Would it be a good time to get a goffin cockatoo for a child at 11 yrs as i want to get one for her 12 b.day?

Question

Would it be a good time to get a goffin cockatoo for a child at 11 yrs as i want to get one for her 12 b.day?

Answer 1

It's never a good idea to give a pet as a gift.  One of the busiest times for shelters is right after Christmas for the dumping of the living gifts.

Cockatoos require a lot of care, time, and attention that most adults can't provide- never mind a child.  Plus, the bird can live for decades, which is too long a commitment for the child to make at age 12.

Be a responsible adult.

Answer 2

i wouldnt go for a goffin, they can be ALOT of work, i would stick with a cockatiel, they can be tamed easily and earnt much work to take care of, but make sure that u can devote time, most birds cannot simply be left in their cage for weeks on end, they need plenty of attention and care...check out http://parrotcentral.net/cockatiels.htm for good tiel info

Answer 3

i'm not quite sure, it would seem ok. Its a big responsibility to take care of a pet. But i suppose somebody by the age of about 12 can handle it and would understand most of the procedures. i too got a bird at about 12 and is still alive and well.

Answer 4

I would have to say NO if the 12 year old is going to be the caretaker of the bird.

Larger parrots should only be owned by experienced bird keepers. They can be temperamental, require a great amount of love and attention, and I would have to say dangerous as well. A large parrot beak is nothing to mess with. They can cause serious bite wounds which is why you need experience when dealing with them.

Larger parrots are also prone to a multitude of behavioral problems such as screaming, plucking feathers, biting, etc. when they are not trained correctly, lonely, or under stimulated.

I would stick with a nice small parrot. Have you considered a Cockatiel? They are easy to handle and friendly when bought from a reputable breeder. They can also learn to talk and perform tricks. They are known as "Large parrots in a small body" because they have such great personalities.

Let your daughter get some experience under her belt with an easy to handle small bird before moving onto a large parrot.

Good luck!