Cage recommendation for handicapped eclectus

vsk101

Member
Aug 13, 2017
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15
San Francisco, CA
Parrots
Green Bean -Male Eclectus adopted 8/27/17 (6 months old)
Hi, I'm adopting a 6-month old male eclectus who is having part of a wing amputated due to a previous injury. I would like to get cage recommendations, including whether it is advisable for him to have a play area on top. I'm thinking something not very tall but wide and long and with a soft mat underneath in case he falls. I know he is going to want to be high up, though, because all he seems to want to do is climb! Also, I have read about keeping the cage against a wall so that he feels safe, but is there any chance he will chew the paint when he is on top of the cage? Just want to take all safety precautions. Thank you
 

clark_conure

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Jul 14, 2017
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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
Keep the cage out of reach of the walls, birds test everything with their tongues and their beaks. I wouldn't worry to much about him falling unless his balance gets thrown way off by the surgery.

I'd go with a wire cage he can climb all over as opposed to the fancy plexiglass cages I've seen in high end parrot boutiques so he can climb and climb and climb. Also get a lot of those wooden ladders, I have one going up to my desk for my bird because his wings are clipped. Most furniture he will be able to climb up without any difficulty.

Finally I'm in awe and proud you would take in a disabled bird from the get go, if clark was injured I'd of course love him and keep him forever but taking in a disabled bird is truly heroic.
 

Owlet

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Oct 27, 2016
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Lincoln (Eclectus), Apollo (Cockatiel), Aster (GCC)
Eclectus parrots are pretty decent climbers so I don't think the cage itself will need many or any special modifications. though a soft mat on the floor would be good especially for a baby.

good luck and id love to see pics once you get this babe ♡
 

Oedipussrex

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Jun 3, 2012
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Charlie - Galah
Not sure what brand so I can't give you a link... We used a larger, powder coated, indoor, guineapig/rabbit cage for our old Ekkie after he lost all his feathers (pbfd) and kept jumping and falling from his taller cage & perches.

They're much lower than bird cages, ours had top and front doors so it could still open up and let him out on to a play top kind of area. The bars were all horizontal which made it easier for him to climb around, and they have a plastic bucket tray on the bottom with no wire grates above it. Depending on how much ur bird goes down there (or if they're inclined to chew on the tray) that might be gross, but it's also much softer to land on.

The biggest drawback of these I think, would be that it took forever for us to find one big enough. Also since it had a separate powder coated cubby house/bed section that attached to one end (which we never used), that end had a door sized hole in the bars which you would have to deal with. Personally we solved that issue by swapping the hooks on the Perspex feeding cube which he already used, to save mess, and attached that to the outside if the hole. Made it easier to remove and wash the cube too :)

Good luck with your new baby!
 

SailBoat

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Jul 10, 2015
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I would be more concern with keeping your Parrot's 'Good' wing properly trimmed to assure balance between the amputated Wing and the full Wing. If not properly address by your Certified Avian Vet (CAV), this could result is serious off balance attempts at flight and the serious problems that could result from.

I see no reason to look at a special cage, since with the exception of a huge flight cage, the requirements for a non-flighted Parrot remains the same whether the lack of flight is caused by an amputation or an extensive Flight Feather trim!

I would be just as comfortable with a standard play top on top of the cage! Please avoid any cage in which the top opens and become a play top area. That style of cage is dangerous to all Parrots!

You are faced with the same day to day causes of any Parrot that has its Flight Feather's Trimmed!
 
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vsk101

Member
Aug 13, 2017
95
15
San Francisco, CA
Parrots
Green Bean -Male Eclectus adopted 8/27/17 (6 months old)
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Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for your extremely helpful responses! I am new to this site and wasn't getting notifications, so I didn't think I was getting any messages! All of your responses are so great and helpful. I'm very glad to hear that he is unlikely to have any significant problem with the amputation, which is actually only partial, and that he is likely to be as well off as any bird who has had his wings clipped. I am just going to confirm with the vet that she doesn't see any issues after the surgery and if so, I will get him a normal cage that I will keep near a wall so he feels safe but not so close that he can chew on it. :)

Owlet, when you mentioned a mat on the floor, do you mean on the floor of his cage or around his cage? Do I need to worry about toxicity of the mat if it is in his cage?

Clark-Conure, the ladder is a nice idea for him to get near me on my desk (I work from home) as long as he isn't going to get into any trouble, haha! I was thinking of a hemp rope so he can get from his cage to a play area (I was thinking of making him a play pen close to the ground).

Thanks to all for the cage safety recommendations and for all of your input. For those of you who have an eclectus, I have one more question about buying a cage: the shop owner has told me that having the biggest cage possible is not necessarily the best thing for an eclectus (or an african grey). I'm not sure why and I'm inclined to give him the biggest cage possible. He is 12-14" at 6 months, so maybe going to be a big boy. The cage she recommended is 27"x32" (approximately) for length and width. I would really prefer much bigger and am willing to invest in stainless since I am planning to have him for a long time. Any guidance onf sizing would be really helpful, or if you have a particular cage in mind, please post a link. Thanks again, this is all great information, and I'm a bit overwhelmed preparing for baby :)
 

OutlawedSpirit

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Apr 12, 2016
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I have no idea why she would tell you not to get the biggest cage your space and budget will allow for an eclectus. When I first got my female ekkie she was in a smaller cage that I upgraded to a macaw cage and she was much happier in the larger cage. I would go ahead and get the largest cage that your budget and spacing will allow. You'll have a much happier baby for it.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 

SailBoat

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Sorry, but I am an Amazon Snob, I hope that does not limit my comments. :D

I fully agree with my good friend above! My only addition is that to target a 'full height' door. Not so much for your Parrot's easy of getting in and out, but your ease in getting in and out for cleaning, arrangement updates, etc...

If you have french double doors, the depth of the cage is of little concern. If not, be mindful that a cage depth wider than your door opening will mean that the cage will need to be disassembled anytime the cage is moved to another room or outside.

We like to Spring, Summer and Fall - clean the cage outside and allow it to dry in bright Sun Shine!

FYI: We have a Double-Yellow-Headed Amazon and he pushes around 500 grams on-average. He has two cages and both are 27" (685 mm) deep by 36" (910 mm) wide. Without seed catchers, they slide though the doorways in our home.

Our Amazons have all seemed to have been Mechanics in their prior life(s) as they are free-ranging Parrots (Not Recommended for most Parrot Owners!) that if locked in their cages have simply disassembled the cages. After all, Amazons see locks as something to play with and a cage as something to take apart.

Enjoy!
 
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vsk101

Member
Aug 13, 2017
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15
San Francisco, CA
Parrots
Green Bean -Male Eclectus adopted 8/27/17 (6 months old)
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How does having french doors allow you to avoid having to disassembling the cage when moving him?

And thanks for the warning -- your birdie sounds like a handful! :)
 
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vsk101

Member
Aug 13, 2017
95
15
San Francisco, CA
Parrots
Green Bean -Male Eclectus adopted 8/27/17 (6 months old)
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  • Thread starter
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Thank you for confirming I should go with my instincts on this one :)
 

SailBoat

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Jul 10, 2015
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Western, Michigan
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DYH Amazon
How does having french doors allow you to avoid having to disassembling the cage when moving him?

And thanks for the warning -- your birdie sounds like a handful! :)

A French Door Set when fully opened can be up to 2 meters (80") wide! There is very little that will not fit that large of opening.

Our DYHA can require not only our Avian Vet, her Vet Tech and me to hold him still if he elects not to cooperate! :D Thankfully, that is not very often!
 

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