Advice for young male eckie

Hello,

My partner and i recently adopted a male eclectus about three weeks ago (approx 17 weeks now). He is still on two feeds a day of baby food and he has dry food available (pellets) and he has home made parrot chop available as well as fresh fruit every day.

The issue we are having with him is he is a screamer! Now this is my third Eclectus i have owned myself, and i know they are noisy birds...although the big issue is that his screaming doesn't seem to be for attention as he continues as we hold him and pet him. So we can rule out hunger (as his belly is usual nice and plump) he isn't doing it for attention because he will literally scream as we hold him. Does anyone have any suggestions as what to do? Is it just an issue as he is young and possibly taken from the nest too soon?

Yoshi (as we have named him) is my partners bird as i have a female (Effy) and my partner is trying so hard to bond with him...he has gotten to the point of wearing ear plugs to soften the screaming as he is sitting with him on the couch. I put Yoshi outside in a cage today to see if the fresh air would calm and make him tired but he just screamed for two hours.

We are making an appointment with the vet this coming week to make sure there isn't anything medically wrong with him, I'm thinking it is just a behavioral problem.

His cage is in the laundry with my other Eclectus (they have separate cages) and they are brought out whenever we are home (mornings and afternoons) He has lots of stimulation toys, i put carrots in the bottom of his cage to rip them apart...so i am ruling out boredom?

We are open to any suggestions, so any help is very much appreciated.

Thankyou,
Ange

AngelaEve92 said:

Hello,

My partner and i recently adopted a male eclectus about three weeks ago (approx 17 weeks now). He is still on two feeds a day of baby food and he has dry food available (pellets) and he has home made parrot chop available as well as fresh fruit every day.

The issue we are having with him is he is a screamer! Now this is my third Eclectus i have owned myself, and i know they are noisy birds...although the big issue is that his screaming doesn't seem to be for attention as he continues as we hold him and pet him. So we can rule out hunger (as his belly is usual nice and plump) he isn't doing it for attention because he will literally scream as we hold him. Does anyone have any suggestions as what to do? Is it just an issue as he is young and possibly taken from the nest too soon?

Yoshi (as we have named him) is my partners bird as i have a female (Effy) and my partner is trying so hard to bond with him...he has gotten to the point of wearing ear plugs to soften the screaming as he is sitting with him on the couch. I put Yoshi outside in a cage today to see if the fresh air would calm and make him tired but he just screamed for two hours.

We are making an appointment with the vet this coming week to make sure there isn't anything medically wrong with him, I'm thinking it is just a behavioral problem.

His cage is in the laundry with my other Eclectus (they have separate cages) and they are brought out whenever we are home (mornings and afternoons) He has lots of stimulation toys, i put carrots in the bottom of his cage to rip them apart...so i am ruling out boredom?

We are open to any suggestions, so any help is very much appreciated.

Thankyou,
Ange

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Hi welcome Ange, you will get more input but in the meantime pleased to see you have made that appointment with your AV.

I have noticed with my Plum is how much he seems to sit looking out into the garden, seems to enjoy watching things going on out there. Could you place your birds cages in a better spot than your laundry room? This conjures up a image of being shut away with little natural light and no stimulation from anything happening. Please correct if this is wrong. Have a good look through the Ecklectus section as there is loads of info, toys to make, stands to make, foraging etc. Perhaps some foraging will help with the screaming?

http://www.parrotforums.com/eclectus/

We always recommend birds only be in a separate room at bedtime. Can you get a,second cage where he can be near a window or wherever things are happening during rest of day. If the house is empty all day. Find a music or channel with scenery and nature sounds on your TV.

Literally this guy is really young to have been sold, but that's the Adoption Coordinator in me. Much like a human baby they need lots of attention as babies. Your little guy sounds almost terrified of the change and being alone. Remember every parrot is a flock creature, they were not designed by nature to be alone, so in our attempts to keep them happy in our home we need to be creative in ways to find a balance....

When is he quiet? What makes him calm? Being around your other bird? He may be one of the birds that need flock. We have birds at the rescue that are very happy living in the rescue with other birds but are a nightmare in a home. But big question, when does he seem content?

Are you sure he's not calling for more handfeedins? They aren't just for feeding, they are a level of comfort. Having just brought him home recently he might have reverted, and needs extra hand feedings to soothe him.

Baby cries is a constant thing, that's the part that drives me up the walls when I used to raise parrots. Its just a begging behavior that they'll eventually grow out of it. That's why I tell people don't attempt to get babies, weaned ones are just as good even if your not the one that weaned them.

Is this screaming one where he gives out a loud, piercing squawk at intervals so regular you can pretty much predict the next one? If so, you are very likely hearing the baby cries to which Michael is referring. Ekkies DEFINITELY go through this stage as they are weaning. But it does pass.

All that said, it's good that you are taking him in to see an avian vet just in case there is something else going on.

Welcome! Glad you found us!

Thankyou again to all of your advice, it is much appreciated.

This afternoon I am going to move his cage to an area that has a window and more natural light.

I have also thought of trying to wake up during the night to see if he needs another feed in-between the two he has (morning and night) Hopefully that will settle him a bit more. I'm not sure what the do if he wasn't weaned correctly, so I will ask the vet for some more info into that.

I have put some news paper around his cage this morning (hanging from his toys) and made a little plate of food on the floor of his cage so he can play with that too.

The person we adopted him off had given him up due to her own medical reasons..So she was home with him all day as she wasn't working. I understand he must be distraught at the fact of being alone during the day (even with the other eclectus) So i am going to try leaving a radio on (hopefully background noise will soothe him)

Thankyou again for all of your advice! It is very much appreciated.

In in-between hours is when he needs to be on the adult food, which is the fresh fruits and veggies. I personally wouldn't do any pellets. Also do some cooking for him.

Yes he has heaps of fresh food available. Every morning, i clean both bird cages and organize them with fresh food and water. I made a whole heap of parrot chop a few weeks ago.

He gets a bowl of parrot chop as well as fresh fruit. I try and make it so they have alot of variety. He is showing alot of interest in adult food which i guess is a good sign