Ekkie Behavior Questions / Observations

My Ekkie experience thus far has been pleasant and "interesting"...

The reason I say this is because the first month Comet was at home with me he constantly made "Lovey" type noises, which I'll admit were very endearing.

He's now onto full blown flock call screeching, which doesn't bother me (since I know what it's like to have a Cockatoo... never again).

However, here's the odd part, and where I'm lacking in my "parrot psychology". He's usually very quiet at his cage, unless there's food being prepared for him etc. Normal parrot behavior with screeches of joy as new food is about to be given to him.

Here's my question:

There are times where he seems completely content and will sit on one of his cage doors and look at me, do that whole crouch and butt wiggle like he wants to fly to me. So I go over to him and ask if he wants to step up, and he does... then we'll go sit down at the couch or in a chair, and he screeches up a storm. I know Ekkies don't normally like being pet, so I rarely pet him, I just pick him up and invite him to interact with him with small talk, or just walking around. Yet he continues to scream...I've tried everything from "new food" to "fresh water", toys etc.

I can say that he becomes particularly aggressive with grabbing my finger and head-bobbing, like a baby trying to get food. Hopefully this will soon pass, as I'm wondering if I'm enabling some bad habbits with allowing him to do that.

How old is comet again (love the name, btw!!)

Unsure of his age but if he’s YOUNG young (newly weaned), It all lines up perfectly, every last behavior you describe, like he’s regressed and needs a nightly handfeeding. This is something you definitely want to do, it’s a psychological development/security blanket thing. Maybe try using cooked oatmeal (or ancient grain oatmeal mix with quinoa/flax seed, etc), lukewarm at best and see if that will help satisfy his needs. Feed with a spoon.

So no, if he’s young you aren’t doing anything that can create problems yet. Actually the opposite, if you DONT do what he’s asking you can create problems

Never had baby birds myself, so I'm obviously no expert, but I think it's fairly common for young Ekkies to have a period in their development when they just like to scream. Grab your ear plugs and hang on for the ride! This too shall pass. Eventually...

He's about 9 months old...

Here's the odd part, when I try to hand feed him, he just moves the food right back into my hand...then it seems like he realizes... "Hey I'm hungry, this ain't workin bub, I'm gonna feed myself"

Thanks Dr Chris... gonna give that a shot.

Is my math right, hes been with you a month-ish (perhaps a couple weeks more), so he weaned at about 7 months of age?

Now that we know the age, Its really hard to tell. Saxguy is right, about 1 year old they can develop a minor screaming habit that eventually subsides (its just a phase). I've heard it sooner, though 9 months is very much on the early side.

Its the late weaning that is creating the ambiguity. Given the head bobbing and nightly screaming, I'm still pretty firm that this is regression. I don't believe they would be going to go through the loud phase quite so soon after weaning.

However, the treatment for one solution is to feed, the treatment for the second solution is time.

Fortunately we can combine these! because as Clint Black once sang "Time marches Oooooooon". Keep trying to offer the formula/hand feeding - trying different methods of a spoon isn't accepted, and have some patience

Chris, if I remember right, he's had Comet since October or there abouts, so three-ish months. I'm betting he's just starting to hit that phase. I think it's a part of the process of babies learning how to communicate, but again, not my area of expertise. Just my theories on it.

saxguy64 said:

Chris, if I remember right, he's had Comet since October or there abouts, so three-ish months. I'm betting he's just starting to hit that phase. I think it's a part of the process of babies learning how to communicate, but again, not my area of expertise. Just my theories on it.

Click to expand...

If true, that does poke holes in the weaning regression theory. But 9 months is still awfully early for that phase - most are at 1 year, maybe 10 months. Even if we allow for natural variation (some are early bloomers, some are late bloomers), the feeding reflexes are NOT part of this phase.

But we do need OP to provide more information, as this is all speculation until they respond.

chris-md said:

Is my math right, hes been with you a month-ish (perhaps a couple weeks more), so he weaned at about 7 months of age?

Now that we know the age, Its really hard to tell. Saxguy is right, about 1 year old they can develop a minor screaming habit that eventually subsides (its just a phase). I've heard it sooner, though 9 months is very much on the early side.

Its the late weaning that is creating the ambiguity. Given the head bobbing and nightly screaming, I'm still pretty firm that this is regression. I don't believe they would be going to go through the loud phase quite so soon after weaning.

However, the treatment for one solution is to feed, the treatment for the second solution is time.

Fortunately we can combine these! because as Clint Black once sang "Time marches Oooooooon". Keep trying to offer the formula/hand feeding - trying different methods of a spoon isn't accepted, and have some patience

Click to expand...

You're right on target Dr. Chris. I've gone back to performing hand feedings in the evening; and I caved and did one this morning as well. Now that I'm doing that (just for a couple days even) Comet seems MUCH more content. Some of the screaming is still there, but it's much more subdued, and I'm even getting the 'lovey' coo'ing noises back.

I'm pretty sure you hit the nail on the head here. I just need to be more diligent and regimented in my hand feedings, and maybe get him out of this phase sooner rather than later.

He was born May 22, 2020

Brought him home Oct. 31st (Halloween) 2020.

So yeah, he's 8 - 9 Months old at this point.

**PS... I'm performing a "TRUE" hand feeding as he doesn't like the metal spoon for some reason. I'm also using "sweet potato" mashed, warmed, and adding a little water to make a consistency of a light paste. This morning was a little unsettling only because he tried to gulp it all down at once... and I kept asking "CAN YOU BREATH???... Seriously Comet, you're going to choke yourself!" lmao