new eclectus with aggression issues

eric

New member
Dec 19, 2011
2
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I purchased and 11 month old eclectus 2 weeks ago. The breeder told me is was very sweet and he seemed to be at the bird show. The ride home scared him because my jeep is loud. After about 4 days I let him out of the cage. He has never bitten me but he does bluff. He will even put his beak on me but wont bite down. He stays out of the cage most of the day because I work from home. He is protective over his food even when I bring him more. He seems to be afraid because he shakes when I pick him up but he will always step up on my finger. I am able to touch his back but he watches me closely. I read that if you put a towl over their head so they can't see and hold them they will not stress and will learn that you don't intend to harm them. Does any one have any advice? I don't want to make him worse.
 

pawsfoot

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Jul 19, 2010
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Brooksville, FL
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1 Eclectus Parrot (Ezmerelda), 1 Patagonian Conure (Peanut)
All new birds need to learn that they can trust you, and you just need to take it slow. Have all of the positive interaction that you can with this bird. He will eventually associate you with good things. I know you want your little friend to like you right away, but this is a big adjustment for him so just take it slow.
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
3,987
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4
4
Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
Parrots
11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
YEAH, DON'T PUT A TOWEL OVER THE BIRDS HEAD!! I don't know where you heard that, but it's wrong. (This might work for horses, but not birds). It doesn't sound like you have a lot of bird experience. If not then I would recommend that you do quite a few searches on Eclectus Parrot. I would also suggest that if you haven't done it yet, TAKE YOUR NEW BIRD TO AN AVIAN VET. I know in the US, most states have laws when you buy a new animal that you have like 72 hours from the time of acceptance of the animal to have it checked by a qualified vet.

If the birds wings aren't clipped, I would highly suggest having them clipped until you have formed a bond with him. He will have to rely on you more when his wings are clipped and will be a bit easier to deal with. When you have his wings clipped, by a qualified person, they will usually use a towel. Most birds can get over heated quite easily when wrapped in a towel for any length of time. This has to be monitored. It's also very stressful to the bird. But once they are done and let him loose, he will mostlikely seek you out for comfort and protection. This helps form a strong bond.

But the main key here is SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. Let him get used to you. All new birds even hand raised tame birds will bite at times, usually out of fear more than anything else. But you have got to give him time to get used to you, which could take weeks.
 

mtdoramike

Supporting Member
Jan 18, 2011
3,987
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4
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
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11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
Oh, I forgot to mention, most Eclectus parrots from the research that I have done don't like to be touched or snuggled unlike some other species. Even though mine was hand raised, he still isn't what I would call a snuggle bug. He allows me to touch his head, under his wings, his back and his belly. But he is still very uncertain of this and will watch me closely. You'll know when you are doing or about to do something he doesn't like because he will growl at you like a dog.
 

pawsfoot

New member
Jul 19, 2010
74
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2
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Brooksville, FL
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1 Eclectus Parrot (Ezmerelda), 1 Patagonian Conure (Peanut)
I agree with mike on the snuggling thing. My ekky isnt a snuggle bug either. She watches my every move when I pet her. She will sit with me for hours, and just hang but doesn't really like to snuggle. It took my Ekky roughly about 6 months to completely trust my husband and I and she was completely unhandled when we got her, and she was already an adult when we rescued her.
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Mine snuggles with me!!!! :)
Just repeat the exercise by getting him out to be with you 3+ times per day at 45min+ each time. When I say be with you does not mean on playstand, has to be right on you! Do this exercise every day until he learns to step up and trust you. You must repeat the training over and over while you have him out. Praise him and call him by his name when he's doing good. I find ekkies to be easily trained unless I just got lucky with my pair after only 5 days of training. But it took a couple month for him to come out of his shell from being a closet talker to a babble talker that keeps on...lol...
 

mygirl

Banned
Banned
Oct 4, 2010
155
0
Parrots
Female Eclectus
i don't believe in using towels either the vet done this to mylah and freaked her out, mylah is very cuddly towards my husband but not me, it will just take time and you need to let him settle in and build the trust up, i'm not sure weather you know or not make sure you don't make fast movements towards him, mylah wasn't a hand raised baby so it took around 6 months or so for her to settle
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
About the towel thing...I used it last night and I put a towel over my Eclectus, fairly calm under a towel believe it or not. BUT the only reasoning I was using a towel was because I had to get to the back claws to clip, front was easy without a towel...
 

mygirl

Banned
Banned
Oct 4, 2010
155
0
Parrots
Female Eclectus
we must be so lucky with mylah she thinks getting toenails filed is a game lol
 

kc_y0

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Nov 17, 2011
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Sydney
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Eclectus Female - Audrey.
Art - Budgie.
Astro - Budgie.
Mini - Budgie, RIP gorgeous girl.
My ekkie LOVES snuggles haha :)

Just be patient eric, it will take a lot of time. :) Try offering him treats. It took about a month for my bird to be calm around me.
 

Pedro

New member
Dec 15, 2010
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Australia
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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 know if you really watch the expressions on your eclectus's face it will tell you a lot. I don't think your guy is being aggressive just scared & protecting itself from everything new. It's up to you to make your bird feel safe & secure so slowly does it.

Without trust you won't get to far with an eclectus. Like others have said it could take months for him to trust you. I find if i have a shy apprehensive bird I don't make to much of a fuss & just let them come to me rather than push myself on them. If they want to stepup, good, if not i will try again later.

I am sure he will come around.
 

Spiritbird

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Aug 20, 2009
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Also watch your eye contact with the bird. For any shy or apprehensive animal, including birds, it is best to make sideways eye contact.
 

Link

New member
Jan 13, 2012
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Parrots
Link- Male Eclectus Parrot
Mike, the towel thing doesn't work for horses either. ;) That's another big misconception.

I agree that the bird needs more time to adjust and get to know you. Just look at it from his perspective. He is in a new environment, with new people, sounds, smells, sights, etc. and nobody he knows or trusts. It will take time for him to accept you and trust you. If you allow things to happen on his terms when he is ready, you will see that your relationship will actually progress quicker and smoother than if you force experiences on him.
 

Pedro

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Dec 15, 2010
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Australia
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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
I have to disagree on the toweling issue. It easy, you just have to know the correct way to towel a parrot. In fact a parrot is much more calm when wrapped in a towel. Only yesterday I had to clip a friends parrots wings, because the birds didn't know me we placed them in a towel, the owners couldn't believe how calm their birds were & we were able to clip 3 birds without shedding a drop of blood, mine or their's.

Honestly I don't know why so many people think it's bad or doesn't work, every single baby i rear have been taught to be wrapped in a towel, we play hide & seek & peek-a-boo.

When we bring a new baby into our homes they have to learn all over again to trust someone new. This is where new carers make the mistake of not allowing the bird to settle in before they get to know each other. They immediately think the bird is aggressive instead of realising it is scared.

Link is right you, must take it slow. I can spend 3 months hand-rearing an eclectus chick, getting it to the stage where it trusts anything i do....BUT....it takes just one wrong move from the new carer & all that good work has been undone. If you make the transition as easy as possible for the bird then everything will move along very quickly.
 

Link

New member
Jan 13, 2012
10
0
Parrots
Link- Male Eclectus Parrot
I don't think toweling is a bad thing unless it is done in a way that instills fear in the animal. Which I have seen far too often. I think it is an excellent idea to get your bird used to being toweled. In the event that the bird needs to be toweled for a medical reason or for wing clipping/nail trimming. But it should always be made a fun, positive experience. I can't stand when I see a bird forced into a towel that is scared half to death.
 

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