Goffins Cockatoo Partners

Question
I'm seriously considering adopting a second Goffin's Cockatoo.  We have a male Goffin's who is a very good companion for us but we know he gets lonely during the day when we're at work.  So, I saw an ad on Petfinder for a female Goffin's and I've contacted the shelter about her.  However, I need to be prepared to care for a couple, and also I don't think I'm interested in raising chicks as I'm concerned about the prospects of finding responsible people to take them. So here are my questions:
How do we make sure that the two partners will get along before we take in the second bird?
Our current cage is plenty large for the one bird but I'm not sure it's large enough for a couple, so how big should a couple's cage be?
Won't a couple need a nest?  How do we make them comfortable?
Is there a humane and unstressful way to prevent the pair's reproductive success?  If not, then how do we find responsible and committed people to give the offspring to?

Answer
Hi,

Double with check with the shelter to find out if the Goffins cockatoo was actually DNA sexed by her previous caregiver. If she was not DNA sexed, Surgically sexed or if she hasn't laid an egg... then they don't know her gender.

It is also always a risk that the two birds might never be able to share a cage (or even a playpen). And you won't be able to find this out until the new bird is done with quarantine and has had a complete vet exame with a qualified avian veterinarian. Quarantine is recommended for at least 45 (preferably 60) days. You can read more about quarantining a new bird here:

http://www.mickaboo.com/bathing.html#quarantine (there is a section on bathing at the beginning of the text... just keep scrolling down and you'll see the info. on quarantine).

If you do adopt the new cockatoo, she does well at her vet exam, goes through proper quarantine and she and your current little boy hit it off... feel free to house them together! :) I would recomend a minimum of 32 inches wide, by 24 inches deep by 28 inches high for two goffins cockatoos. The bigger the better though! :)

If you don't want them to breed (which it sounds like you've already decided that it wouldn't be a good choice for you)- don't offer them a nest box! :) Pretty easy, huh? Birds do not breed like dogs, cats or bunnies would. They need the right set up and need to be a bonded pair first.

However- if you were to run into problems with them getting "nesty"... here is a wonderful article that would help you discourage the behavior:

http://www.forthebirdsdvm.com/breedingbehavior.htm

I hope this helps. :) Please let me know if you have any other questions.

-Maggie