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I have a pair of Goffins and they just do not seem to be getting anywhere with breeding. The male will go into the nestbox, chews wood etc but the female will not go into the box. She will sit and masterbate with her rump up against the cage but just does not seem interested in the nestbox or mating. Any suggestions on what I can do to get her more in the mood to do something with the male and not the cage? I do have a Cockatoo nestbox with 2 entrence holes so she would have an excape route if needed. I have never seen the male acting aggressive towards her. Thanks for any help.

Was the female a pet at one time? How old are they? Are they anywhere around any other breeding birds? Is this their first time?

They may just need more time.... but then the female may never be interested in mating if she's more interested in masturbating... I have a female cockatiel who enjoys masturbating just about year round... she's been around 3 male cockatiels, but only one was interested in her. She's 6 1/2 years old, and not a breeder. I don't plan on ever breeding her, either (or any of the birds here, for that matter).

Are you sure you have a male and a female? Are they DNA sexed or surgically sexed? Its a simple thing that seems to get overlooked alot.

Yes, they are both sexed and are a male and a female. They are 10 and 11 year old birds.

Usually, the hen spends more time in the box, and the male joins in occassionally...which might indicate an error in the sexing. Also, with my current birds, I am starting to think that what we thought was a hen, because it used to assume the breeding posture the past few years, might actually be a young male, especially when the behavior is past the normal bredding season.
I don't know about the breeding cycle in your area, but the breeding season if over for me. My birds show interest in nesting around November, and might do a second clutch by March. I have never had babies after April.
Also, 10 years or so might be just the beginning of maturity.

I doubt there is a mistake in the sexing. They have both benn surgically sexed. The male does not stay in the box he is just the only one I have seen in there. He goes in and chews up wood. I have been throught 2 wooden nest boxes (they were not thin wood either) and decided to get a metal box this time. As he was chewing them off of the cage.

I've heard at least one story where a bird was surgically sexed wrong...

Well mine were sexed by Dr. Scott McDonald. I don't know who surgicaly sexd that one but I am sure Dr. Scott did them right. I have had many birds sexed by him and never had any mistakes. Heck I have never had any DNA sexed wrong for that matter. I guess I will just keep trying with this pair.

A couple of things jumped out at me while reading your description of your problem.

1 - does the male even seem interested in breeding with the female? My Goffin's males are VERY attentive to the hens and will follow them around, jump over them and preen them constantly during the breeding season. If he isn't interested in her, they may be incompatible - which may explain why she is masturbating.

2 - does the female show any interest in the nest box? How deep is the box? IMO, those "cockatoo boxes" are not deep or tight enough for some Goffin's (some cockatoos for that matter).

My Goffin's nest in deep grandfather wooden boxes, but I give them TONS of wood (2x4's, eucalyptus, willow etc) to chew in the flight and box so they don't chew the box.

All my Goffin's are sexually dimorphic. There is no doubt which is the male and which is the female. The males are HUGE in comparison to the petite dainty girls. All my Goffin's are 20+ year old wild caughts, so maybe that has something to do with it.

And just for discussion I have had some birds sexed incorrectly by Dr. McDonald. It can happen, not very common, but it can...

Well I have not seen him paying any attention to her but I am not in the breeding building all day long watching them so I am not 100% on that. The nest box is 23 x 23 x 16 with two entrance holes. She does look in the box some times but I have not seen her go in the box. The lady I bought them from said they have had babies before (I Know, they are not proven until they are proven by me). I don't think they are sexed wrong. The male is a lot larger then the female. She is petite and dainty and he is huge compared to her. I can not see how someone could look inside of a bird and get the wrong sex, guess that is one I will have to watch out for. I give them wood branches and 2 x 4's and pieces of 2 x 4's made into toys to chew. He will chew those but after the box is chewed up first. Should I try to find new mates for them or keep trying with them? They have been together for a few years (or so I guess) if you believe anything the lady I got them from said. Thanks for the info. I do appreciate your help.

I am assuming that one of the 23" dimensions on the box is the depth? Even 23" is pretty shallow in my opinion. My Quaker, Fig Parrot and Lory nest are deeper than that and those are much smaller birds. I would try giving them a deeper box, at least 30" deep and go from there. I know of several pairs of Goffin's that wouldn't breed until they were given 6 foot deep grandfather boxes that were VERY tight, 7 inches square!! IMO, when the birds aren't breeding give them a deeper, tighter nest box.

I am assuming that one of the 23" dimensions on the box is the depth? Even 23" is pretty shallow in my opinion. My Quaker, Fig Parrot and Lory nest are deeper than that and those are much smaller birds. I would try giving them a deeper box, at least 30" deep and go from there. I know of several pairs of Goffin's that wouldn't breed until they were given 6 foot deep grandfather boxes that were VERY tight, 7 inches square!! IMO, when the birds aren't breeding give them a deeper, tighter nest box.

Okay, I will try that but the measurements for the box I gave you are for a new box that I just got a few weeks ago. The boxex they had before were wood. I think the problem already existed before I got this box but the others (wooden boxes) were not 6 foot deep either.

Thanks