Speachy1985
New member
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 sheās 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 š
So, the following week I brought her home with me!
Itās now 6 weeks later and sheās 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 Iām here - she does seem to turn from beak strokes and kisses to attack and bite very suddenly and with no warning! Iām still learning when it comes to body language etc but I think Iām doing quite well - I read her eyes mostly!
Sheās also never been trained to do anything!!! Iāve 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. Sheās 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 Iām pushing too quickly but Iām 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 canāt 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!
At the start of December I went to visit my mum (finally, thanks lockdown!!) anyway sheās 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 š
So, the following week I brought her home with me!
Itās now 6 weeks later and sheās 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 Iām here - she does seem to turn from beak strokes and kisses to attack and bite very suddenly and with no warning! Iām still learning when it comes to body language etc but I think Iām doing quite well - I read her eyes mostly!
Sheās also never been trained to do anything!!! Iāve 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. Sheās 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 Iām pushing too quickly but Iām 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 canāt 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!