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hello

i have a 9-10 yr old goffin. he came from a rescue group. i am his third owner. for the most part he is a very good bird his name is Peaches (came with that name). anyway he was fine for a while when i brought him home, now he seems afraid to be handled. i've heard toos are prone to becoming phobic. i've had him about 6 months. he became phobic probably after a few months. this is what happened to the last owner he had just before me, he was with his original family for most of his life. last owner had him about a year. Guess i'm wondering if thre's anything i can do? i don't want to give him up, but i hate to think he is unhappy. he still lets my best friend touch him, but she probably shouldn't take him do to health reasons. anyone have any thoughts!!

thanks michelle

I have either seen this Peach's for sale -- or another G2 with the same name & age for sale.

When it comes to handling phobic birds at all - time & patients are key!! You need to re-gain his trust which sometimes takes a very long time.

1st if he suddenly is showing these fear's you should make sure medically he is ok. Sick birds act "funny" ect.

Here are some great links to read -
http://www.toolady.com/articles/cocgrey2.htm
http://www.birdsnways.com/cockatoo/articles.htm
http://www.hornbeamaviary.com/goffins.htm

There is alot you can do, alot you've not tried. Hes been with you just long enough that the honeymoon is over --- its time for you to step up to the commitment you made to him when you adopted him!

*If you "cant" keep him, don't let him to go another home that doesn't understand the complex issue's birds have. This is very important, as this G2 is still VERY young! Just because your friend can handle him doesn't make it the right home for him.

I am going to keep an eye on this topic as I feel for this baby & I want to help him!

Adult parrots have their likes and dislikes for whatever reasons: prior experiences and owners, jealousy, and for reasons known only to them.
If you have other pet birds, I expect that the bird is jealous of the attention that you give to the other birds.

I have a Sun Conure (Pebbles) that I got when she was 9 years old. Her previous owner was an older woman and had to go into assisted living. I think she was Pebbles 2nd owner but she had Pebbles for most of her 9 years. Anyway, Pebbles 'mourned' her previous owner for a good year and then it took another year for her to trust me enough to be 'a conure' and do the silly (and ADORABLE) things that conures do. I've had her now for 2 1/2 years and she's still a little skittish but she has come a long long way. Please just be patient...............that's all the poor baby needs. Love and patience.
Gloria

thank you all for the info so far. i am being patient with him. i just wanted to get more info or advice to make sure i'm not forgetting anything. i will take him to the vet within the next few weeks. it will be time for his check up.

i did read through some of the articles so far and it is helpful. i'm also waiting on a response from the rescue he came from, i wanted more info from them since when i got him i did not know he came from a rescue group. i knew i would be his third home, but not that a rescue group was officialy his owner. anyway thats in the past and now i'm just trying to do my best for him.

i also wanted to let anyone know that i have not had this bird for sale since i bought him. i have seen other goffins for sale and had the same name. i was going to get another one that was aporx 5yrs old it had the same name(i thought it was funny was wondering if all goffins are named Peaches) LOL! i would have named him somthing else, but didn't know if it was a good idea since he had been called Peaches for so long. does anyone think i can rename him?

keep the advice coming!

thanks michelle

Re-naming him could be a good thing, or a bad thing. This is all from what Ive read mind you ---

Some say there names could be associated with bad memorys from the past. Other's say it would be best to change the name for a fresh start

I would say work on it slowly, keep peach's a nick name? Ya never know a change might do the body good *But I do like the name peachs*

I kept Pebbles name.............I tried to changeit but she would respond to anything else and since she came from a happy home I decided to go ahead and keep it.
My Goffin...........I had no idea what her name was. She was rescued by a breeder in Indiana and came to me thru my son-in-law. She was so sick, malnourished, wing and tail feathers gone, no spark or shine in her eyes. So very shy and sweet. I have a friend named Annie who is the sweetest kindest person I know. So I named my Goffin Chyanne ('shy' anne') and we call her 'Annie'.
She came out of her 'shyness' and once she got well she wasnt' the sweet little thing she led me to believe she was!!! But I love her anyway!
Gloria

Great story!!!! I love hearing the end of birdie loves

There are some great articles on behavior by Dr. Susan Friedman at www.behaviorworks.org

You must let Peaches set the pace. No rush. Good things happen to those who wait.

It took me 3 years to develop the marvelous relationship I have with my adopted Timneh. It was worth every minute of it.


Bev