S.I. Hen Likes Dark Closed Spaces-Nesting? But She Dislikes Our Male Ekkie

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Scarlett is about 4 1/2 years old and won't stay out of my kitchen cabinets! She opens them, goes inside and chews on whatever is in them. She gets feisty and bitey when we try to get her out, which is not common behavior for her. She was hand-raised and is usually quite docile and cuddly, but she reverts to her inner-wild bird or something when she gets under a bed or in a cabinet.

We got her a nesting box to keep her out of the cabintes and give her a little hidey hole during the day when she is in her cage while we are away forom the house. Is that a good idea? Will this lead to anti-social behavior? She usually comes out of her cage and climbs on the door when my husband enters the room but if she is in her cage and he comes in she rushes into her box. And as soon as we open her cage, she heads straight for the kitchen cabinets.

Also, if she is nesting or interested in mating, how can I get her to mate with my male? Or at least like him? She tolerates him right now ,for the most part, but they cannot share a perch. Their cages are now in seperate rooms, but when they were in the same room, she would go to his cage, kick him off of it and stay there until he would make his way to her cage, then she would go back to her cage an kick him off of it!

I know that females are the dominant sex with ekkies, but she is mean to my little green boy! And I would love to some day have little ekkie babies. Our male, Yoshi, is about 4 years old. Any advice/info on Scarlett's behavior?

Thanks for any help
 
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That was really helpful! My baby girl is nesting, aw! I specially like the part that says "...you might find your red hen scratching around in dark corners intent on making a nest--and guarding the chosen site with the ferocity of a red-feathered Pit Bulldog!" That's my little hen allright!

But what to do about her dislike of Yoshi? Is there anything I can do to help them get along better?
 

Ratzy

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I wouldn't put in a nest box. That would encourage chronic egg laying. Gradually introduce your male, eg., put him in for an hour, supervised, then the next day 5 hours, then a day depending on how it goes. The hen should welcome him back with open wings.
 
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Thanks Ratzy, but it's not that she used to like Yoshi and has abandoned him for the nesting box. She never has liked him!
Sometimes I can hold both at the same time, one on each shoulder or one on my arm and the other on my shoulder, but if they get too close they get aggressive and bitey. We have been trying to get them used to each other for a year or so and some days it goes better thqn others, but overall, she still doesnt like him :(
 

Mel

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I wouldn't put in a nest box. That would encourage chronic egg laying.

Fortunately chronic egg laying is not usually an issue with Eclectus as it is with Budgies and Teils. Mate agression is often an problem with the males attacking females except in the case of Eclectus where the hen is the aggresor.

In the wild a bird would take flight from an aggressive mate however this is often not an option with captive birds. You could try clipping her wings and keeping him fully flghted with an escape route available when they are together. Depending how far you want to go - a lage avery where they can be together but far enough apart if needed, some high perches she can not get to with clipped wings, also a nest box with 2 entraces so he can get away if she gets nasty. Seperating them for a while may also help.

Just be aware it may never happen. Nature is pretty clever and there may be very good reasons we are unware of why your guys don't get on. Just like people, some couples should never breed. :09:
 

Bear

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4yr old female Vosmaeri Eclectus
6yr old male Vosmaeri Eclectus
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Hi I'm sorry your Ekkies are not getting on too well.

I have a pair of Vosmaeri Eclectus. The female has always been quite reserved, tame but quiet. She started nesting and laying eggs. The male adored her but she became quite feisty when nesting.
The male needs to dominate her, my problem was the male was just too nice and she walked all over him. It was only when she gave him a nip to the foot and he had a sore foot for 2 days that he started assrting himself with her. Since then she has tried to be a little feisty with him, but he gives as much back and she accepts him now.
I was told, before he started standing up for himself, that I should get a wilder male who would put her in her place, however luckily I didn't need to do this.
 
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Last Tuesday, my little hen laid an egg! We were so impressed and excited :) It's unfertilized of course, but we intend to leave it with her in the nesting box for the 28 days and she is sitting on it and practicing being good little mommy. She still comes out on her own for cuddling and is real sweety still. We left on family vacation Thursday but my mom came over daily to feed and give the birds attention. We got home today and there is a 2nd egg in her box! Not as big as the first, but almost. So now how should we go about taking care her and the eggs? What is the next preoper step tp take?
 

Mel

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Last Tuesday, my little hen laid an egg! We were so impressed and excited :) It's unfertilized of course, but we intend to leave it with her in the nesting box for the 28 days and she is sitting on it and practicing being good little mommy. She still comes out on her own for cuddling and is real sweety still. We left on family vacation Thursday but my mom came over daily to feed and give the birds attention. We got home today and there is a 2nd egg in her box! Not as big as the first, but almost. So now how should we go about taking care her and the eggs? What is the next preoper step tp take?[/QUOTE

This article may help
Chronic Egg Laying: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options as well as Prevention
 
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Wow, you are an encyclopedia of helpful articles! Is 2 eggs really "chronic?" Don't Eclectus usually have 2 in a clutch? If I take out her box she'll invade my kitchen cabinets. We wouldnt mind if she had eggs, but she doesnt like Yoshi, or maybe he isnt mature enough yet? I want to do what's best for her, I just need to learn and understand what that is.
 

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