You should fill you Goffin's Cockatoo's cage with toys. Make sure that these toys have no metals, paint chips or sharp objects. Do not crowd the cage with toys, but keep changing the toys inside the cage every two weeks. All Cockatoos require perches inside their cage to keep them occupied and give them some exercise. The cage in which you house your Goffin's cockatoo should be large enough to hold at least two or three perches. The perches should be of varying materials and size. Many of the ailments a Cockatoo is susceptible to, is because of improper hygiene. It is, therefore, imperative that the cage is maintained regularly. On a daily basis clean the bird's feed and water bowls. Clean the cage Toys Perches Cage Maintenance Goffin Cockatoo bars and wire mesh to remove feather dust. Clean and replace bottom trays and soiled litter as frequently as required or at least twice a week. Wash all perches and toys at least once a week. Give the complete cage a total makeover once a month, in terms of cleaning and disinfecting it. Ideally, your Goffin Cockatoo's diet should consist of seeds, pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables. A quarter cup of formulated diet and a quarter cup of fresh fruits and vegetables should be given everyday. Stick to these volumes as overfeeding will make them picky and they will also waste the food. Birds on a formulated diet will not require vitamin supplements. To keep them from putting on excessive weight, control the amount of Sunflower and Safflower seeds. These are high in fat and could be harmful to your bird. They can crack hard nuts and you should encourage them to do so. You can give them treats, But treats should not exceed 10% of their daily intake of food. Feeding Goffin Cockatoo Diet Breeding Wild Goffin's Cockatoos feed on seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, blossoms, insects and larvae. Goffin's Cockatoos reach sexual maturity when they are two years old. Breeding in captivity of previously wild birds is unpredictable as the birds take sometime to adapt to their new surroundings. One thing you should remember when trying to breed Goffin's Cockatoos is that they can be quite noisy breeders and your neighbors might not take too kindly to your boisterous pair. Male Goffin's Cockatoos become aggressive during the mating season. Clip their wings before you introduce him to his mate to prevent serious injuries. Aggressive behavior occurs even in compatible breeding pairs. As these birds can be aggressive and destructive, 1 inch x 1 inch (2.5cm) by 12-gauge welded wire is the best for cages. The Goffin Cockatoo breeding area should be at least 4 feet (1.2 m) wide x 4 feet (1.2 m) tall x 6 feet (1.8 m) long suspended 4 feet (1.2 m) above the ground. Goffin's Cockatoos can breed throughout the year, but their favored seasons are winter and spring. Normally two to three eggs are laid that are incubated by both parents. Incubation lasts between 24 and 26 days. Both parents look after the young ones and protect them from predators. Fledging occurs when the chicks are between 8 and 10 weeks old. If hand-reared these birds become comparatively easy to manage. Handrearing of this species is not that difficult as they eat a wide range of formulas. When their natural habitat was cleared in their native Tanimbar Islands in the 1970s, Goffin's Cockatoos were exported in large number. Their popularity rose in the 1980s, and this led to a Conservation Status Goffin Cockatoo drastic dip in their numbers. In 1992, this species was listed in Appendix I of the C.I.T.E.S. (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) treaty. Unfortunately, this measure may have been taken too late to protect these birds in their native habitat. |