Newbie doing homework!

Hi all!

As per the title, I'm a newbie here and researching parrots in general and eclectus parrots specifically.

I don't have any birds yet, just a cat, dog and fish. But somewhere down the line my gf and I would like to add a male solomon island or new guinea eclectus to our little zoo.

This place is awesome, so much info on here!

Hi and welcome! Something to ponder, a feathered friend becomes a family member, if done right!

Welcome to the forums and thanks for joining! Eclectus are worthy companions and do require much research and understanding before committing.

Welcome, well done on researching before committing to a feathered baby. Ekkie's have special dietary needs and that will need plenty of research to be up to date. They are very sensitive in some cases to pelleted diets and some foods; too much or not enough. Please read our Eclectus forum for more info.

As I am sure you are aware there are dangers in having a bird with a dog and cat in the house, unfortunately it sometimes proves fatal. Have you given this plenty of thought? How will you manage this? Glad you found us and just post if you have questions that you cannot find the answers to using our search facility.

Hi and welcome! I was seriously considering an eclectus a little while ago. In the end I didn't get one I got an Alexandrine instead. I know lots of people can tell you about the good bits so I thought I'd tell you why I decided against the breed in the end.

I felt I could handle the diet until I saw some posts where people were trying to work out what it was that was causing wing flapping and toe tapping. The minute detail people had to think about amazed me! I also found footage of wing flapping and toe tapping quite distressing and hated the thought that my behaviour could easily cause that discomfort.

It was the issues around hormones that really changed my mind. Not so much the grumpiness, but the level of sexual frustration eckies seem to suffer! It is either more pronounced than in other breeds or eckie parrots talk about it a hell of a lot more!!! Again it seemed to cause genuine distress to the bird.

I just don't have the experience to care for such a sensitive breed and decided it wasn't for me.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

@Plumsmum, Yes I've considered how the cat and the dog will get along with the bird. At the very least they will never be allowed to be together unsupervised... cats and dogs are predators, no matter how docile or friendly they may be. Don't even get me started on the parrot videos where they're riding the family labrador or snuggling up with the cat... talk about tempting fate lol.

@Jottlebot, I've done the reading and still am in regards to an Eclectus diet but so far seem to have a good grasp of it. I keep a coral reef and fish and have for a while so I'm not new to meeting precise dietary requirements and sensitive animals. I'd be planning to feed a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables especially yellow/orange fruit and veg and leafy greens and a few organic pellets.... around a ratio of 80% fruit and veg and 20% organic pellets.

Either way, I have plenty of time and won't be looking for a breeder till I feel I know enough to provide a good home for my Eclectus. Look for my annoying newbie questions in the Eclectus forums

Don't worry about the questions, Anansi our Super Mod has two Ekkies and I am sure if you search on his posts you will find that informative. We have several other members with Ekkies also and you will find their posts mainly in the Eclectus forum.

BTW How is Berkshire these days?

Yes, Anansi and Katie Fleming's posts have been really helpful.

The questions I have are the little things that seem silly but people never mention
e.g. when warming up food.... how warm do you go? When feeding fruit like bananas, do I keep the skin on or peel?

Today is lovely in Berkshire, Newbury specifically. Nice, warm and sunny so most of the day has been spent in the garden today

Killamanjaro said:

Yes, Anansi and Katie Fleming's posts have been really helpful.

The questions I have are the little things that seem silly but people never mention
e.g. when warming up food.... how warm do you go? When feeding fruit like bananas, do I keep the skin on or peel?

Today is lovely in Berkshire, Newbury specifically. Nice, warm and sunny so most of the day has been spent in the garden today

Click to expand...

Ok, Bananas, yes peel LOL. Warm food You are not intending on having an unweaned baby are you? If yes, please don't.
Warm food for an adult bird, use common sense and know if it is too hot and they try it, the bird will have a crop burn. I haven't any kids and coped LOL.

Haha yes, I figured as much in regards to the heat and bananas.

No, I definitely do not intend to get an unweaned baby bird.

I've raised and weaned orphaned kittens before but do not fancy hand rearing a bird.

I was asking about the heat just in case my Eclectus ends up being a bit picky, I've read a few posts where some of them like their food to be warmed up a bit.

How old is Plum? Is he your first bird?

For some reason there is this belief that having an unweaned baby parrot makes their bond better/stronger, tosh! According to Silversage (breeds birds) she says that they look at you as their parent then, all wrong.

Please have a look for an Ekkie that needs a good and new home, they do get passed around and you seem so keen, willing to learn.

Plum is 12 y/o, I had budgies yonks ago before him.

Yes, I used to think hand reared babies were a must but after reading more I'm pretty open to a rescue bird. Headed to the Eclectus forums now.... with more questions