Strongly considering an Eclectus but have a million questions!

Gretchen

New member
Jun 27, 2011
8
0
Hello all, I'm new here and I'm strongly considering getting an Eclectus. I'm still in the researching stage and I want to know everything!!!

My husband and I both work full time so I'm a little concerned with how happy the bird will be while we are at work. Do any of you have any advice or reassurance about that?

I know that Eclectus require more fresh fruits and veggies than other birds. Is there any sort of morning feeding routine that could be fairly quick for working "moms" of Eclectus?

I really want a female. I think they are the most beautiful bird on the planet! But I've heard the horror stories about them being moody and having cage aggression. Would having a cage specifically for nighttime sleeping and a different one for daytime help with that? Then I was thinking we could have a play gym in the living room for when we're home and hanging out.

Sorry to write a novel!!! I just want to make a very informed decision!
 

mnsalani

New member
May 18, 2011
209
Media
2
0
Kentucky
Parrots
Sushi, our femme fatale SI Ekkie
Ekkie's are incredible birds! Just recently my fiance and I purchased a 4 year old female, who we have named Sushi:) A week later she is out and about every day, being the sweetest little thing.

It sounds like you're on the right track; keep reading and doing all that research--everyone here will help you out for sure! Eclectus's do have special diets, but it's really not all that complicated. In the morning, a quick fix I've found is organic baby food mixed with fresh grapes and some instant oatmeal. As for the working full time, you would have to make sure to give lots of socialization as soon as you got home, even in the morning when you're getting ready to leave. They are extremely intelligent so they need to be stimulated throughout the day; toys, foraging treats (Sushi loves her pinecones!) and maybe even leaving on the tv in the same room.

Hope this helps some! And keep us updated on your decision!
 

Cowtown

New member
Aug 4, 2010
1,192
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1
0
Great State of Texas
Parrots
Abby 2 year old Female Eclectus & Solomon 12 year old Male CAG & Dickens 4 year old CAG.
Keep reading and read some more and keep asking questions.
I have a female that is just over a year old.
I am single and she is home alone in her cage, gated off from my 2 pup.
she is sweet and jabbers up a storm and is a little pig in all ways... food everywhere and she will eat almost anything I give her.
All Fids need attention and need one on one time to learn to talk and what is right and wrong. Check with Antoinette she has a grey and works wonders with Mishka.

Good luck
 

mrob

New member
Mar 22, 2011
207
0
New Zealand
Parrots
Gizmo:Male RS Eclectus
R.I.P Merv Hughes: Cockateil
Booger: Alexandrine
electus are fantastic birds - I cant speak for all of them but I can tell you about mine..... I have a male, got him as a hand raised baby not quite weaned. He is still young, just over a year old. right now as im in bed with my laptop he is hiding behind it and periodically sticking his head up and yelling 'PEEKABOO! GOOD BOY!!"
He also loves to get into bed under the covers and cuddle up (winter here at the moment) and go to sleep under my chin, all the while muttering his words while hes sleeping....
Thay are relativly easy care if you have some bird experience - need a different diet, little or no seed and no vitamin supplements. The usual suspects such as chocolate, avocado are all big no-nos. Its slightly different but not rocket science and theres heaps of info out there on the net so its easy enough to find your way!
I make up a big soft food mix (cooked lentils, brown rice, chickpeas, peas, corn, barley, sweet potato) and keep it in baggies the freezer. I also supplement with HEAPS of fruit and veges and a few nuts. For treats he gets mash potato, or a bit of whatever im eating. Loves it. I use sunflower seeds for training rewards (just a few - they are very fattening). He is a HUGE eater.
My boy is sweet natured, NEVER agressive (he will probably go through an aggro stage at puberty though!) but he does growl at me sometimes but its just beaky playing. Shares his cage with a cockateil no problems. Very playful, loves interactive toddler toys that he can press something and they will sing/make music or move. Tickle me elmo is a favourite! Overall he prefers playing with me to his toys though. Loves having showers too.
Extremely intelligent and very fast to learn. Acrobatic! believe it or not...he looks so stocky but he flings himself around like a trapeze artist! Very affectionate - will follow me around the house like a puppy. Totally calm - loves going outside to see the flowers and is easy to get into a flight suit (saves the mess when hes in bed too!)
Hes not noisy at all - only squaks when he wants his breakfast or i go out of the room...but its nowhere near as bad as a cockatoo or macaw or even a conure. Hes quiet overall except when hes talking. Oh, and if the vacuum cleaner of hairdryer is on that is GREAT FUN and time to yell a whole lot of nonsense! He picks up words very quickly and uses them in context. I am biased but he is my total dream bird and I am so lucky to have him! My man is a fisherman so he is out at sea a lot, and Gizmo is perfect company for me.
Im a uni student so I am home often, but Gizmo is happy to play on his own even when im here - he is not a needy bird- my cockateil on the other hand has some serious emotional attachment issues lol. Loves his toys, is fine if i need to be out all day but very happy to see me when i get back.
Seriously, I couldnt imagine life without him. He is just like a little person and I love him!!!
lol so you can see what I would do if i were you =)
 

mygirl

Banned
Banned
Oct 4, 2010
155
0
Parrots
Female Eclectus
we have a female, she had a few health prolems at the start but shes fine now, just make sure if you get one it comes from a good breeder, she is a one person bird really shes basically in love with my husband, i'm not sure if this is how they all are or if its because she was so sick. if you want to ask anymore questions feel free to private message me
 

Eclectica

Member
Oct 8, 2006
412
Media
7
3
South Africa
Parrots
Dory - Cockatiel
All Ekkies like all other parrots have each got their own personality. Mrob's parrot is very lovable and cuddly boy, where my boy is very quiet and has actually developed a fear of hands for some weird reason. He chats a lot, people shy, but will sit with anyone. Has never bitten me, thankfully.

I got him at 4 months and today is actually his hatchday, 5 years old. With some ekkies you may get at the age of two they become real terrorists, like a kid turning 2 and going through the terrible two's stage of life!!!

So at this stage, im also in a battle with getting him used to hands again, at least he doesnt bite, but it does look wierd when your own bird jumps away from you...

Either way, its a lifelong commitment, and you must be prepared for a few things along your journey, good and bad. If you can commit to that you are one step closer to owning a big parrot. :)
 

mrob

New member
Mar 22, 2011
207
0
New Zealand
Parrots
Gizmo:Male RS Eclectus
R.I.P Merv Hughes: Cockateil
Booger: Alexandrine
All Ekkies like all other parrots have each got their own personality. Mrob's parrot is very lovable and cuddly boy, where my boy is very quiet and has actually developed a fear of hands for some weird reason. He chats a lot, people shy, but will sit with anyone. Has never bitten me, thankfully.

I got him at 4 months and today is actually his hatchday, 5 years old. With some ekkies you may get at the age of two they become real terrorists, like a kid turning 2 and going through the terrible two's stage of life!!!

So at this stage, im also in a battle with getting him used to hands again, at least he doesnt bite, but it does look wierd when your own bird jumps away from you...

Either way, its a lifelong commitment, and you must be prepared for a few things along your journey, good and bad. If you can commit to that you are one step closer to owning a big parrot. :)


Thats a very good point. I have been told that my eccie is unusual in that he is so cuddly.......they seem on balance to not be cuddly birds, not like a too or a conure....
 

mygirl

Banned
Banned
Oct 4, 2010
155
0
Parrots
Female Eclectus
mylah is cuddly and smootchy to my husband but not to me i swear she's in love with him!!
 

Pedro

New member
Dec 15, 2010
1,583
3
Australia
Parrots
2 Budgies, 3 Cockatiels, 6 GCC'S, 2 Crimson Bellie Conures, 9 Sun Conures, 2 Major Mitchells, 12 Eclectus parrots of various ages, 2 BF Amazons, 2 Hahn's Macaw's, 1 Red Tail Black Too
You can talk to 100 eclectus owners & get 100 different answers. All i can add is I have 8 Eclectus & each has it's own personality. I have a 12 year old very cuddly boy & another that can be cuddly on his terms. & another male that will only take food from my hand. Females, let me just say i have the utmost respect for. If i don't read their body language i can get bitten. I would have to say they are very independent & don't crave for attention as much as just wanting to hang out with their human flock. I should add that my lot live in a large walkin flight aviary & i can bring them inside if i wish or just sit in their cage & hang out with them. However the year old pair like to come inside & play on their stand.

I can also say that i have never experienced the terrible two's with any of my babies, they seem to breeze through without any problem at all. Same goes when my lot mature, I have never been bothered with a hormonal bird.

Personally i think if your considering an eclectus you need to set yourself up for success from the beginning & work with what ever crops up if need be. Also i always advise my clients to not have any expectations of what their new baby should be. If he/she is not what you had in mind you will be disappointed.

But i think all of us here love our eclectus & it doesn't really matter what they turn out like.
 
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Gretchen

New member
Jun 27, 2011
8
0
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Thank you all for your replies! I have many more questions but I think I'll start a separate thread so one thread won't get too bogged down with my "million" questions!!! :)
 

wuvzbirdies

New member
May 5, 2009
238
0
Toronto, Canada
Parrots
Congo African Grey: Russell Peters (R.I.P. my baby)
Hi Gretchen, welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place. First of all Good on ya for thouroughly researching before taking the plunge into parronthood. I wanted to comment on your question about being owned by a parrot while you are a working family and not home during the day. I had a CAG named Russell who is sadly no longer with us and we were a working family and not home during the day. When we got Russell I started getting up an hour earlier so I could let him out of the cage for a good 2 hours in the morning, then when we got home the first thing I did was let him out. So during the week he was out of the cage daily for about 5 hours then of course the weekends he was out while we were awake and home which was often. Russell was a very happy guy so I don't think being a working family will hinder you having a content bird if you're able to ensure he has quality out of cage time before and after work.

Good luck on your research.
 

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