If you had told me yesterday morning that I was going to be gifted a Goffin's cockatoo I would probably have wondered what you were smoking lol. It turned out that a friend of mine had a brother who recently passed away and was looking for a home for it. I volunteered and I couldn't be more ecstatic!
My friend thinks she's 35 or 40 which I keep reading is about their average life span. I haven't owned a cockatoo before but I have been around them before as well as several other larger birds. I have also kept and tamed cockatiels so I have bird experience.
She was owned by a smoker and has a small cage, probably meant as a travel cage. I am getting her a larger one and I might even build her one. She will get plenty of time outside her cage. In fact she has been out of her cage more than in since I brought her home.
Kyliegh (her name was "Skeeter" but she needs a name that is as beautiful as she is) is molting. She already lets me "preen" her but I can tell she is a bit nervous still which is to be expected considering she just got here. My wife just got 2 budgies tonight as well. She is the one who got me into birds.
We also have a cat and a dog. The dog is about 12 and the cat is about 5. I will have to be majorly on guard especially with the cat but so far so good.
I will make some egg for her tomorrow. In fact I will make some birdy bread for her (and the 'keets) later today. Of course I will use good bird safe foods in it. I want to help her new feathers grow in nicely and for her to exercise.
I believe she got out of cage time with her previous owner but not enough to really exercise or to provide mental stimulation. Kyliegh will get plenty of both if I get my way. I am going to make her perches to fly back and forth between and out of the reach of animals. There will be plenty of toys for her too. Some I will make for her and some I'll buy her.
I would love to hear about others' Goffin's 'toos and their ages. If any of you have had yours or had one live past 40 years old I would love to hear about that also. I already love Kyliegh a ton. If she were to pass tomorrow I am glad that she was in my life for even that small amount of time but I am hoping she has at least a decade or two left.
My friend thinks she's 35 or 40 which I keep reading is about their average life span. I haven't owned a cockatoo before but I have been around them before as well as several other larger birds. I have also kept and tamed cockatiels so I have bird experience.
She was owned by a smoker and has a small cage, probably meant as a travel cage. I am getting her a larger one and I might even build her one. She will get plenty of time outside her cage. In fact she has been out of her cage more than in since I brought her home.
Kyliegh (her name was "Skeeter" but she needs a name that is as beautiful as she is) is molting. She already lets me "preen" her but I can tell she is a bit nervous still which is to be expected considering she just got here. My wife just got 2 budgies tonight as well. She is the one who got me into birds.
We also have a cat and a dog. The dog is about 12 and the cat is about 5. I will have to be majorly on guard especially with the cat but so far so good.
I will make some egg for her tomorrow. In fact I will make some birdy bread for her (and the 'keets) later today. Of course I will use good bird safe foods in it. I want to help her new feathers grow in nicely and for her to exercise.
I believe she got out of cage time with her previous owner but not enough to really exercise or to provide mental stimulation. Kyliegh will get plenty of both if I get my way. I am going to make her perches to fly back and forth between and out of the reach of animals. There will be plenty of toys for her too. Some I will make for her and some I'll buy her.
I would love to hear about others' Goffin's 'toos and their ages. If any of you have had yours or had one live past 40 years old I would love to hear about that also. I already love Kyliegh a ton. If she were to pass tomorrow I am glad that she was in my life for even that small amount of time but I am hoping she has at least a decade or two left.