Animal-World > Pet Birds > Cockatoos > Goffin Cockatoo

Goffin's Cockatoo

Family: Cacatuidae

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Cacatua goffini Photo © 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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Latest Comments
We recently purchased a young Goffin's cockatoo and we are smitten! Connie is the sweetest, most affectionate bird one could ask for. She loves to ride around on my husband's shoulder while he goes about his business in the house no matter how basic the task he's doing. She also adores our African Grey parrot Mayah (as we all do!); at first she tried to treat Mayah like a mother figure which poor Mayah found unsettling, but the two have struck a balance and love to hang out together on their tabletop perches. We are so thankful to have two such wonderful, affectionate, and intelligent birds to share our lives! Connie and Mayah's Mom 2008-07-29
My fiance and I rescued a goffin's cockatoo when it was 7 years old. He does at times live up to the reputation. I know that with younger children he is very fearful and does not like strangers. Just keep an eye on the interactions between the bird and children and it will be fine. Our goffin loves to torment our dogs (we have 2). He will chase our beagle and has jumped on our great dane's back several times for a free ride. The only thing is the birds do bite and the dogs do get annoyed, so again just keep an eye on the bird when it is free. Ours has to be locked in the cage with padlocks or he will pull his food bowls out and escape and tear apart the house (and be quite proud of it). He can open the door to the cage in a matter of seconds. (Just to give you a heads up). He is a huge cuddler and we do love him, his cuteness makes up for being a stinker (as with all animals we own). Just be patient and you will be fine. Teach anyone who will interact with the bird how to handle him/her which will make them more confident with the bird and the bird comfortable with them. Anonymous 2008-07-27
Jennifer, you sound like someone who will make a great bird mom! Your concerns are what makes you a potentially great parrot owner. Just make sure that you give him tons of toys, huge cage (best by the window, no drafty areas), great food like dried fruit mixes (human), bird pellets, safe vegies, cooked pasta, and read read read everything you can so you can't make a mistake. You'll be fine! Talk to your bird and handle him tons, and when your not home he can watch TV. I wouldn't change buying my bird for anything in this world! He looks like the world's happiest bird! Everyone who meets him says that and has to laugh, because no one expects him to be as awesome as he is. So go and get your Goffin's and just remember love, hygiene, diet, entertainment, and absolutely no ignorance at all! They are smart-bums! Hahaha, all the best! Anonymous 2008-06-24
I am about to purchase a Goffin Cockatoo and I am very scared because of all the different things I keep reading. I have been wanting a Goffin for so long and have read up on them so much. When I read great stuff I get all excited and then I read bad and get nervous again. I think that he would get enough attention with our big family. I work from 6:30 am to 2:30pm and will be home the rest of the time as so will my husband, 4yr old daughter, and twin boys 13yrs. We also have a cat and a dog. I would do what ever I needed to make sure the baby is happy. Please if anyone can write me back and let me know what you think, PLEASE. Jennifer Jennifer Arckivy 2008-04-12
Hi again, from Lenka and Dinosaurous. I think that I am so lucky because I seem to fall more in love with my little Dino everyday! He is such an angel and I can't imagine not having him. He plays all the time. He talks all the time. He sings and dances when he gets in the mood (to party). I keep looking into new toys for him to destroy and satisfy his urge to constantly chew. He seems to be very happy. Right now though, we are going through a stage where he likes to try and stick food into his wing feathers (unsuccessfully, hahah), though putting them through some damage! (They don't look their best now). Once in a while he manages to stick a (food) pellet in his baby feathers, though. I always find it when I snuggle him before sleep, and I laugh at him and tell him he's so funny. It's almost like he understands. Anyway, my love for him will never end, he is my real angel! LENKA 2007-11-24
Some of the coolest comments:
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
You could not ask for a more fun loving, busy little bird. I have had Chloe for 4 years now,( she was a rescue bird). And I would not trade her for the world! She is sweet, loving, happy go lucky, center of attention, spoiled lil brat. She cries for attention, but knows I will not give in to her every whim. She has tons of toys and plays with every one of them. Her favorate thing to do is string beads! She will string beads for hours, and I spend hours picking them all up and stringing them for her so she can start all over again, destring and string. She is a Blast. Penny 2004-08-04

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