Rescued Female Eclectus

Speachy1985

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Dolly the Eclectus
Ok, this might be a long one so please be patient with me!

At the start of December I went to visit my mum (finally, thanks lockdown!!) anyway sheā€™s a crazy animal lady - at the time had 5 dogs and 5 parrots. One of which she was fostering, a female eclectus, who had been rescued from a home that had starved her, left her covered for long periods, and when the bird bit she would be thrown to the floor - hit with an object - then thrown back in her cage - hosed down and left to freeze!!!
So while I was visiting her I sat at the eclectus cage and just spoke to her gently, she came right up to the bars - at this point my mum warned me not to get too close as she was aggressive and a biter, she was actually surprised that I was able to go near the cage in the first place as the parrot generally attacked the bars if anyone came within a foot of it!! Anyway, by the end of my visit the eclectus was letting me stroke her beak - to say my mum was shocked was an understatement!!
During the next week my mum reported back to me that the eclectus would spend all her time at the back of her cage and looked really depressed! I visited again and AS SOON as she heard my voice she came running to the front of the cage and started calling for me (my mum had never known her to make this noice before) she was so excited to see me! Again she let me stroke her beak and I just sat talking to her. Hoping that she would now cheer up I said my goodbyes- again she was depressed šŸ˜”
So, the following week I brought her home with me!
Itā€™s now 6 weeks later and sheā€™s come so far....doing things no one expected- talking, beak strokes, kisses (but only through bars) happy beak clicks and grinding. I have read and researched about everything- complete diet overhaul, new cage and toys coming. But...and this is why Iā€™m here - she does seem to turn from beak strokes and kisses to attack and bite very suddenly and with no warning! Iā€™m still learning when it comes to body language etc but I think Iā€™m doing quite well - I read her eyes mostly!
Sheā€™s also never been trained to do anything!!! Iā€™ve managed to train her to go back in her cage without the need for towels (as she had been in the past) by placing treats on a perch on the door and 1 or two in her bowl on the inside. Sheā€™s stepped up on my arm a couple of times but then just bites my arm or runs up towards my face wanting to bite, I know it seems Iā€™m pushing too quickly but Iā€™m taking it at her pace - I only allowed her to step up because I was talking to her and she looked like that is what she wanted (again reading her body language)
I have tried finding information on the rehabilitation and training of abused eclectus parrots but just canā€™t seem to find much! So any advice you can offer would be amazing!!! Eg clicker training? What treats are best for training? ANY advice on best way to stop her biting, LITERALLY ANY and all advice is welcome!!! I just want to provide her the best life possible!

Sorry it was long but I wanted to provide her background as well as why an amateur like me ended up owning her!
 

saxguy64

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Hi Stacey. No need to apologise for a long post. All information is relevant in offering help. You've definitely been chosen! My first Ekkie, Patches did the same with me. Very attentive at first visit, second visit I was warned he was hormonal, or in a bad mood and bit another potential adopter. As soon as he saw me, stepped right up and hung out with me for several hours.

I'll start by offering a link that should be helpful: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Aside from that, something to consider, female Ekkies can be very cage protective. It's kind of in their DNA, because of how they do things in the wild. Training time away from the cage in a more neutral area might be very helpful for you. Also, Ekkies are not known for being snugglers and generally hate having their "doo" messed up. So, head petting, if she'll allow, front to back only.

You're doing great so far from what I see, and you have the right attitude. Continue to move at her place, and take it from there. It takes time, sometimes a lot of time, but totally worth the effort!
 

Laurasea

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What a touching story. What a thrill she chose you, so wonderful you can have her.

Thank you

It's perfectly normal for her to be all over the place right now. To want to be with you but then to become fearful and attack. Even to test to see if she can trust you, or if you will let her down. It sounds like you guysnare really doing well, despite little issues and rages.

I will link sailboats I love Amazon thread, full of great advice, and works for all parrots Eclectus included as information. Yes there are some specific Amazon things, but he has taken in many broken parrots. http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/65119-i-love-amazons-going-journey.html


I will link my thread Rescuing Penny, it shows our journey from an abused shut down parrot to a parrot who finally can make choices fir herself, gained confidence sbd learned to fly. Probably not as much actual good advice as sailboats. http://www.parrotforums.com/quakers/76519-rescueing-penny.html

And I have a thread in stress reduction in parrots that is helpful, even if you didn't hsv3 a stressed parrots. You can Google Pamela Clark she is a parrot behavior specialist, with lots if great article
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/
 
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SailBoat

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Welcome!

There is a fair number of Eclectus owners on Parrotforum and it is worth your time to read back into the Threads in the Eclectus Subforum. IMHO, it is best to sit near her in her cage or in that neutral place and read those Threads softly, out loud in a comforting place. The goal is simply, you learn and your girl becomes ever more comfortable with you.

I'm an Amazon Snob, but know that Diet is very important for an Eclectus' health and wellbeing. To my understanding, their Diet is heavy on the Veggies side of the spectrum.

Avian Medical Care: If you have not already taken her for a New Parrot Avian Physical, you really need to. The visit should include a Hands on Physical examination, her weight, a gram stain (poop smear) and a full spectrum blood test. This will offer you a clear starting point for future visits. Avian Clinic visits for a Healthy Parrot should be once every fifteen months, all the way down to monthly if you are chancing a medical issue.

- Only Good Things Happen When Humans Are Around!

- Change your vantage point:
It is Never the fault of the Parrot!
It is Always the fault of the Human(s)!
By changing your vantage point, you can see what you are doing wrong and correct it quicker.
 
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Speachy1985

Speachy1985

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Thank you guys so much for the advice so far!! Itā€™s excellent! Iā€™ll definitely be doing all the reading youā€™ve suggested!

Iā€™ve already done a complete overhaul of her diet - she has been fed on a diet of pellets and seeds her entire life - but sheā€™s now on a diet of fresh veg (60-70%) soaked lentils, fruit and a small amount of seed. Which is what I read was the best balance for eclectus parrots! My mum visited recently and said that she looks so much healthier and bright eyed, plus she loves it!! I always take a list of ā€˜yesā€™ foods to the shops with me.

We have a more suitable cage coming in the next couple of days which has a play top, currently she spends 70% of her outside time on the top of her cage, I donā€™t think she was really let out much before as her flying skills are terrible! So I also bought her some foot toys, puzzle toys and a foraging ball, along with new in cage perches, toys, bowls etc. I am also waiting on a window perch as when she does build the courage to fly she heads for the window and loves to look outside! Although I found that out the hard way - when she flew onto my blinds and perched on them (while also chewing on them [emoji2358])

Iā€™ve had to make do with most of the things she came with as she came home with me too close to Xmas and I didnā€™t have the money to buy her everything new then!

Her cage is placed by my seat on the couch, and thereā€™s usually one member of the family in there most of the time (homeschooling means my daughter is here too) and weā€™re always chatting away to her! Sheā€™s even learned a few words - ā€œdolly, love you, hi baby, hello and kissesā€ and lots of the sounds I make to her such as kissing noises. We also find sheā€™s happier in the day when thereā€™s background music on, weā€™ve even had little dances together [emoji3590]


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saxguy64

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Wow! Impressive progress already! Clearly, she's been starving for attention, and is eating it up.

Another important part of the diet is grains. Their digestive tract is longer than other parrots, and very efficient at extracting nutrients, so things that are "enriched" should be avoided. Too much of a good thing, you know? Also, I lean heavier on the orange/red veggies for lots of vitamin A, and my boy doesn't much care for many of the green things. They're always offered though. Sometimes, they just decide something is acceptable when it wasn't in the past.

Don't forget pictures! Ekkies are gorgeous birdies! (not that I'm biased or anything :) )

Also wanted to mention, your instincts on reading their eyes is spot on. Their body language is WAAAAY more subtle than amazons, for instance, but those eyes say it all if you pay attention. My experience with them is that they often prefer to sit facing you, so they can study you. To me, it's like they're looking at YOU, right down to your soul. They see WHO you are, rather than WHAT you look like.
 
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Speachy1985

Speachy1985

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Ooh yes! I forgot to mention them - yeah she has a little brown rice/Cous cous/other grain mixed in. I generally do a ā€˜chopā€™ of all her veggies as I worked out quickly that she hates chunks.....those ended up all over my floor and walls! But since doing a chop she digs in (and I can sneak in some of the things that she isnā€™t keen on but are super good for her) her absolute favourite is chillis - I put a couple extra in this week so she now has ā€œdeath breathā€ and weā€™re taking a break on the kisses [emoji23]


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Speachy1985

Speachy1985

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She eats better than we do!! [emoji23]

Iā€™ve gone mainly by instinct- even from the first time I met her.

Iā€™ve always been good with animals, not really had much to do with parrots though - Iā€™ve visited with my mum obviously, but she only got her first last year, and Iā€™ve been with her to the bird rescue/shop whoā€™s owners macaw hates everyone except her....but took a liking to me [emoji2370] I never expected to have a parrot of my own though!


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Speachy1985

Speachy1985

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9f3133fd269252b8fd83b228612d41dd.jpg

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A
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Few pictures from today [emoji3059]


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saxguy64

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Excellent! Funny thing, my Ekkie won't touch finely chopped stuff at all. Definitely gets splattered on the wall if I do that! He has to have chunks, or certain things whole, like those chilies. If I cut them, they're immediately tossed. Made the mistake once of forgetting the chilies were there and gave him the kisses he demands... Wow, that was bad, smeared all over my lips, and then I rubbed my eye before it hit. Not good lol!
 

saxguy64

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9f3133fd269252b8fd83b228612d41dd.jpg

bd5d74a27d92d4f14e079b56875903a9.jpg

A
88480543f8b22bb0ccace0edcb2b7877.jpg

Few pictures from today [emoji3059]


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Oh my goodness, she's beautiful! As sensitive as Ekkies are, and given her background, I'm actually kind of surprised to see her fully feathered. You hit the jackpot, and clearly so did she! I think we're in for a beautiful ride here. Looking forward to hearing about your adventures :)
 
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Speachy1985

Speachy1985

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Yeah, both me and her did!!!

The ā€œchunkyā€ picture is from just now and she was grinding her beak, honking and clicking at me - which I find super cute [emoji3059]

I can see how desperately she wants to be loved, itā€™s written all over her but she just doesnā€™t know/is scared to do the right reactions once she gets it!


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saxguy64

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Yeah, both me and her did!!!

The ā€œchunkyā€ picture is from just now and she was grinding her beak, honking and clicking at me - which I find super cute [emoji3059]

I can see how desperately she wants to be loved, itā€™s written all over her but she just doesnā€™t know/is scared to do the right reactions once she gets it!


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That will come with time, as you get to know and trust each other. You're already way ahead of the game. So happy for you!
 

Ellie777Australia

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Stacey, you are doing wonders with beautiful Dolly. I will affirm female cage aggression is quite natural. Just let her come out on her own, attend cage cleaning and food changes when she is at her play stand etc to continue this positive trend that you are on. My Ellie was through 4 homes before she came home with us at maybe 3 1/2 yo we guess. We can't eliminate the past but we can sure move forward in heaps and bounds into the NEW better life.



Just a note on a couple of cage items in the lovely pics: the pumice stone perch may be rough on her pads; I use a pumice perch with a smooth center so that the rough edges are on claws only (for your consideration of course); also, my fellas will destroy balsa wood and shredder toys (pinatas; rainbow shredder ribbons; plain cardboard) but a lot of the other wooden toys they don't bother with since the wood is a bit too hard for the Ekkie.



You'll need to make sure that you have perches of medium to large diameter (see those big feet on that little gal!) for optimum 'foot health'. Smooth perches are totally out as Ekkies have poor grip. When Bertie first came home I slept next to his cage at night. I heard him fall off his perch (came with the adoption) twice the first night. Next day hubby used a wood file rasp on his wooden swing perch (his favourite) and the rough wood solved the problem. He continues to rest on his favourite swing but no longer falls off.
 
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Speachy1985

Speachy1985

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Stacey, you are doing wonders with beautiful Dolly. I will affirm female cage aggression is quite natural. Just let her come out on her own, attend cage cleaning and food changes when she is at her play stand etc to continue this positive trend that you are on. My Ellie was through 4 homes before she came home with us at maybe 3 1/2 yo we guess. We can't eliminate the past but we can sure move forward in heaps and bounds into the NEW better life.



Just a note on a couple of cage items in the lovely pics: the pumice stone perch may be rough on her pads; I use a pumice perch with a smooth center so that the rough edges are on claws only (for your consideration of course); also, my fellas will destroy balsa wood and shredder toys (pinatas; rainbow shredder ribbons; plain cardboard) but a lot of the other wooden toys they don't bother with since the wood is a bit too hard for the Ekkie.



You'll need to make sure that you have perches of medium to large diameter (see those big feet on that little gal!) for optimum 'foot health'. Smooth perches are totally out as Ekkies have poor grip. When Bertie first came home I slept next to his cage at night. I heard him fall off his perch (came with the adoption) twice the first night. Next day hubby used a wood file rasp on his wooden swing perch (his favourite) and the rough wood solved the problem. He continues to rest on his favourite swing but no longer falls off.


Thank you for all the advice!

Pretty much everything in those pictures (apart from a couple of toys/perches) are the ones she came with!

Today I got delivery of her brand new cage and lots of toys, perches, swings etc

I got her a selection of perches - a twisty one, a calcium one, a natural wood corner, the pumice and the wooden one that came with cage. Plus she has a large double rope swing and an arch rope swing.

She love to hang out on top of the cage so I made sure to get her a cage that has a play top, and I got her lots of foot toys, and a couple of foraging toys.

Plus (yes I know Iā€™ve spoiled her) I got her a window perch and some toys for window area.

She seems to really like her new cage - sheā€™s been honking, talking and blowing kisses since she got in there!!

Hereā€™s some pictures- but any hints/tips/advice as to best things are welcome!

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8e34ce83e0ea67c9750b58c2d8088732.jpg



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Alembic772

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Considering everything she has been through, sheā€™s beautiful! Such a touching story. If you listen to those giving the advice here, eventually you and her bond will strengthen. Congrats!!!


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Ellie777Australia

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Wow...a beautiful Dolly in her new surrounds. I'm sure that she is going to have heaps of fun exploring inside, around and her new window play area. Wonderful job Stacey. I would suggest moving the dowel perches and replacing with a larger diameter, non-smooth perch, as the 'higher' perch is usually the prime hangout spot. She needs an appropriate perch size so that her foot fits about 75% of the diameter. Here are a couple of links for you to read regarding Eclectus perches. Keep up the GREAT care of precious Dolly.
https://birdsupplies.com/pages/choosing-the-best-parrot-perch
https://beakcraze.com/are-dowel-perches-bad-for-birds/
https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-sheet-for-the-eclectus-parrot/
https://www.greatcompanions.com/product/choosing-a-perch-for-your-bird/
 

Ellie777Australia

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Hi Stacey...I liked the new wooden perches in the pics that you posted in the other thread. I would dump the dowel perches as aforementioned (too small and too smooth). The larger wooden perch would be main (highest and most used location), the medium in another lower location next to a pinata or other chew toy. Not sure from the photos if the perch wood is smooth but textured (not sandpaper) is best for Eclectus grip. The Manu mineral perch would be a lower type of perch and out of poop zone as it is meant to be eaten. Ellie destroyed her large Manu perch within an hour. Bertie's is barely nibbled. That's the difference between my too messy monkey's, Destructo Mouse and Brainy Smurf LOL. And, regarding heating, I'd go with Laurasea's recommended heater.
 

SailBoat

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Just as an FYI: Assure that she can fully stretch her wings out when on the central perch!

Toys can also be placed along the outside of the cage to free up space inside while acting as a shelter (limited viewing) from the outside (hiding place).
 

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