What is the good and bad of eclectus parrots?

Any owners out there who can answer this question? Thank you!

not an owner myself but I can tell you what I've seen from ones I met and from stories.

"Good": They are quieter in general than other parrots of the size but they can make a racket when they want to, the ekkie honk is a pretty loud vocalisation. they're more chilled out than other parrots preferring to sit back and observe than to get stuck in although they have their play time. They're not prone to 1 person bonding but they do need to be properly socialized to keep it up. On their terms they can be true cuddle bugs. Not prone to biting, pay attention and you'll know when to back off. They're smart birds, they can learn and pick stuff up pretty well.

"Bad": They have a specialist diet so no pellets for them, research the diet before anything else. Whilst not prone to biting that beak is scalpel levels of sharp. It won't puncture but it will slice you up pretty bad when they want. Interaction is on their terms, if they don't want a cuddle or a scratch then you aren't allowed to give it to them. they are opinionated, they can decide what they want or don't want and you're going to know about it. They're smart birds, they can learn just how to manipulate you into doing their bidding.

A lot of issues I see with them come down to the owner either not feeding them right or not working properly with them, setting boundaries ETC.

Of course all birds have their own personality so there are differences. Best to ask Anansi as he's an Ekkie owner

LordTriggs said:

not an owner myself but I can tell you what I've seen from ones I met and from stories.

"Good": They are quieter in general than other parrots of the size but they can make a racket when they want to, the ekkie honk is a pretty loud vocalisation. they're more chilled out than other parrots preferring to sit back and observe than to get stuck in although they have their play time. They're not prone to 1 person bonding but they do need to be properly socialized to keep it up. On their terms they can be true cuddle bugs. Not prone to biting, pay attention and you'll know when to back off. They're smart birds, they can learn and pick stuff up pretty well.

"Bad": They have a specialist diet so no pellets for them, research the diet before anything else. Whilst not prone to biting that beak is scalpel levels of sharp. It won't puncture but it will slice you up pretty bad when they want. Interaction is on their terms, if they don't want a cuddle or a scratch then you aren't allowed to give it to them. they are opinionated, they can decide what they want or don't want and you're going to know about it. They're smart birds, they can learn just how to manipulate you into doing their bidding.

A lot of issues I see with them come down to the owner either not feeding them right or not working properly with them, setting boundaries ETC.

Of course all birds have their own personality so there are differences. Best to ask Anansi as he's an Ekkie owner

Click to expand...

And Katie...her Jasper is a pretty darn smart ekkie...she has a few you tube vids of him learning his colors and shapes..and he tslks too lol...very interesting vids she has.


Jim

AmyMyBlueFront said:

And Katie...her Jasper is a pretty darn smart ekkie...she has a few you tube vids of him learning his colors and shapes..and he tslks too lol...very interesting vids she has.


Jim

Click to expand...

Ah thank you Jim I completely forgot her name!

Eclectus are stunningly beautiful and enigmatic parrots. The distinct color variations of males and females are intriguing, and their personalities are quite unlike most parrots. It is easy to believe they are like fashion models - strikingly attractive without substance. They can be shy, but once acclimated are wonderful and loving companions.

Eclectus have extraordinarily complex dietary needs and cannot tolerate a seed or pellet diet. A rich and varied vegetable and fruit regimen is mandatory for health and longevity. Please visit the Eclectus forum and read the threads by our many passionate members!

This "sticky" thread is a great place to begin! http://www.parrotforums.com/eclectus/52737-so-you-think-you-want-eclectus.html

Answers to this question, aside from varying by individual, will have gender differences. The females in the wild are definitely in charge, males are true push-overs.

As I only have a male, I will speak to them:

The good

Male ekkies really are often very laid back, not quite as active. Perch potato is an apt description. They are definitely day dreamers. Parker will sit on his perch for a couple hours just staring out the window. Because of this, they are often more independent than others (more on this later), and self entertain more easily.

Ekkies can and will bite, but lack the force of other equally sized birds such as amazons. As such, an ekkie bite won't be *as bad* as it could be. You'll still bleed, make no mistake, and it will hurt. But at its worse, it could still be worse.

Ekkies are also well known for being polite. They are less likely to bite than other species, preferring instead to push your finger/hand away.

You'll often hear about one-person birds - this is because parrot bonding with humans has its roots in sexual behavior. Many birds mate for life. Ekkies are not monogamous birds, boys and girls get around! As such, they are much less likely to display one-personness. This, however, is not always a given. There are plenty of stories out there of one-person ekkies.

Interesting story: my parker actually displays rather racist tendencies. Not sure why. But the only two people he refused to be held by were two black people. he actually flew away from them, something he never does. Maybe something scarry happened to him in his previous home, who knows.

The neutral (good/bad, depending on your point of view)

Personality-wise, Ekkies aren't for everyone. They tend to be more hands-off, they aren't usually the kind of bird you can pet all over the head and body like you see with videos of macaws and conures. Some may accept affection like this, but on the sliding scale of affection acceptance, the plurality tend to fall in the "don't pet me too much" category.

They want to be with you, seek you out, want to be held, want attention, but like many humans who aren't huggers, ekkies won't want to be pet for extended periods of time. Even some of the most tame ekkies around have a hard time even accepting head scritches. Tolerance of course, falls on a spectrum and you'll always find some birds who LOVE the affection.

The independence could be a good or a bad thing. For someone like me, who as a dog owner is more of a cuddler on the couch than a "lets go to the park and throw a ball", the laid back, independent nature of ekkies is wonderful. A macaw needing constant attention and play would be very cloying for me.

However, many people actually WANT that kind of interaction. So as species traits go, an ekkie may not be the best choice for someone looking for the clown of the parrot world.

Ekkies can be very sensitive birds. They love to be amongs the hub-bub, and need their cage in the highest trafficked area of the house (often the living room), but it can't be too much. If you have 5 children running amuk, this species is not for you.

The bad

The diet shouldn't be listed as the bad though I always see people list it as such. Its just different. Do your research - high fiber, high vitamin A, low fat.

Processing times - daydreamers sometimes get a little lazy. Often, I have to work to get parkers attention if he's been daydreaming. I walk up and put my hand out to pick him up with his step-up command, and he'll keep staring off. I then have to waive my hand in front of his face to get his attention. He'll then star at my hand for 20 seconds before understanding what I'm telling him. This is not a rare occurrence. They require some patience at times.\\

Contrast that with the fact that they can and do learn quickly. Parker picked up target training in 5 minutes. They can have sharp attention to detail WHEN THEY WANT TO.

HORMONES! Most all other parrots have clearly defined hormonal seasons in the spring. Ekkies don't have this. They are capable of coming in and out of hormones almost on a whim - usually triggered by perceived sexual acts such as incorrect petting or even warm mushy food.

For males, this often means loads of any combination of masturbation, regurgitation, and aggression. Most often, if you survey male ekkie owners, you tend to see more regurg and masturbation. With my boy, its more masturbation and aggression - regurg for humans is rare in our household. They all respond differently to hormones.

With Parker, when I first got him he seemed to be on a 6 week cycle - mild hormonal bout every 6 weeks lasting 2-3 days, with twice a year raging hormones. This has since subsided a bit. We just got over a strong month long bout about a month ago but hes still showing some residual masturbation.

The last thing I'll highlight is an issue of contentment. MANY Ekkie owners often report that their ekkies just won't play with any toys. It becomes a question of understanding if your bird is truly happy or not. It takes a little extra effort to ensure your bird is content.

Parker has come in and out of toy interest. For a year and a half he really loved shredding anything made of palm leaves, he won't touch them anymore. He loves bells, but more specifically he loves regurgitating to the clappers. We say hes on a date with his girlfriend. He will not touch wood blocks, or preening toys. Foraging toys are great.

To really sum it up, ekkies can be great family pets for families with calmer, quieter children. They have their own quirks that truly set them apart from other species.

excellent points Chris!

I note the diet in the "negative" as for many people special diets can be a deal breaker, much like myself with Lorikeets. Always something to think about

Believe me you aren't the only one to do so. Its just different, is all. And even so, as long as your feeding fresh fruit and veg, that fruit/veg mix really isn't going to be much different from what a macaw owner would prepare since common key ingredients for ekkies, like peppers and carrots, are common additives anyways.

Great input above! Let me preface this by saying my comments are from my knowledge of MY bird, and he is a rescue. I strongly feel that rescues (dogs too) KNOW the difference, having been in less than wonderful circumstances vs. pets acquired from babyhood who only know love and comfort. I tend to believe this can influence their interactions with you and others.

The one thing I would add is that they are VERY perceptive. It's taken over a year for my ekkie to accept my husband--and they're still working it out. When Wrangler first arrived my husband was...shall we say "less than thrilled". He ignored the bird and refused to engage for quite a while. His resentment was clear and Wrangler was aware of it. Now that my husband sees how engaging the "funny little man" can be, he wants to be part of the love fest but Wrangler is slow to forgive his poor welcome. The good news is that progress has been made. Ive heard horror stories of other (non ekkies) birds wanting to take the face off of owners or household members they dislike, active attacks...but Wrangler is more subtle in his punishment. He makes my husband give him a TON of treats. (see comments above about parrots training people!)

Regurgitation and masturbation are daily parts of life around here, i just discourage him from feeding me so he uses his perch, a toy, or other chosen objects. I dont see hormonal cycles like Chris....it's pretty constant here, but it's not the worst habit a pet can have. Toy play (he's just coming around to learning how to play) is VERY aggressive, I wasnt even sure it was play at first. Keep body parts clear! Those are the negatives.

Positives: TOTALLY fixated on me (ok, that can be a negative but its nice to know he loves me) I take him with me to run errands some times and even strangers comment on how he clearly adores me. We have great interaction, he can shoulder surf for hours and loves car rides. Very inquisitive, looks around and soaks it all in. Good with strangers--as part of his socialization practice (he was caged for 5 years before i got him) is to sit on peoples arms and take treats. He's very accepting, though sometimes nervous about this. As others have said...petting is pretty much off the table--beak and toes only. Attempts to touch feathers will get your finger firmly pushed away (for me), but I suspect he would bite someone he's not familiar with. I was covered in bites the first month I owned him....my learning curve. They dont tickle but there are far worse things. Then again, most were tempered bites, not full out. Their ability to vary the strength of their warning is a good thing. As others have said...they want to be where the action is. Ive nicknamed him "management" for his propensity to get in the middle of whatever Im doing. He may think he's helping, but i think he's just in the way. A lot of my activities around the house are done with a bird on my shoulder---at least he isnt in the food/paint/laundry/etc that way

This probably goes for most birds, but with Wrangler I've learned to discreetly place toys around so that he thinks he's discovered them. If I put it in his cage it's the kiss of death for that toy. Diet is really not that big of a deal...just keep the chop basic and nutritious, freeze it in cubes for serving size then spice it up and add other veggies for variety. Too many times I see chop wars---who can make the most elaborate and complex chop. It doesnt have to be hard. I feed chop once a day and a fruit...if im going to be gone all day I usually put an apple or kiwi on a skewer for him. I dont use pellets.

Katie's Jasper has a great work ethic. Wrangler looks for the treat and circumvents all instruction to get to the stash if he knows it's there. What's hidden in my hand is far more interesting than any training I might want to do. That being said, he is SUPER smart (even my husband has noted this)...problem solves easily, you can see him mulling it over! Generally very quiet but when he lets out his parrot alarm scream it gets you running--not to see what the problem is, but to shut him up before the neighbors complain.

I'd like to get a second bird but to be honest it's a tough decision because I already have the perfect bird (for me)--the qualities I want that are different are more playful/more cuddly...but i still want social, quiet, and not destructive. Ekkies are pretty great birds and a tough act to follow

Omg, that last paragraph...you summed me up perfectly! I'm contradicting myself here but I really would love to get a medium sized macaw, red fronted most likely. And I would do well with one.

But I have it so good right now. Plus, adding just one bird was hard enough. Like your husband eddie warmed up and now he loves that bird (even if the word love won't exit his lips). He would NOT buy into a second bird.

Has anyone mentioned food flinging as a "bad"? Ekkie's are messy eaters. Our walls will never be the same! (I don't mind, I kind of hate the house and we're stuck with it as the market here never really recovered from the crash of '08.) Oh, and no one can eat alone. If the flock is eating it, Duke will harass until he either gets some of it or we distract with a favorite treat and lock him up.

All the stuff I'd list as good has been covered. Good family bird, sweet, observant, sensitive to moods of the flock. When I get to feeling low I can usually count on Duke to notice before the humans. Very smart. Amazing mimics and talkers, when they feel like it. Very aware of what he's doing with the beak, so no one's had skin broken when he does bite.

food flinging is not all that problematic here...it happens, but its usually only when his beak is covered. He will dump things out of the bowl...but gravity takes care of that. I combat the flinging by placing his food bowl nearest to the wall, then i put up some press-n-seal (yes, the brand matters, it's not the same as saran wrap) in the general area. Flung food hits the wrap, when it's looking a bit icky i just pull it down and replace it...no more wall scrubbing. For those times when i do have to scrub food and droppings...Poop off is amazing stuff.

Agreed, food flinging is...well, universal among most parrots, and just to be expected. Shoot, even flinging full BOWLS is quite common. It serves a purpose in the ecosystem (many ecosystems) of spreading plant seed, though I'm sure the parrots could care less about this fact.

coopedup said:

Great input above! Let me preface this by saying my comments are from my knowledge of MY bird, and he is a rescue. I strongly feel that rescues (dogs too) KNOW the difference, having been in less than wonderful circumstances vs. pets acquired from babyhood who only know love and comfort. I tend to believe this can influence their interactions with you and others.

The one thing I would add is that they are VERY perceptive. It's taken over a year for my ekkie to accept my husband--and they're still working it out. When Wrangler first arrived my husband was...shall we say "less than thrilled". He ignored the bird and refused to engage for quite a while. His resentment was clear and Wrangler was aware of it. Now that my husband sees how engaging the "funny little man" can be, he wants to be part of the love fest but Wrangler is slow to forgive his poor welcome. The good news is that progress has been made. Ive heard horror stories of other (non ekkies) birds wanting to take the face off of owners or household members they dislike, active attacks...but Wrangler is more subtle in his punishment. He makes my husband give him a TON of treats. (see comments above about parrots training people!)

Regurgitation and masturbation are daily parts of life around here, i just discourage him from feeding me so he uses his perch, a toy, or other chosen objects. I dont see hormonal cycles like Chris....it's pretty constant here, but it's not the worst habit a pet can have. Toy play (he's just coming around to learning how to play) is VERY aggressive, I wasnt even sure it was play at first. Keep body parts clear! Those are the negatives.

Positives: TOTALLY fixated on me (ok, that can be a negative but its nice to know he loves me) I take him with me to run errands some times and even strangers comment on how he clearly adores me. We have great interaction, he can shoulder surf for hours and loves car rides. Very inquisitive, looks around and soaks it all in. Good with strangers--as part of his socialization practice (he was caged for 5 years before i got him) is to sit on peoples arms and take treats. He's very accepting, though sometimes nervous about this. As others have said...petting is pretty much off the table--beak and toes only. Attempts to touch feathers will get your finger firmly pushed away (for me), but I suspect he would bite someone he's not familiar with. I was covered in bites the first month I owned him....my learning curve. They dont tickle but there are far worse things. Then again, most were tempered bites, not full out. Their ability to vary the strength of their warning is a good thing. As others have said...they want to be where the action is. Ive nicknamed him "management" for his propensity to get in the middle of whatever Im doing. He may think he's helping, but i think he's just in the way. A lot of my activities around the house are done with a bird on my shoulder---at least he isnt in the food/paint/laundry/etc that way

This probably goes for most birds, but with Wrangler I've learned to discreetly place toys around so that he thinks he's discovered them. If I put it in his cage it's the kiss of death for that toy. Diet is really not that big of a deal...just keep the chop basic and nutritious, freeze it in cubes for serving size then spice it up and add other veggies for variety. Too many times I see chop wars---who can make the most elaborate and complex chop. It doesnt have to be hard. I feed chop once a day and a fruit...if im going to be gone all day I usually put an apple or kiwi on a skewer for him. I dont use pellets.

Katie's Jasper has a great work ethic. Wrangler looks for the treat and circumvents all instruction to get to the stash if he knows it's there. What's hidden in my hand is far more interesting than any training I might want to do. That being said, he is SUPER smart (even my husband has noted this)...problem solves easily, you can see him mulling it over! Generally very quiet but when he lets out his parrot alarm scream it gets you running--not to see what the problem is, but to shut him up before the neighbors complain.

I'd like to get a second bird but to be honest it's a tough decision because I already have the perfect bird (for me)--the qualities I want that are different are more playful/more cuddly...but i still want social, quiet, and not destructive. Ekkies are pretty great birds and a tough act to follow

Click to expand...

Wrangler sounds awesome, and a lot of fun to be around. LOL at "management". I call Matisse my "work from home supervisor". He even has the "vague look of disapproval and judgement", down pat. (see pic below)

I don't know if there's anything I can add to what has already been said from other male Ekkie friends. I can definitely attest to the fact that make ekkies are Don Juan Romeos; or so they like to think. I wish Matisse would masturbate....err, lemme rephrase that...I wish he would "self-entertain" instead of trying to get the love scoot on my shoulder, hand, knee...anywhere, when I least suspect it. Regurgitation is a sore subject in my house. It really used to affect our interactions. It got so bad, that he would immediately begin regurgitating, the second I walked into the room. He loves to try and feed my ear, or the collar of my shirt.

I've worked really hard at discouraging this attention and removing/avoiding triggers, and it has gotten so much better. As soon as his head bobs, I say "no", and he will stop most of the time, because he knows the next action is for him to go back onto his cage. I then try to distract him with a game. Since I don't let him regurgitate on me, he has taken to a specific toy, and parts of his cage, and it is a daily morning routine of soaking it in hot water to remove the previous days regurgitation.

I've had three ekkies. Bixby, Maya and Jolly. I lost Bixby after a year and a half, due to a disease with which he was born, but I still have Maya and Jolly.

All three have managed to entrench themselves firmly into my heart. Ekkies are truly amazing birds.

I'll speak to some of the excellent points made by several of the other ekkie owners on this thread, and how those points compare to my own experiences.

Intelligence! They are ridiculously smart. They learn VERY quickly. Of course this also means they can get bored quite quickly as well, so you'll have to mix it up with their activities. Any of you who have seen Jolly and Maya's videos know how quickly they learn. Jolly seems to be the quicker study of the two, but I've come to realize that he's simply the more willing participant. They definitely have their own personalities.

As mentioned above, ekkies are NOT cuddle bugs. Buuuuuut my three all enjoy/enjoyed petting a lot more than their rep would suggest. Part of this is due to an understanding and respect for how they like to be petted. Or, more accurately, what most ekkies cannot abide with respect to petting. Because of the nature of their feathers, petting an eclectus "against the grain" can actually be irritating to them. So I always go with the grain, and remain mindful of the pressure applied. (They tend to prefer a lighter touch.)

Specialized diet. Very important, and nowhere near as daunting a task as made out to be. Variety is key. Fresh veggies. Fruits. Sprouts. Grains. A little extra work, but very much worth it.

Independence. Ekkies tend not to be overly needy birds, though they do require a lot of interaction and mental stimulation. If properly encouraged and guided, they can develop very healthy habits of self-entertainment. I always remain mindful of their toy preferences. One of the most important is soft woods over hard. This isn't due to a lack of beak strength, (an ekkie - Bixby's brother - once bit me, slicing down to the bone and badly bruising a good portion of my hand. Worst bite I've ever received) but rather to preference. Mine snap almonds like nothing, and Maya has even been known to bite off pieces of her java tree stand on a whim. But they take far more joy in shredding softer woods.

They don't tend toward being one person birds. The point Chris made earlier about why this is was a very good one. I'd never considered the possible correlation between that and their rather "free love" type society. Fascinating. That said, however, one of mine is something of a one person bird. She really only wants to be held by me. I also have favored person status with Jolly, and Bixby before him, but both also managed to form healthy relationships with my wife, children, and mother. This makes them good family companions.

They can be messy. Bixby was a food tosser. Hurler might be more accurate, as he could throw a food chunk across the room. Maya doesn't toss, but she takes wicked pleasure in dunking her food into her water and making soup. Sigh... Jolly is my only neat eater.

As far as hormones go, I've lucked out with both of my ekkies. (Bixby never reached sexual maturity) Jolly will give my wife the eye, flash his beak that special shade of orange, and attempt to express his undying desire for her hand. When she refuses, he gives one short, LOUD, and indignant scream and goes somewhere to cool off.

Maya only had a bad reaction the first time she experienced a surge of hormones. It's the one time she ever bit me! But now she just gets a little extra clingy.

Another thing that differentiates ekkies from a lot of other birds is the relative subtlety of their body language. No overt signs or strutting displays like amazons do, yet they expect you to get it. This is tough at first, but eventually you learn how to read them. It becomes almost 2nd nature.

All in all, eclectus parrots are amazing birds. I recommend them highly, but as has been said, they are not for everyone.

" Another thing that differentiates ekkies from a lot of other birds is the relative subtlety of their body language. No overt signs or strutting displays like amazons do, yet they expect you to get it. This is tough at first, but eventually you learn how to read them. It becomes almost 2nd nature."

so much truth to this. Max has what i call the ladder stomp. his cage is 48" wide and i have a ladder running across it. he has 3 different stomps and each mean a different thing, took a while to figure em out. squatted down stomp, come on get me out and sometimes he will say come on since that is what i use instead of step up. squatted down fast stomping is where the heck you going with my food dishs or hey im hungry. upright stomp and last step into the water dish along with a wing flap is get that spray bottle over here and give me a soaking. cool learning what they are saying.

Brilliantly put as always Stephen

One last negative: the scream! Ekkies have one of the least attractive vocalizations of the parrot world, in my opinion. It's like those old small noise makers you spin around. Reedy, creaky...ugh.

Reading all of these fascinating posts about ekkies is really making me want one! As I have mentioned more than once,I just love their faces,such amazing fids.
But also reading,with their diet requirements seems a little demanding and you need to be on top of it so they don't exhibit the toe tapping/wing flipping.
I have a ton of respect for all of you who are owned by these amazing creatures and your determination on keeping them healthy and happy.
Thanks to all of you for your stories with these beautiful/handsome girl/guys




Jim

I have had birds for 43 years, other than my first amazon - Buddy has been the greatest - cool dude is a good term for him - loves new people (perhaps this is odd) - independent so not to be needy like a cockatoo - doesn't CHEW!!!! - woodwork not destroyed - smart

females - major hormone management - they can be more nasty as a result