My goffins rescue

[Microwaveovens]

hello all! I am new to this site so forgive me if im doing this wrong I recently rescued a goffins cockatoo from n an avian rescue. I only went there to support my sister while she picked up her new family member , but then I saw him in the corner, no feathers,scared and so tiny. I couldn't stop thinking about him.after. Research and discussions with my spouse we decided to rescue the little guy. The rescue did not have much info on him, he was given to them from a shelter who stated that he came from a "stressful situation " he has parts of his toes missing and one that has grown wrong, they don't seem to cause him pain , more difficult for him to use (holding toys and his pellets) . Overall he is a sweet boy, since we have gotten him his body is now covered in feathers and he has not been plucking, he dances and shakes his head no if you ask him if he wants to go back in his cage. When you say "big wings" he puts his wings out for you ( no feathers on those yet but it's only a matter of time) my only question is, he does not step up, he was very finger shy in the beginning but I've been patiently placing my hand by hm and now he rubs against me touches his beak a tongue to me, and occasionally will put one foot on me, any tips on how to get more trust or even teaching him. He does not bite ..instead he gently will put my finger in his beak and move it away from him. So he does know what I'm trying to do he just won't do it? Thank you for your help in advance. I just love him and he's so sweet.

 

[alshgs]

Welcome and thank you for adopting him! Please post pictures of him

 

[Microwaveovens]

 

[Microwaveovens]

 

[Microwaveovens]

 

[SpecialistElbru]

Thank you for taking a bird in need.

I an one who believes that there are all ready too many cockatoos in captivity and there are not enough good to these birds that require more care than the average person can provide.

Just out of curiosity, do you have any induction of the bird's age such as leg band your or any information from the rescue? How long have you had the bird one week, one month, two months?

 

[Microwaveovens]

Thank you. I'm a firm believer in rescues and always try to support them anyway I can. But this little guy stole my heart from the first "hiss"

He does not have a leg band, and they really did not have any indication , the avian vet they brought him to, believes him to be around 5 but he really did not know. I have had him for a little over a month now.

 

[janicedyh]

Thanks for taking this sweetie in.

 

[Brendajean71]

Aww sounds like he found his way into a good home.

 

[Rolanda]

What SWEET Boy! I LOVE the Pic with him hanging off of the side of the cage. It looks like "Ta-Da!".

 

[Lwalker]

He looks to be doing wonderfully. As for the step up, a month is not long and if he has had a troubled past, it will likely take time. Sounds like you have made great progress already!

 

[Microwaveovens]

Thank you! He has so much personality, my husband says that I adopted the bird version of myself definitely a "who rescued who" situation

 

[Microwaveovens]

He looks to be doing wonderfully. As for the step up, a month is not long and if he has had a troubled past, it will likely take time. Sounds like you have made great progress already!

Thank you that's reassuring, I just wanted to make sure I was taking all the right steps to help him... He wants to come out and be with us.. He just can't bring himself to

 

[Dartman]

It sounds like your doing things the right way. Let him go at his own pace and just hang out with him so he see's that you mean him no harm and are trustworthy and safe to be around. Once he decides that your up to snuff his curiosity should take over and he'll slowly start to move to come out and get closer to you till with luck he'll hang out beside or on you and may even become a velcro bird. No matter what he has a safe place now and will figure out he is safe and loved and can do as he pleases as long as he isn't hurting himself. If he has already stopped plucking that's a great sign too that he's now content and is just working up the courage to allow more interaction.
Lurch took 5 years to come from a scared to death and quick to bite Pionus to a mostly loving creature that flew after me like a feathered puppy so just in case be prepared for a long ride, it will be worth it for both of you.

 

[Microwaveovens]

It sounds like your doing things the right way. Let him go at his own pace and just hang out with him so he see's that you mean him no harm and are trustworthy and safe to be around. Once he decides that your up to snuff his curiosity should take over and he'll slowly start to move to come out and get closer to you till with luck he'll hang out beside or on you and may even become a velcro bird. No matter what he has a safe place now and will figure out he is safe and loved and can do as he pleases as long as he isn't hurting himself. If he has already stopped plucking that's a great sign too that he's now content and is just working up the courage to allow more interaction.
Lurch took 5 years to come from a scared to death and quick to bite Pionus to a mostly loving creature that flew after me like a feathered puppy so just in case be prepared for a long ride, it will be worth it for both of you.

That's what I've been doing, just looking at him I can tell he wants to be everywhere I am and he thinks about it... Beak and tongue to my hand, but he just will back away or take my finger and push it away, and not hard, very gentle. Last night he did jump off the cage onto my shoulder but he then realized what he did and jumped back. I know he's getting there, and I want him to be happy, and right now it's Just sitting next to me on top of his cage, than that's what we will do

Ps love the name lurch

 

[Loppy]

Such a cute little fluffball!!! Thank you for rescuing him!

And really, what you're doing is fine. He will do things on his own terms. Just let him warm up to you and learn that you are a safe place to land. You'll have him wrapped around your finger in no time!

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

That's what I've been doing, just looking at him I can tell he wants to be everywhere I am and he thinks about it... Beak and tongue to my hand, but he just will back away or take my finger and push it away, and not hard, very gentle. Last night he did jump off the cage onto my shoulder but he then realized what he did and jumped back. I know he's getting there, and I want him to be happy, and right now it's Just sitting next to me on top of his cage, than that's what we will do

Ps love the name lurch

As mentioned above, a month is not enough for him to have the trust he will gain in time. It could take months… a year … for him to build that trust in being handled. For the time being let him make any free choice to be on your hand or arm but at this point I would not allow him on your shoulder… at all. If he isn't willing to be stepped up to your hand and he does get on your shoulder again … possibly nips your face or ear and you want to get him off then it could turn into a situation of trying to get him off and creating distrust in you over a nasty event. Give him a variety of fresh foods a couple times a day and foraging toys and in no time he will see you as a trusted companion that means all good things.

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

And I wanted to say, thank you for rescuing him. He's a cutie!

 

[Dartman]

Thank you, I don't want to bring this thread down but Lurch escaped in April due to a dumb mistake and still hoping someone has him and re posting his lost add on Craig's List HOWEVER I now have Dobby another very well adjusted Maxi Pionus who is very different and gentle compared to Lurch. Momazon and her daughter raised him to only know love and kindness so the last tool in his box is to bite. Her life changed and she could no longer keep him and knew about Lurch and what happened so she offered him to me and it's worked out great for all involved. He's happy, she's happy he has a loving home, and if Lurch comes home he'll have a friend and good example to hang out with.

 

[Birdbabe]

Thank you for helping him!