Thinking of Getting an Eclectus Parrot

Eculectus

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Hello everyone, my name is Nathaniel and I'm thinking of getting an Eclectus parrot. This will be my first bird but there diet doesn't scare me because I have to make a similar diet for my tegu. I was wondering could I use a room for my parrot when I get him because I have a couple of rooms that I don't use in my home. I like them mainly due to the fact that it's what my grandfather had, but his was dangerously aggressive due to o him neglecting it. Is there any advice you can give me I want to learn as much as I can. What do you guess recommend adoption or buying a baby?
 

wrench13

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Welcome and be welcomed. We have lots n lots of ekkie folks on this board, Im sure they will be along presently. Also we have a kik ass search feature here.
 

Flboy

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Welcome! You would want you bird out in the main action area of your home, otherwise he may become like grandpa's!
If he can't become a family member, you may need to rethink a few things out!
 

katie_fleming

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Yeah, they really do need to be in the busiest room of the house for sure! Very important.

My advice is read as much as you possibly can about them. See if one would suit your lifestyle or not. They are very high maintenance, require a ton of interaction, etc.

Wonderful birds but definitely not for everyone!
 

davefv92c

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good read. I got Maxx before he hatched as I wanted to be part of his weaning to create a stronger bond by the time of bringing him home.
after doing a bit of studying up on them I chose to get a male as for due to being not as high strung as the females, and I have had a lot of bad luck with female pets in the past with reproductive issues that have cost me big bucks in the vets office. I am supper happy with him and proud of the research I spent the time doing before getting him, first time I have ever went to the extent I did with Maxx and the results show.

you also need to keep yours in the busiest room in the house as they thrive for human contact and it is a must
for a happy bird.
9780764118869_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg
 
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chris-md

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You can't go wrong adopting! I adopted Parker from craigslist, and he is the biggest joy to have around.

You absolutely can have a room dedicated to your bird, its a common practice for those lucky enough to have spare rooms they don't really use. That said, as previously indicated, they should generally be around you when you're home. So you should get some playstand or similar item to keep in the main area of the house where you spend most of your time, the living room for example.
 

OutlawedSpirit

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I adopted both of my ekkies, and I couldn't be happier. I would adopt again if I had it to all do over. Then only thing I'm dreading, is my hen is young so she hasn't hit puberty yet. That is a major advantage if you adopt an older bird, you can avoid it. She is also much more assertive than my male. He is more willing to just go with the flow of things, whereas she wants to direct the flow of things.

Also, their diet can be very complex, not only in the selection of fresh food you get them, but the preparation. My two tend to like their chop ground fine, but that could change at the drop of a hat. An ekkie could like it finely chopped today, but want large pieces tomorrow, then somewhere in between the day after that. Then they may get bored of what you feed them today, so you better be ready with a different menu tomorrow.

As far as having them in a separate room, that might work, and it might not. If you are willing to have the bird either with you or on a stand or play gym where you're at anytime you are home, then it wouldn't be an issue to have the cage in a separate room. However, if you think there are going to be times when you leave him/her in the cage when you are home, which does happen at times, then you should leave the cage in a main area. I keep both my cages in the living, for there are times that I have to get work done, and I can't watch them like they should be if they were out. Keep in mind, if you have a play stand for them, they still need to be watched. They are like toddlers, and will get into anything and everything as soon as your back is turned.
 

Flboy

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I adopted both of my ekkies, and I couldn't be happier. I would adopt again if I had it to all do over. Then only thing I'm dreading, is my hen is young so she hasn't hit puberty yet. That is a major advantage if you adopt an older bird, you can avoid it. She is also much more assertive than my male. He is more willing to just go with the flow of things, whereas she wants to direct the flow of things.

Also, their diet can be very complex, not only in the selection of fresh food you get them, but the preparation. My two tend to like their chop ground fine, but that could change at the drop of a hat. An ekkie could like it finely chopped today, but want large pieces tomorrow, then somewhere in between the day after that. Then they may get bored of what you feed them today, so you better be ready with a different menu tomorrow.

As far as having them in a separate room, that might work, and it might not. If you are willing to have the bird either with you or on a stand or play gym where you're at anytime you are home, then it wouldn't be an issue to have the cage in a separate room. However, if you think there are going to be times when you leave him/her in the cage when you are home, which does happen at times, then you should leave the cage in a main area. I keep both my cages in the living, for there are times that I have to get work done, and I can't watch them like they should be if they were out. Keep in mind, if you have a play stand for them, they still need to be watched. They are like toddlers, and will get into anything and everything as soon as your back is turned.
"They are like toddlers,on crack, and will get into anything and everything as soon as your back is turned"
 
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Eculectus

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I meant turn a room into a giant cage for him so he won't feel so constricted. Of course I'll take him out when I'm home and since I'm going on campus for college I convinced the dean to let me keep him there with me. The many reason why I have consider getting a bird because of my friend's cockatoo which he recently rehed due to him severely biting his 14 yr. old niece in the face due to her tormenting him. If you guys and gals want I am willing to tell his story on the cockatoo page titled under Sam.
 

chris-md

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He only concern I have about that, and I've never done it so I don't speak from experience, is that they need some comfort in confinement my mom watches my boy when I go away. If he gets used to a large room with no cage, he may cause problems when he is with my mom. She needs to keeep him caged because she has 3 cats. If he were uncomfortable being caged he'd scream his fool head off and would never be welcome back again.

Just food for thought.
 

Anansi

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A room as a giant cage is doable, but it can be tricky. Thing is, you have to completely bird-proof said room for it to be acceptable as a permanent living space for your future ekkie. Also, if you do this you should make sure to train him to go into travel cages and such. Otherwise, trips to the vet will be a big fuss every time.

You mention living on campus, but you should be aware that any parrot has the potential of being a bit noisy. If it gets to the point that he is no longer allowed to room with you, what will you do? Unless you have a Plan B for this scenario, getting a bird right now probably wouldn't be the best move.

Here are some good threads you should read before getting an ekkie:
http://www.parrotforums.com/eclectus/52737-so-you-think-you-want-eclectus.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/64006-hello-thinking-about-getting-eclectus.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/64083-my-first-parrot-female-vosmaeri-eclectus.html
 
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Eculectus

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That's true. For me the only bad thing is that there are no adoptable ekkis in Louisiana so im forced to buy one
 

EllenD

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I don't have much more to add as everyone has answered you pretty completely, but there are 2 things that concern me greatly about you getting ANY BREED OF PARROT at this time in your life:

#1 as already said you live on campus, and it's very common for people to have to rehome parrots of any kind because of noise. So what is your plan if that happens? It's very likely you will get complaints about the noise, it just happens, most people don't think bird noises are a good thing like bird people do. So parrots are generally the worst pet for students and apartment dwellers to get. You need to think long and hard about whether or not you want to end up having to rehome a bird.

#2 you have a Tegu. This is a major, major, major issue. Tegus are very lovable, interactive pets, almost like dogs, that need as much attention as a parrot does, or they should. I know many people with Tegus and they are ALL just like dogs. They free roam the house, they cuddle on the couch, etc. As you've already been told several times over, any parrot you get should be kept in the MAIN ROOM OF YOUR LIVING SPACE, where you are all the time you are home, just like your Tegu should be as well. TEGUS ARE NATURAL PREDATORS OF BIRDS. They absolutely cannot be put together. I know you're going to say your Tegu is tame and gentle, but how many tame, captive birds (if any birds) has he been around, let alone lived with and shared you with? I know people that feed chicks to their Tegus. If you get a baby parrot he'll eat it, I promise he will. It takes a split second to see him chomping down your baby bird. And if he's a Argentine Black & White Tegu then he's a big boy/girl and can eat most adult parrots, he/she certainly can and will instinctively hunt and kill any baby or adult parrot. This is a major issue, much worse than a dog and a parrot, as birds are natural prey to a Tegu. To neglect either of them is awful and you can't do it. If this is why you're thinking you'll lock your parrot away in "its own room" like you're trying to work out then please don't do it. Your parrot would and should only be "in it's own room" like you want to do when you're not home and possibly to sleep. That's it. When you're home your parrot is with you. Period. Where is your Tegu going to be?

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
 

davefv92c

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I meant turn a room into a giant cage for him so he won't feel so constricted. Of course I'll take him out when I'm home and since I'm going on campus for college I convinced the dean to let me keep him there with me. The many reason why I have consider getting a bird because of my friend's cockatoo which he recently rehed due to him severely biting his 14 yr. old niece in the face due to her tormenting him. If you guys and gals want I am willing to tell his story on the cockatoo page titled under Sam.

hate to say it but I doubt you will be able to keep a bird long in a collage situation. I have a rescued Sun Conure who was educated at Ohio State U. where the owner was told sure you can have a Conure then with in a week of moving in was told to get rid of it or move out of the dorms. Parrots are just to noisy to have in a situation where people need to concentrate for studying and such.

my first bird story U2. when I was 19 I lived down on Jensen Beach Fl worked everyday and played the rest of the time. it only took me 2 months to figure out at that young age with everything I had going on in life I did not have the proper time to devote to a parrot. so I donated to a wildlife park that used to be on US1 between Pt St Lucie and Stuart Fl so he could have a better life.
 
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Eculectus

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I meant use a room like a giant cage and I won't neglect them mainly due to the fact that my tegu is still a baby and I meant that I will have high perches for the bird to fly to when he's with me I will always have him around when I'm home I understand their like toddlers and so is my lizard. The only difference between him and other tegus is that he's more independent he likes to do his own thing and only comes to me for his food and the occasional snuggle which is from 2:00 pm to 4:00 then he buries himself and sleeps. The ekkiwill always be allowed out with my either on my shoulder or on a play stand. I meant give him a room so that he has all the space he want to relax and that he can leave the room freely when I'm home due to me leaving the door open. My tegu has his own room and he loves it. About the college issue I'm working on that since I have a plan due to the college I go to I could say the bird is for teaching since I am going to teach biology and life science before I get my major degree.
 

davefv92c

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IMO I think what you are saying more or less, keep watching a train wreak will happen sometime in the future.
about the first time you got them both out in the same room and the parrot decides it is time to check out the tegu and you have your back turned even for a second it will be bird gone. don't take my response wrong but the 2 together where they can come into contact will result in a bad thing. as for a playstand they are ok but don't depend on your bird wanting to use it much as Maxx has got to a point he only uses it and his cage top to sleep if he is out and awake he has to be right with me or right next to me.
 

katie_fleming

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Yeah if you're living on campus why not wait a couple years until you're finished and get one then? I know it's tough waiting (I waited 2 years to get Jasper) but if it's not the right time, better to wait until it is :)
 

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