No luck with new Eclectus...

Ashton

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Nov 11, 2013
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Hi everyone,

I've been on a mission to get myself a nice Eclectus that enjoys human companionship, and have fell short twice.

Initially I got a female and thought yer she's doing alright. She ended up going ballistic if you tried to get her out of the cage and bit very hard, then once you had her out she did everything in her power to get back. So she went back and I exchanged her for a male. Now this male is doing a very similar thing, he sits on top of his cage and will puff up to what I call 'attack mode' if I or my partner go near him. He doesn't go as far as destroying your hand as the female did, but still hates any human contact.

So my question is that am I just not a bird person or is this behaviour for Eclectus birds abnormal? It seems strange I get burned twice with the same sort of issue. What I want from an Eclectus is friendly bird that doesn't bite and enjoys human contact. Are my expectations too high?
 

labell

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Feb 17, 2014
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I thought I remembered you from your other posts and I was right. I think this has a lot to do with the absolutely terrible breeder you got these babies from, after all this is the same breeder that handed over a no where weaned baby to you wasn't it?
Eclectus are not cockatoos or mush macs for that matter they are what some people might consider more aloof but they should not display the behaviors you are describing in a young baby this comes from improper weaning, socializing and handling on the breeders part and then some of it might fall to you if you are new to parrots and are not training correctly.

I would strongly encourage you not to let him sit on top of his cage at this point get a separate play stand, training perch, also you must teach him "step up" to both your hand and onto a stick. Use rewards, eclectus are VERY food motivated, find whatever food he loves and use that during training. Make sure your boy's basic needs are met, plenty of fresh varied food, this can and very much will influence the behavior. The correct amount of sleep as well.

Go to the website "Land Of Vos" it is wealth of information about eclectus.

You may have to work a little harder because he was not given a great start by the breeder but it can be done. Please keep in mind that parrots are not cats or dogs they are a wild animal, expectations cannot be the same between a domesticated animal and a wild animal. Truly if you had reached out to us about the problems you were having with the girl we probably could have helped you through it. I really feel bad for that baby girl first sent to you unweaned then back to the breeder to finish weaning though I would bet my bank account he didn't do it correctly then back to you, then back to the breeder again, no wonder she had MAJOR fear and trust issues!:(
 

weco

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Nov 24, 2010
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Ashton, how long are you keeping these birds and what type of training are you doing with them? With the training, what are your procedures and for what periods of time? Are you expecting them to come to you all friendly, cuddly & tail wagging, from the breeder?

Though I seem to remember your previous posts, I tend to agree with Labell, but I'm wondering how much time you are allowing these birds to acclimate themselves in their new homes, before you're waving your hands at them ? ? ?

We need some more information ! ! !
 
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Ashton

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Nov 11, 2013
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Hi thanks for the replies,

Well I haven't had the male long, the female became basically beyond help, we were just too scared to get her out of the cage. When she was out she was extremely desperate to go back to her cage.

There is definitely hope with this male, I have only had him for a few weeks.

I emailed the breeder and she said it's basically my fault:

"No this is most emphatically not normal behavior.
This boy is sweet and cuddly and gentle.
I wonder what it is that you are inadvertently doing?
Or maybe not doing?"

And you're spot on Labell, it's clear now its definitely the cage causing aggression, we were meant to get a new perch with a play area today. I think his cage behaviour would change if he didn't eat there, im no bird expert but I believe he is basically protecting his food/'territory'. My friend has a nice female Eclectus and when she was in his cage going for his food he was not a happy chap.

There is positives when he is away from his cage, he does step up, and you can put him from one hand to another. You can pet his entire body if his body language is saying 'im comfortable and not afraid' and enjoys a head rub/neck scratch.

I think iv jumped the gun with the male, now realising the cage is the major issue. I don't believe she is a terrible breeder, she recovers sick birds for a living and has two extremely well behaved Eclectus that she has as her own companions.

Maybe she's not paying enough attention to the other baby birds, she does sell quite a lot of them and wouldn't have the time id say to have them all socialised, in fact I don't think she has them socialised on purpose. She doesn't believe in human 'imprinting' (basically the bird starting to believe its human through no interaction with other birds) as it causes problems down the track, so she strongly recommends two (of opposite sex).

In regards to training, I haven't started training him, i'm basically a bird novice. What should I be teaching him? I definitely want to teach him that biting is not on, iv heard you're meant to just take it or push the bird so it loses balance and lets go. But when an Eclectus wants to bite down hard the last thing im doing is taking it.
 

drlisaort

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Nov 3, 2012
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Hollywood, Florida
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Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
I am so sorry to hear of your struggles with both the female and now male Eclectus. I'm in agreement with the others that this is NOT normal behavior for a properly weaned baby. I definitely would have a play stand separate from his cage and even a transportable basket so you can move him around. I move Oliver around all of the time so he's with me ...and for the most part he eats in different places as well. I practiced step-ups continuously in the beginning to make sure he "got" it and he is excellent no matter where he is...inside or outside of his main cage. Oliver is now two and a half years of age...

Don't give up...this is the most amazing parrot....

Lisa
 

Delfin

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Ashton
Here is a method that could work for you and I would go for clicker and stick training with the bird in the cage.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

I ignore the bite and By this I mean; don't jump around yelling or screaming has the bird will find this most entertaining and will be encouraged to bite so they can get another show. BUT put the bird down if it is not already down and tell the bird "NO NAUGHTY BOY". and use your facial expressions to show your displeasure. The use of voice tone and facial expressions will convey your meaning to the bird.

Remember this bird doesn't know you and you have to gain it trust. look at it from the birds point of view.
 

weco

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Nov 24, 2010
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After reading your posts & those of our other members, I think you started out on the wrong mission initially and I may be in agreement that the breeder may not really br as bad as Labell assumed, but your initial post was a bit misleading, but be that as it may, I think your initial mission should have been to learn about the bird and it's specie proclivities and to answer the last question in your initial post in this thread.....possibly yes, because you do not know about cage aggression or how to deal with it and I'm not sure that you were "burned" with your previous attempt at eclectus ownership.

I'm wondering where you got your understanding of how to interact with a recently weaned (if it was weaned) eclectus chick or any parrot chick or grown bird for that matter, because when you change a bird's environment, it usually takes them a period of adjustment...with some birds it may be a short acclimation period, but others may need longer, weeks or even possibly months, so I think you and any companion bird you bring into your home will be better served if you were to do quite a bit more reading and question asking, about the things you don't understand or that you might need clarification on.....

I don't think the problem was/is with the bird, but is with your understanding or lack of what is required of we humans, in the care and understanding of these beautiful animals.....

I posted some links to videos on parrot aggression to an earlier thread, but don't think there were any concerning cage aggression by a young bird, however, the links may be of help/understanding to your quest.....good luck.....

http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-timneh-greys/50602-mickey-s-aggression-getting-pretty-bad.html
 
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Ashton

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Thanks for the replies, I'm trying to study his behaviour and when/why he will bite.

Once I take him from his cage he is gripping on very hard, his feathers are very flat and he looks 'stressed.'

I sit him on our couch, he seems to relax a bit. He doesn't want to be touched initially or he will be in a position to bite/bite if I get too close. He has an extreme stance to let you know if hes going to bite (puffs up and gets low) so I don't really get bitten since I see it coming.

So I leave him alone for a while, after time he becomes more and more relaxed, and begins talking (quiet high pitched noises, kinda like elmo) and by this time I can touch him no problems, head/back/belly rubs and seems to enjoy it. Now he steps up easily and has a very loose grip on my hand. As soon as he steps on his cage though, he puffs up immediately to tell me to get my hand away.

So to me, it seems that he's just frightened, but it's strange that the fact he was comfortable with me is completely forgotten once he steps on the cage. But after all, he's only 16-17 weeks old.

Ill look into these links, thanks.
 

weco

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Nov 24, 2010
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Your electus is viewing his cage as his security space "His Personal Space," just like many children view their rooms and get upset when their space has been violated.....

It really would be easier for the forum members to offer credible help, if that's what you really want, if you were to answer their questions.....your hypotheses and suppositions simply skirt them.....and with the tight gripping, I don't think your bird fully trusts you yet, so you might want to work on that.....once you have established the trust factor, I think you'll find him less aggressive or at least you will be at a point that will let you work on that problem.....

Good luck.....
 

Mango121913

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Aug 9, 2014
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Solomon Island Eclectus
I think you just need to be patient and take it day by day. Another thing is treats. My Mango is just really a big stomach:). He goes to anyone who has food or is eating. Find his favorite food, and use it as rewards. Always reward good behavior& use reinforced words every time he does what you want! Before you know it he will understand you and your body language. Just keep an eye on his as well. Just do little training exercises every day. Move on to something else AFTER he learns the step you are working on. These birds are really very forgiving, in time. And one of the most intelligent. Poor socialization is hard to overcome, but it can be worked through.
 

drlisaort

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Nov 3, 2012
683
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Hollywood, Florida
Parrots
Oliver, Male (SI) Eclectus
I have another thought on your dilemma... and wondered if you had bonding time with him before bringing him home. I was fortunate to know Oliver from the day his first green feather sprouted. I visited for months every week and sat with him singing and bonding and practicing step ups when he was quite young. I believe the earlier times with him gave me an advantage....

Again, hang in there and keep working it through....it's worth your while and his....

Lisa
 

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