Anyone Here Got More Than 2 Ekkies?

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has experience of owning multiple eclectus and if they could share their experiences.
I currently have two and am looking at getting a third (potentially the sibling of one of my existing fids.)

Does anyone have experience with ekkie flocks and development of social dynamics. I'm aware that they might not get along and need seperate time from me as a result. I was thinking that multiple males might be more likely to get along, as might multiple females. (What with them hanging out in gender sects in the wild.) Any experience, comments welcomed.

Well, I'm guessing we might not have any other eclectus-crazy households...
Just mine

So as many of you know, I did end up taking in the plucked sibling of my Bella and he has been doing well with growing back some wing feathers.

Bella and Dexter are a proper little duo and it leaves me wondering if Gerry would like some pretty tail of his own...
Maybe once he's healthier and got some wings, I might consider giving him some tail to chase...
Having him chase his sisters tail doesn't sit right with me!

Ha! How'd this thread slip through the cracks? Sorry I'm too late to offer any insights as to the multiple ekkie experience, as by now you have quite a bit of experience of your own in that area. Lol!

As for your thoughts of adding another diva to the mix, just consider how dramatically the group dynamic might change. And I don't mean this in the usual the-new-bird-might-not-get-along-with-the-existing-flock kind of way. Or rather, that is what I mean, but squared. See, in nature it's pretty much routine for up to seven male ekkies to compete for the attention of one female. But the females are far more territorial. They have to be, as they have to defend their nesting hollows from potential intruders including cockatoos and even snakes. As such, there is significant spacing between one female and the next.

In your home, however, they'd possibly view each other as rivals for the same space, resources and potential mates. Could spark some inter-diva fireworks.

Now, I'm not saying it can't work. I've known people who successfully kept more than one female at a time. Just make sure you go into it with your eyes wide open if you do decide to go that way. (You always do your research, so I'm likely preaching to the choir, but all the same.)

Anansi said:

Ha! How'd this thread slip through the cracks? Sorry I'm too late to offer any insights as to the multiple ekkie experience, as by now you have quite a bit of experience of your own in that area. Lol!

As for your thoughts of adding another diva to the mix, just consider how dramatically the group dynamic might change. And I don't mean this in the usual the-new-bird-might-not-get-along-with-the-existing-flock kind of way. Or rather, that is what I mean, but squared. See, in nature it's pretty much routine for up to seven male ekkies to compete for the attention of one female. But the females are far more territorial. They have to be, as they have to defend their nesting hollows from potential intruders including cockatoos and even snakes. As such, there is significant spacing between one female and the next.

In your home, however, they'd possibly view each other as rivals for the same space, resources and potential mates. Could spark some inter-diva fireworks.

Now, I'm not saying it can't work. I've known people who successfully kept more than one female at a time. Just make sure you go into it with your eyes wide open if you do decide to go that way. (You always do your research, so I'm likely preaching to the choir, but all the same.)

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply

I was just putting some feelers out there to see if anyone had any first hand experience with multiple females.

Gerry gets left out sometimes due to his lack of ability to fly. Sometimes if they all get a little boisterous he can't get away, so when the duo are being mental, he will be caged. I thought if I took in a plucked female (in an attempt to rehabilitate her) he could have someone to hang out with who can't fly either. I know Gerry loves hanging out with Dexter, and when Gerry is caged - Dexter feeds him, but when Dexter is chasing Bella and chatting her up, I feel bad for Gerry being left out. Bella and Gerry are rather indifferent to one another.

Here's a story...
A while back I was talking with a lady who was looking to rehome her plucking female to a forever home with someone who could put the time in to try to help her. We spoke for a while and eventually the advert disappeared as she was rehomed.
Just recently I spotted an advert for a 'pair' of eclectus. When I looked at the advert, the main photo was of the male, when you click into the advert you can then look at the other photos, I recognised a photo of the female from the previous advert, and when compared with the current photo of her condition, it would seem she has gotten worse. The current owner breeds African greys and bought the two eclectus with the intention of breeding them and failed. The birds aren't a mated pair and now he's trying to sell them on. I advised him to sell them seperately as pets, as breeders won't be looking to buy a pair that aren't mated or proven.
Now I've contacted the females original owner to let her know what is going on with her bird. She is angry at the guy (and rightly so) as he led her to believe he was buying her as a pet to rehabilitate and give a forever home to. I'm very tempted to obtain these birds even if it is just to tame them and rehabilitate the female and find them genuine pet homes. She's being sold as untame, even though she was tame before.

I'm thinking about renting my own place (2 doors down from my partner). That way I'd have the space for more birds...

I know I could give these birds a better life. It's such a commitment, but I fear these birds falling into similar hands... and I don't think they deserve to be moved around for people to try to pump babies out of for quick cash! Back to the male of the 'pair' the current owner tells me his previous owner was young and died. I remember talking to someone selling their siblings eclectus as their had been an untimely death of the owner. If that is the same bird, he too was tame once.

Sorry this post has ended up huge!
Just kinda spewed it all out there!

The seller has now told me that someone has put down a deposit and the 'pair' should be collected next week. I hope it's not a wannabe breeder

I posted a 'WANTED' advert for a plucked eclectus using the picture of the female in the hope that the buyer is buying them with intention of keeping the male and selling the female on. If it isn't meant to be - then it isn't meant to be!

The seller has now apparently sold the female to someone's more local and is selling the male alone. So hopefully now they are sold separately they are going to be doted on pets rather than baby machines for cash...

I'm right here hoping with you.