Goffin cockatoo and friends

17/11/2021

My first goffin died of this. It was horrible watching her go

As if lead wasn’t bad enough, there are other forms of heavy metal toxicosis. The most common of these is caused by lead’s ugly cousin: zinc. While the two share a lot in common, there are some key differences -- sources, effects on the body, symptoms, diagnostic challenges, and treatment approaches --that set them apart. Today we embark on a deep dive into the similarities and differences between the members of this shady family.

First, let’s talk sources. Lead and zinc can be picked up through ingestion of some similar items we’ve talked about, like bits of metal from jewelry, ornamented clothing items and accessories, and home décor items. Any number of metals can contain some zinc because it is a component of many metal alloys. I once treated a parrot who became very ill with zinc toxicosis after nibbling on the edge of a decorative metal picture frame.

Believe it or not, United States pennies minted after 1982 are composed of mostly zinc. Prior to that time, they were made of 95% copper and 5% zinc, but when copper became more costly, the composition was changed to a zinc core coated with a thin layer of copper. Ingestion of pennies is a common cause of zinc toxicosis in pet poultry like chickens and ducks, and also occurs in wild birds and in zoo collections when people toss coins into lakes and ponds.

A source of zinc you may never have thought of is medication containing zinc oxide, like sunscreen and some diaper rash creams. Under the “anything is possible in this crazy world” category, I once saw a parrot who developed severe zinc toxicosis after he decided that chewing up a tube of diaper rash cream was a super fun idea. He ultimately recovered and did great, but it was worrisome there for a bit.

Besides these sources, there is a whole other category of items containing zinc that we need to consider: zinc galvanized metals, including wire, hardware, and fasteners. In the right circumstances, these materials can pose a threat to curious birds. Please stay tuned for the next post to find out how.

Visit the blog:
https://www.aav.org/blogpost/1907684/383600/Zinc-Lead-s-Ugly-Cousin

21/05/2019

Just some pictures of birds I thought was pretty. Hope enjoy them as well.

18/05/2019

15/05/2019

# 20
MORE ABOUT THE GOFFIN COCKATOO

Goffin’s can also be a bit mischievous and can be quick learners. Don’t be surprised to find that your Goffin’s cockatoo quickly learns to open the cage after seeing you unlatch the lock.

Goffin’s cockatoos are not shy birds. Like a typical cockatoo, most enjoy being held and petted, and are friendly and sociable. Goffin’s can also be a bit mischievous and are quick learners. Don’t be surprised to find that your Goffin’s cockatoo quickly learns to open the cage after seeing you unlatch the lock.

Also called the Tanimbar corella, the Goffin’s cockatoo is the smallest of the white cockatoos, and are about 12 inches long from head to tail. It is most likely to be mistaken for a bare-eyed cockatoo (or little corella) because of their similar appearance.

Goffin’s are mainly white with salmon-colored feathers around the eyes and beak, and the deeper feathers in the crest and around the neck are also salmon colored. The undersides of the Goffin’s wing and tail feathers have a yellowish tinge.

Native Region / Natural Habitat

Goffin’s are native to the forests of Yamdena, Larat, and Selaru, all islands in the Tanimbar Islands archipelago in Indonesia.

Care & Feeding
A Goffin’s cockatoo needs a well-constructed cage to not only prevent it from escaping but to prevent the bird from destroying it. A Goffin’s might be smaller than other cockatoos but this little ‘too is quite active and needs a spacious cage to climb about. A pet Goffin’s needs a steady supply of toys and appropriate items to chew and destroy. A Goffin’s needs toys that challenge, such as puzzle toys and those that involve taking things apart or undoing knots.

Cockatoos, including Goffin’s, tend to be more needy than other pet parrot species and an owner should set boundaries early on, otherwise the bird might scream for attention. A cockatoo new to the home should not be showered with non-stop attention, but rather given toys and other enrichment opportunities as well as intermittent attention so that the bird learns to keep itself entertained when the people in its life are not able to offer one-on-one time.

Food for cockatoos should be nutritious, but should also include a foraging element as well. Cockatoos are fun-loving, intelligent and energetic parrots, and their food should reflect those traits. Wild cockatoos forage all day for seeds and nuts, as well as coconuts and grain crops. Like all companion parrots, cockatoos do not thrive on birdseed alone. Cockatoo food shouldn’t be boring to eat, either, and will love foods like Avi-Cakes, Pellet-Berries, Nutri-Berries, and Lafeber’s Premium Daily Diet Pellets.

Personality & Behavior
Goffin’s cockatoos are highly intelligent and especially good at figuring out how to unlock cage doors. In fact, a 2013 Oxford University study showed that Goffin’s can solve complex mechanical problems by undoing a series of locks one after another. Ten untrained Goffin’s cockatoos faced a puzzle box showing a nut behind a transparent door, which was secured by a series of five interlocking devices. To reach the nut, the cockatoos had to first remove a pin, then a screw, then a bolt, then turn a wheel 90 degrees, and then shift a latch sideways. One Goffin’s figured out the locks in under two hours without any help; many of the other cockatoos solved the problem with a little help or watching another cockatoo do it.

Speech & Sound
The Goffin’s cockatoo has a reputation as a “quieter cockatoo,” however, that’s not to say that a Goffin’s won’t screech, especially if he wants your attention. Although not a top talker, a Goffin’s might learn a fair share of words and phrases. Like many other cockatoos, Goffin’s tend to love dancing to music.

Health & Common Conditions
Cockatoos are prone to picking at or pulling out their feathers is not offered sufficient mental stimulation. Other diseases/conditions found in cockatoos include psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), fatty liver disease and obesity if fed a diet too high in fat.

Get A Goffin's Cockatoo
Goffin’s cockatoos are available from avian-specialty stores, bird breeders as well as for adoption from bird rescue organizations. Cockatoos are often given up for adoption due to behavior issues, which makes this a bird that needs to be fully researched and carefully considered. Ideally, a new cockatoo owner should work with an experienced cockatoo breeder and/or avian behaviorist early on to set a cockatoo up for success as a companion pet.

04/05/2019

I wish I had Bella’s determination. Yes, that is duct tape barely holding everything together. A trip back to Lowe’s is in my future. I bet she will get through it in a couple of hours