Hello from a new Ekkie Dad!

So happy to have found this forum. Just signed up today, but I've been reading everything I can find in preparation for our new family member. I found out about the sanctuary he was at from our local vet's office. I called to get info on the place, how their process worked, what birds if any were available, etc. I was originally thinking cockatiel, since we had two in the past and adored them. We had Cuckoo, our BFA for many years, who passed suddenly about a year ago. He was my buddy, and I missed him terribly, but wasn't sure if we were ready for another Amazon. As luck would have it, no cockatiels available, but if you are considering someone similar in size to an Amazon, we have a Grand Eclectus, but he's a plucker.
Okay, all new to me. Never even heard of an eclectus, and no experience with plucking. The weekend came, and I went for my first visit, along with my youngest son in his wheelchair. We met some birds, an African grey who was beautiful, but had no interest in me, and like most, really didn't like the wheelchair even sitting still.
So... then we met Patches. He chose us instantly. He wasn't bothered by the chair, in fact sat on my son's leg and rode around looking very proud. With me, love at first sight. He came right to me, and was immediately reaching up for kisses. What do I do now, I thought, which brought me to my research and this forum. I tried so hard to make myself think this was not the one, but I just knew. My heart went out to him. He's 18-20 years old, and been bounced around the country. Leg band from Florida, rescue in Las Vegas, "rescue" (hoarder) in Maine, then the sanctuary where I met him. He had been there for about 6 months, and was very well cared for. When he arrived there, he was almost completely bald, save for his head and severely barbered wings. He now has grey fluff on much of his body and legs. Parts of his back and neck are still bare, and no tail yet, but he's filling in more in the week he's been home with us! If this is as good as it gets, he's still perfect and beautiful. If he re-feathers, BONUS! We visited with him every weekend for months while learning more about him, and his needs.
I want to thank all the people here for the tons of information and knowledge. It is largely because of you, and also Andrea, owner of the sanctuary, that I finally brought Patches home, and feel confident that I can do for him what he needs to keep him happy and healthy for many years to come. He's truly amazing!

Jon

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I LOVE THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for helping Patches, and THANK YOU for sharing.

Threads like this one just warm my heart... makes me thankful to be part of this place!

I'm so glad you're here.

Welcome and be welcomed. Bless you and the family for taking Paches in. Fluff is a good sign, just remember he ha been thru a lot, so it may be a case of 2 steps forward, 1 step back, 2 steps forward, one step back , and no more steps. Ekkies have such sweet voices. He seems to be settling well.
Does he play with his toys? Eating well?

Welcome to you!

What a beautiful story, thank you for taking in this beautiful boy and greetings from one plucker to another. My boy didn’t quite have that tragic a story but he’s barbered all his life. Like my vet says, “as long as you’ve addressed the underlying cause, as long as he’s happy, there’s nothing wrong with a naked bird”

Please make sure you do your research on ekkie diets, hey have very special requirements; you can’t feed them normal parrot diets. Bad diet is likely part of the reason he’s in his current state - improved diet could likely help him feather out.

It amounts to primarily fresh vegetables and grains as the bulk of the diet, with some fruit (ekkies are more sedentary than other parrots, so keep the sugar down, which includes natural sugars from fruits).

They have two key dietary keys, which should guide you: vitamin A and fiber. So orange, red, and yellow veggies are your friend: sweet potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, papaya, mango, etc.

Great fiber sources include pulses (lentils, chickpeas), Brown rice, quinoa, and hard leafy greens like kale, and should make up the 2nd big part of his diet.

There are a good number of ekkie parronts here, and we’re all very happy to help you however we can. You’ve got a really special bird there! Take him out and about. You can harness train him or you can buy something like a pak o bird backpack to carry him around. OR, if he’s plucked all his flight feathers and he’s incapable of flying, you can carry him a round just holding his feet wouldn’t recommend this with an intact bird, but a bird with no flight feathers is of no risk.

Do some simple training. Clicker train him, and teach him simple tricks like targeting. Mental stimulation will help improve his condition as well.

Look into foraging, speaking of mental stimulation. Foraging is one fo the greatest things you can teach him to do to get his mind going.

Oh I’m so excited for you all, I’m just sitting out ransoms stuff at this points.

Lots for you to learn, stick around and you’ll have the best companion!

Welcome

Welcome! Patches is a beautiful guy, and you’re so lucky to have been picked by him . Look forward to seeing more about you all as he settles into his new life....

He is beautiful, and so are you for giving him a flock of his own. I will be watching eagerly to see more of his story!

Thank you for the warm welcome! I feel like I already know many of the folks here since I became an avid reader the day I met Patches. When I first started learning about him, it was completely overwhelming, which is why I tried to deny that he was the one. I was so afraid I would fail him. I have learned so much over the past months, but obviously, always more to learn.
The second time we went to visit him was when I really knew I had been chosen. After the first meeting, I kind of assumed he was just well socialized, and awesome with everyone. Not so much. Upon arrival for the second visit, we were warned to watch out, he's hormonal and grumpy today. Another potential adoptor met him, and got a good bite, and told in Patches' grumpy old man voice, "Back off... Go away!" I went over to his cage to say hi, he stepped up on my hand, and was right back to his sweet self. Everyone was floored! I have yet to hear the old man voice, but several people have told me it happens. With me, the worst he's done is to take my finger in his beak and push it away. So cute.

He eats very well, kind of power feeding a couple times a day, and not really snacking at all. Red peppers are his favorite right now. He's been getting fresh and frozen veggies and greens depending on what's available, some mango and banana, rice white and brown, quinoa, a few almonds, an occasional peanut, and whatever other good stuff I can find for him.

He doesn't have great interest in toys yet. We're slowly introducing new things. I have had a little success with balled up paper on the table to show him it's okay to grab and chew/tear things, and he even seems to like a little tug-of-war with the paper. I have used the finger grabbing as an opportunity for a few things since he lets me hold on to his beak playfully. 1. I see your beak, it's beautiful and I'm not afraid or intimidated by it. 2. I'm playing with you if you're up for it. He's so fun to be with. I'm trying to be very careful not to push him at too fast a pace, but so far, he eats it up. He is doing things in a week that took years with Cuckoo. I'm excited to see how much he will do once he's really settled in.

Again, thank you all for your welcomes, information, advise, questions, and Interest!

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My advice for toys (based on my experience with my ekkie boy this certainly doesn't stand for all eclectus parrots) is avoid plastic + hard wood. Just likely won't be touched. From what I've heard and read eclectus parrots have a much weaker bite than other parrots so hard woods and plastics just aren't that great for them. Papers, soft woods / plastics (straws and the like), and foraging toys are what work best with my boy. Due to this though male ekkies tend to grow rather fast so keep and eye on Patches beak length it may need trimming at some point.

What a beautiful story! To have truly been chosen by a bird must be an amazing feeling.


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I. Love. This. Welcome Patches and family! I think you all will have many years of companionship. Rescues like Patches, when they click, are the best ever. Yay!


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Welcome. You posted clear and succinct info. You are in good hands here. I think the bird who chose you, made a great decision. I believe you are no stranger to perseverance.

Words of wisdom and wit...

Try everything once, the things you guys like, try them twice.

Variety is the spice of life.

Welcome, what a wonderful story of redemption for Patches and discovery for you and your family! Having been chosen, and not vainly demanding of feather perfection, this story will blossom in ways you might not imagine!

You'll be at home here with an active Ekkie community.

Owlet said:

My advice for toys (based on my experience with my ekkie boy this certainly doesn't stand for all eclectus parrots) is avoid plastic + hard wood. Just likely won't be touched. From what I've heard and read eclectus parrots have a much weaker bite than other parrots so hard woods and plastics just aren't that great for them. Papers, soft woods / plastics (straws and the like), and foraging toys are what work best with my boy. Due to this though male ekkies tend to grow rather fast so keep and eye on Patches beak length it may need trimming at some point.

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Thank you! I think you're spot on with the toys. To make his transition a little easier, I brought the toys he had in his cage at the sanctuary, so at least something was familiar. Clearly little interest in hard things, and slightly more in shredable stuff. I've been working with simple paper/cardboard pieces, playing with him to start generating interest. It will be a long process I think, but hopefully will lead to more independent play to occupy his mind and physical needs when he can't be the center of our universe.

His beak is a little uneven but only slightly. He had rope perches where he was. Nice for his feet, but nothing to rub and maintain it. He's VERY particular about it, and has to clean/rub/buff after pretty much every item he eats. So funny to watch. He's due for a nail trim as well, so we will be heading to the vet for our first wellness check and to address the beak and nails. Hope he won't change his attitude or be mad at me for the vet visit.

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I have to agree with you 100%, even if he stays how he is now, he is SUPER cute!!!! Even so, I'm glad to hear he is filling in and doing well. I'm SOOOOOO glad he chose you (smart bird!) and I'm SOOOOO glad that you chose him back (smart human!). Sounds to me like a wonderful family. Especially how Patches seemed to enjoy riding around with your son. That's so special, so beautiful.

Thanks for sharing your tale.

Squeekmouse said:

I have to agree with you 100%, even if he stays how he is now, he is SUPER cute!!!! Even so, I'm glad to hear he is filling in and doing well. I'm SOOOOOO glad he chose you (smart bird!) and I'm SOOOOO glad that you chose him back (smart human!). Sounds to me like a wonderful family. Especially how Patches seemed to enjoy riding around with your son. That's so special, so beautiful.

Thanks for sharing your tale.

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And here they are. My son's movement can be really off-putting with most birds. Not so with Patches. I think it's a case of who needs to take care of who. He makes me so happy to have him with us.

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Oh my gosh! That last picture is pure beauty.


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Oh, that's sweet. Don't worry about the vet .. for some reason, going to the vet can make the bird like you even more, because you saved him from that evil stranger. A health check is a great idea.

Member Anansi has a couple of ekkies (Dos Ekkies!), and you might read through some of his posts to get some good info. One of his birds likes to chew hard things and one doesn't. We have a bird that's the same way - doesn't like to chew wood or anything hard but just about has a fit when he sees paper to rip up. That's what he wants so that's what he gets. Our house if full of teeny scraps of paper - they get everywhere.

Cuteness overload! Thank you so much for sharing these photos

Kentuckienne said:

Oh, that's sweet. Don't worry about the vet .. for some reason, going to the vet can make the bird like you even more, because you saved him from that evil stranger. A health check is a great idea.

Member Anansi has a couple of ekkies (Dos Ekkies!), and you might read through some of his posts to get some good info. One of his birds likes to chew hard things and one doesn't. We have a bird that's the same way - doesn't like to chew wood or anything hard but just about has a fit when he sees paper to rip up. That's what he wants so that's what he gets. Our house if full of teeny scraps of paper - they get everywhere.

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Thank you! Yes, without knowing it, Anansi and many others here have been a great source of information.
I've been reading... A LOT before I felt confident that I could give Patches what he needs before bringing him home. Still reading and learning every day! Thanks to all who unbeknowingly helped us begin our journey to Ekkie Land!

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