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Goffin's Cockatoo

Family: Cacatuidae

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Cacatua goffiniPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

     The Goffin's Cockatoo are known to be clowns, and are extremely playful!

   To learn more about Cockatoos and their needs visit:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Cockatoo

Scientific name:Cacatua goffini

Distribution:      Goffins are native to the Tenimber islands of Indonesia.

Description:      Goffin's Cockatoos are a smaller cockatoo that is white with pink highlights in front of the eyes and on the breast. They are one of the better talkers among the cockatoos. They are easy to teach all kinds of tricks. Cockatoos in general are a very loving type of bird that needs a lot of attention from their owners. Buy a cockatoo only if you can spend a lot of time with it.

Care and feeding:     A cage of at least 20" x 20" is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat. The Rose-breasted Cockatoo should be fed a less oily diet (sunflower seeds and other oily seeds) than other cockatoos since they can develop fatty tumors known as lipomas.

     See About Cockatoos: Housing and About Cockatoos: Care and Feeding for more information.

Size - Weight:      The Goffin's are the smallest of the cockatoos. Mature birds are about 22.5 cm (9 inches) in length.

Social Behaviors:      Wild Cockatoos are friendly and peaceful. They live together in flocks of 20 or more birds.

Breeding/Reproduction:      See About Cockatoos: Breeding for Cockatoo breeding information.

Sexual differences:      Hard to tell with young birds. As they get older the females' eyes will develop a lighter brown color, the males' eyes will remain black.

Potential Problems:      Cockatoos can be quite loud screechers. The behaviour can be reduced by giving attention and proper surroundings. Also, since they are prone to chewing, if they are not given enough attention they will chew their own feathers.

Availability:      These birds are readily available and are inexpensive for a cockatoo.

Activities: Loves to climb and play and chew. Provide lots of toys.

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I've had Rocky since 1988 and at that time we guessed him to be around 4 years old. He was a rough one indeed - I got him dirt cheap at a swap meet. I couldn't stand to see him couped up in a small cage and hauled around in the back of a van. I had always been around birds - parakeets, cockatiels, and conures, so I knew Rocky would fit right in. After a few years he settled down and like all Goffins loves to be petted and be 'on me' whenever he can. He's out whenever I'm home (including overnight). He's posessive of me to extent he'll chase off cats, dogs, anything that comes on "his" sofa. Once, when the power went out overnight and it started to freeze I brought him to bed with me to keep him warm. There he slept - no problem. He's never bitten anyone but I'd be (am) leary of young children who don't respect the power of his beak and jaw. If you have enough love to go around a Goffin is agreat companion that doesn't take up the whole darn house. Scott Stenberg 2009-08-25
Hello everyone. I have a Goffin Cockatoo named BeBe. He is about 8 years old. He means the world to me. I find that cockatoos have the funniest personality. My Bebe loves to dance, jump around, give kisses and loves for me to pet him all over his body. They do require lots of attention. If he doesn't get it, he will squack and chew on things. I have had to replace molding in my house because of it. I almost lost him a couple of weeks ago. I took him outside and he flew off my shoulder. He flew so high into a tree, that we could not get him down. We tried throwing a football to try and scare him down but he flew out of sight. I was so devastated. That night I put his cage outside and prayed to god to please bring Bebe back to me. The following morning after putting out flyers on a lost bird I went out back and heard him squack. He was yelling "I love you". I found him high in a tree, and again tried to scare him down. He tried to climb down to me but couldn't get a grip of the branches. Finally after 4 hours of this, he tried flying down to me, but got startled and flew to another branch. This time the branch was low enough a ladder could reach. I put the ladder up there stuck my hand out and he climbed onto my finger. We just sat there and gave each other hugs and kisses. God answered my prayers. I don't know what life would be without him and I don't want to find out. I love you Bebe. Gloria 2009-06-21
I've had my little goffin for about a year now, I got him at 6 months from a pet shop. He has changed my life to such a degree that I don't want to be anywhere alse but with him. He does come with me in the car, and enjoys it thoroughly. He does stay alone when I am at work, but he has my African Grey with him and he has a huge Macaw cage with lots of toys - it is so important for a Goffin to have the biggest cage that you can afford, as believe me he plays in ever corner of that cage, it is actually cruel to lock up a goffin in a cockatiel cage for the whole day, imagine that you were locked up in a small room for the whole of your day, you would go MAD. He is my whole world and I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. Thank you my baby goffin, I love you so much and you have made my life so much richer! Jane 2009-05-13
I just recieved a 3 year old male goffin cockato named leo. He dances and says "Rock N Roll". He loves attention and loves to play and if I don't keep somthing on the doors of the cage he will reach out and open them. I am really enjoying his company and his comic behavior. Julie 2009-04-29
I have a 3 year old Female named Roxy and she is a sweetheart. She hasn't started talking yet, but I am working on that. She gives kisses, dances and LOVES to sit on my shoulder while I am watching TV or on the computer. I wouuld recommend a Goffin's Cockatoo for anyone because they don't need HUGE cages, they usually aren't too expensive, they're friendly and are great with kids of all ages. I hope to possibly get a Goffin someday, but right now ... Roxy is happy with being alone. I must also say this, though ... if you have a smaller cage (like me) you have to take them out A LOT. Roxy is in a Cockatiel cage, but she is out from 4:00 pm - 8:00 am. Yes, she stays out overnight! I haven't had any problems with it either! Another thing with her is that her cage actually needed a lock on it so she couldn't get out when I'm not here because she is such an escape artist! Proud Owner Of A Bare-Eye Goffin's Cockatoo 2009-04-04
Some of the coolest comments:
Hi all you Goffins lovers. I have a 4 year old male Goffins. I got him at a bird show when he was quite young and he was parrot raised so he wasn't real people orientated. People just kept holding him and cuddling and you could see he was scared, but when I finally decided to hold him he went right under my hair and started to play with it and give me kisses. That was it, I bought him and home we went. It took a few weeks for him to get used to me putting my hands in his cage to get him. I literally had to pry him out and then just cuddle and talk to him. Now a few years later he loves me to death, he talks to me, dances, and sings. If I am sitting on the couch he climbs down from his playstand and climbs up the couch to visit and play. He is so funny. I love all my birds but he holds a special place in my heart. So if you decide a Goffins is for you then you will not be disappointed in him but as people have said they are escape artists and they will chew up anything. So be prepared, and as big a cage as you can get is the best. Mine is in a macaw cage. He is very active, so this way he has lots of room to jump around. Terra, Kermie (Eclectus). Geromino (Goffins). and Miso ( African Grey), all from chicago. Terra Baker 2008-12-01
I just recently got a cockatoo, the blue eyed kind. She is now 9months old. I also have a quaker, indian ring neck and two love birds. Angel my cockatoo is the sweetest bird, she had learned within days of having her how to say mommy, I love you, give kisses, and I am working on teaching her more words. She has a stand and a large cage. She is held by me, and my two 8 year old daughters. I do put her on her stand and her cage so she is not being held all day. I have learned that is bad for her and can harm her. In don't want her used to being held all day then putting her up and having her hurt herself out of depression. Angel has never bitten anyone in my family, she is so loving ans sweet, she has the funniest personality, she loves to dance and show off her feathers. She loves to go outside with me, I just got her a harness for extra protection. I just recently had to take her to the vet ER, she broke a major blood feather, so please on the young ones watch their blood feathers. they are still babies, clumsly and can die fast if their blood feather is broken. if you do not have the Styptic powder you can use flour until you can get your cockatoo to a vet. The best thing is to have the blood feather pulled, because there is a good chance they will continue to hurt it. I am so glad Angel picked me when I went to the pet store, I can't imagine my life without her and I find the cockatoo is one of the most beautiful, smart, outgoing and silliest birds out there. Just please make sure you have time for them before you buy them, they are cuddle bugs and do need extra love and attention. I am disabled and believe me the love you get in return is worth the extra time and effort, you have just found a best friend for life. Thanks, Libba Libba 2006-09-30

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