 1cm to the top right of where he gashed himself. I am not entirely sure how big it is as he doesnt like staying still very long. Its isnt red, not imflammed or warm, and is just under the skins surface. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas what it could be, and yes I know take him to the vet. He will be seeing the vet in the morning but I am just trying to get an idea before he goes what people think.

 

[Squirt]

No advice but he sounds like a sweetie pie who has been through a lot. I would bring him to the vet and get him checked out.

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

Poor little guy, but thanks for taking him on. He sounds like a charmer. I would get him to a vet though about that cyst.

I see lots of Goffins at rescues, and it breaks my heart.

 

[Jayyj]

It does sound like a vet visit is in order - apart from the cyst it'd be worth getting the beak checked to see if a trim is in order. It's a brave thing to take on a bird with severe issues, but wonderful that you've stepped up for him. He sounds like quite the character!

 

[jugoya]

Pictures could help us identify any problems.

Along with the gash.. when it heals you might want to try putting a birdie 'sweater' on him..

You can make one out of a sock quite easily and it will keep him from plucking. :3

I use one for my bird when its cold outside xP... but then I'm an oddball and like making birdie hoodies.

My favorite is his little bunny hoodie; he is forever playing with its ears.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

So sad thank you so SO much for wanting to help him.

Could the cyst actually be a small fatty tumor?

 

[Brisch]

it seems a little to liquid to be a fatty tumor. he has an appointment today at 3pm with the avian vet, so we will see what they say about the whole thing.

 

[Brisch]

I took him to the vet today, and meraculously the cyst had disappeared. I took him into the vet anyways, figured Id have him looked at. He said he may have just been swollowing something but normally you wouldnt see this because there would be feathers covering it. He also said the gash on his chest was healing quite well. Ill see what I can do about getting some pictures up for you all to see

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Hi ,im excited for Liam and you If you get to rule out it being medical . Then [Im sorry ] its most likely going to be a habit [and a way of life] . Not that he cant improve in his new surroundings . But get him on a set time out with you schedule.Toos need your praise and interaction consistently [something you can realistically keep up with] What I think can happen with Toos [Ive had 4].They can easily become insecure birds [which is where the problems start].I would do the sweater thing [no cone] and keep up with bathes . Just keep being real positive and accept him as he is . My Rb2 plucked than mutilated then died,Im not telling you this to upset you . But with mine I I wish I had understand them better as I do now. Now I have a troubled goffin I took in [In June}. He came screaming and flying and trying to attack. What I learned with him .He was so worried about when he was coming out of his cage he was a wreck. So he does well as long as your on the schedule [I swear he wears a watch LOL} I also have him out on a stick [he does tricks ] .We scream and yell.He just wants his 2 minutes of fame and is the star!!! Hes all happy then. Ive really had to think outside the box with him [and I think you do with Toos] .I also just learned he loves to shred newspaper and cardboard ( its a huge mess ] but hey hes happy. He has a cage full of toys ,but this is what he likes lately.Just a thought.

 

[Brisch]

Doesnt upset me what so ever because clearly our situation is not the same. I think Ill stick with the cone as he ate the ¨sweater¨ in less then 10 mins. the cone doesnt hamper his ability to eat, climb, move or see. He only wears it to bed and when he starts to pick at his chest. he can only seems to start to pick at his feathers in the late evening, almost as though he is misbehaving because hes tired.

Im working on the photos, for some reason my computer does not like hosting images on sites. Funny story, both the exotic bird society and the avian vet asked me where I bought the cone I was using......I made it....

 

[Brisch]

Pictures could help us identify any problems.

Along with the gash.. when it heals you might want to try putting a birdie 'sweater' on him..

You can make one out of a sock quite easily and it will keep him from plucking. :3

I use one for my bird when its cold outside xP... but then I'm an oddball and like making birdie hoodies.

My favorite is his little bunny hoodie; he is forever playing with its ears.

do you have a picture of this bunny hoodie?

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Doesnt upset me what so ever because clearly our situation is not the same. I think Ill stick with the cone as he ate the ¨sweater¨ in less then 10 mins. the cone doesnt hamper his ability to eat, climb, move or see. He only wears it to bed and when he starts to pick at his chest. he can only seems to start to pick at his feathers in the late evening, almost as though he is misbehaving because hes tired.

Im working on the photos, for some reason my computer does not like hosting images on sites. Funny story, both the exotic bird society and the avian vet asked me where I bought the cone I was using......I made it....

Good sounds like your figuring him out As I said whatever works [were just trying to help)

 

[Brisch]

Ok so all my pictures and videos are on my blackberry and for some reason I cant get them to send to anything....youtube, email, facebook...kind of irritating. But today my mother was teaching him aerobics, was interesting and midly funny to watch my mother jump around and Liam follow.

 

[Brisch]

[ame=http://youtu.be/MVN1cFFal1w]Liam the goffin cockatoo - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Hes not plucked that bad [that's great )

 

[Brisch]

Liam has learned to giggle in one night[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHMAaphaV7U]liam laughs - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Brisch]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jR1Oieqzjg]liam stomping in his water - YouTube[/ame]
Liam is like a little kid, oh Im suppose to drink out of this?

 

[yann]

he is sooooooo cute!!!!really glad a sweetheart like him found a wonderful home with ya