New guy, let me in I brought beer!

Bdubbs

New member
Jul 13, 2018
3
0
Ellicott City MD
Hi, I’ve been lurking and reading for a while. I’ve watched my neighbor’s birds a few times and decided to do some research and volunteer at a rescue to see if taking care of a parrot is something I want to do full time. I’m a married father of 2 (19 and 10) and we have a couple of pretty mellow dogs as well. I’ve been researching all the breeds, but I’m really attracted to the Eclectus because my neighbor has one and he’s a pretty mellow guy. I’m still in the info gathering stage and if I can’t find it here I’ll start posting and asking questions.
 

ChristaNL

Banned
Banned
May 23, 2018
3,559
157
NL= the Netherlands, Europe
Parrots
Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
LOL, you had me @ brought beer
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
93
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Welcome!

I love eckies. Are you prepared to fix at least 70% fresh food for him every day?

Also, parrots come in species, or breeds :) the exception to this is the hybrids that are becoming common in Macaws and conures, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Welcome.

Eclectus are beautiful and intelligent birds and we have many experienced eke owners on here. As a first time bird owner, by the sounds of it, they may be a bit more challenging for you than other species. They are one of the more difficult species to keep, as they are very diet sensitive and can/will develop neurological and other health issues from even minor dietary deviations. Over the course of your research PLEASE think long and hard if you will be able/willing to ensure you could consistently provide this species with an appropriate diet tailored to his or her individual dietary needs (they are also prone to food allergies and sensitivities). There are many other species who are a little "heartier" in the same size range you may wish to consider as well, such as amazons, african greys and mini/medium macaws.

Oh, and if you haven't already please also consider adoption over buying a baby. Many people seem to be unaware bird-specific shelters exist (I wasn't until I started looking for a bird). The average large parrot goes through 7-10 homes in their 65+ year lifespan. Lots of avian rescues are overflowing with birds in need of a loving, permanent home. Also, as many birds in rescues are already past puberty (which occurs between 4-6 years old in most large parrot species), so you don't have to deal with that challenging time in a birds life plus you can see their adult personality and have a better idea of the individual you'll be bringing home. Cuddly babies will change as they mature and when they hit puberty (which is a few years long challenge in and of itself!). Most rescues offer classes on parrot care/behavior and are there to help support you through the process of acclimating, training and bonding with your new companion. And in my totally biased opinion, rescue birds are awesome!
 
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TiredOldMan

Active member
Apr 24, 2018
701
Media
1
239
South Central Texas
Parrots
CAG Hen-Gracie age unknown, U2 Rooster-Anakin 13YO
Welcome, come on in.

I hope the beer is one of my favorites.:)

I like, hot, cold, and free beer.........with cold and free being my favorite!:D

Seriously Ekkies are beautiful and you will find many great Ekkies owners here.
 
OP
B

Bdubbs

New member
Jul 13, 2018
3
0
Ellicott City MD
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Hi everyone and thanks for the comments and advice. I’m very much in the info gathering phase. I’ve already contacted one rescue to see about volunteering to get a better feel for the different parrots and what’s involved with trying to help a rehome bird. I’m still all over the map but I keep coming back to the Eclectus in part because I haven’t been around many other parrots and I had such a positive exp. with the male eckie. I’m not worried about the diet requirements or relative difficulty of the parrot if it’s the right fit with the family. I don’t think I agree with the idea of a starter parrot unless it is the one you actually want. Like most things I think you read and try to get some hands-on but realize the real learning begins when the parrot is in your house. Like Mark Twain said, a man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. I’ll keep reading and trying to interact with different birds to see if there is one out there for us.
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
"I like, hot, cold, and free beer.........with cold and free being my favorite!"....See, another reason I love you buddy! If you're ever in State College we need to get together for a Pub-Tour, we have 6 micro-breweries in State College alone!
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Welcome to the forums, dark chocolate for me, please! I'll share too!!

Thanks for joining and developing a conversation towards finding the best fit for your home. Ekkies are indeed charming, please spend some time in the Eclectus Forum to have a well rounded look at these stunning beauties.

The opportunity to volunteer at a rescue will reap great rewards!
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
BDubbs...Welcome to our community, where I'm certain you'll either find the answers to all your questions, and if you don't, all you have to do is ask! Please don't ever hesitate to ask any and all questions that you have, as there really are at least a few members with experience in just about everything bird-related here...And we are all more than ready and willing to help you!

I've never really believed in the myth of a "Starter-Bird" myself either, for a few different reasons, mainly because I don't believe that any species of bird or parrot are simply "starters" or for "beginners"...If that was true then we'd never see a Budgie, a Cockatiel, a Canary, a Finch, etc. on this forum being fed the wrong diet, being kept in too-small a cage with not enough toys, or displaying behavioral-issue because they are not getting near-enough out-of-cage-time every time...A bird is a bird, and they are all highly intelligent, sensitive, emotional, and are not to be compared to having a pet dog, cat, rabbit, etc.

Now that being said, I certainly do not suggest that someone who has never owned or cared for any species of bird before in their lives going out and bringing home a Cockatoo, a Grey, etc. And this is precisely one of the main reasons that there are literally tens of thousands of Cockatoos, African Grays, Macaws, etc. in Rescues/Shelters and being re-homed by individuals on sites like Craigslist, Hoobly, etc. There is no substitute for hands-on experience when it comes to learning how to physically-interact with parrots, so I think it's a wonderful and very responsible idea for you to start volunteering at an Avian Rescue and working with the different species of parrots...

Something that I would keep-in-mind if I were you, while you're working with the different parrot species at the Rescue, is that even though right now you are focusing-in on an Ekkie, you may very well interact with another species that just takes your heart away...And that's usually how it happens, the bird chooses the person, not the other way around, and when it happens this way, well that's when it's most successful all the way around...After all, you've only interacted with a single Eclectus, and you're basing the type of parrot you want to bring into your life, your home, and your family for decades and decades based on that one, single bird you know...And parrots are very similar to human beings in a lot of different ways, they are extremely intelligent, they are sensitive, they have deep feelings and emotions, and yes, each individual parrot is just that...an individual. So it's important to not ever "stereotype" an entire species of parrot based on one individual bird...This is a lesson that we all need to learn, not only about birds, but also about people, lol..

I've not ever owned an Ekkie myself, I have cared for many at the Avian/Reptile Rescue that I have been a volunteer at for about 8 years now. The Ekkie diet isn't a huge deal, just as long as you know what is going to be required of you every day as far as preparing fresh meals for your bird, and you're certain not to give-in and feed an Ekkie things they shouldn't be eating, then the diet isn't a big deal at all, and really shouldn't be a huge factor in deciding whether to bring one into your family, just as long as you are totally aware of what you're going to have to do every single day regarding their diet and you don't have an issue with it...

*****What I would focus on while trying to decide what species of parrot you'll ultimately add to your family is what it is that you're looking for in the bird you'll add to your family...What type of personality are you wishing for? Do you want a Velco-Bird? Do you want a very independent bird? Do you want your bird to be cuddly, snuggly, etc.? Or would you rather that your bird was less of a "hands-on" kind of bird?

You see what I'm getting at...Each species of parrot is extremely unique, and though any parrot can be trained and learn just about anything, there are tendencies unique to each species...So hopefully you'll have the opportunity to work closely with a variety of different species of birds, and then with many individual birds within each species...And hopefully those species will include several Ekkies, so that you can actually get a real feel for what they are like, what their typical personality is like, and how they will both meet and fail to meet your expectations...The bottom-line is that you shouldn't marry-yourself to the idea of one specific species of parrot based on your interaction with one, individual bird, and that goes for any species...I think you'll be surprised that once you start interacting with different parrots on a regular basis, you're going to be drawn-into not a specific species of bird at all, but rather that you're going to fall in-love with individual birds, or maybe just one individual bird that captures your heart, regardless of their species, what they look like, etc...That's how most of the closest, extra-special bonds between an individual person and an individual parrot usually happen...just the same way that individual people end-up bonding with their close friends and their significant other...If you go out looking for a certain type of person to start dating, from a specific background, with specific interests, etc., it usually doesn't work-out...So keep an open-mind and just allow your birdy soul-mate to find you...

Also, be sure to go into each individual species forum and read the "stickies" at the top of each forum, as they contain tons of priceless information regarding each species, written by experienced owners of each species....And as always, ask lots and lots of questions! There's no such thing as a "stupid question" at all...

Welcome to the jungle!!!
 

TiredOldMan

Active member
Apr 24, 2018
701
Media
1
239
South Central Texas
Parrots
CAG Hen-Gracie age unknown, U2 Rooster-Anakin 13YO
"I like, hot, cold, and free beer.........with cold and free being my favorite!"....See, another reason I love you buddy! If you're ever in State College we need to get together for a Pub-Tour, we have 6 micro-breweries in State College alone!

Sounds like fun. Unfortunately I haven't been out this state in many years. The older I get the less I like driving(eyesight). And can't stand the indignities of dealing with the TSA.:eek:
I guess I look like some sort Texas Hillbilly Terrorist:D Or it might be that the different federal licenses I hold put me on the harass list.:02:

If you ever make it this way give a shout. We have a vast number of micros and a good number of small independent distilleries. Not all of the distilleries are buried in the woods.:D
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
"I like, hot, cold, and free beer.........with cold and free being my favorite!"....See, another reason I love you buddy! If you're ever in State College we need to get together for a Pub-Tour, we have 6 micro-breweries in State College alone!

Sounds like fun. Unfortunately I haven't been out this state in many years. The older I get the less I like driving(eyesight). And can't stand the indignities of dealing with the TSA.:eek:
I guess I look like some sort Texas Hillbilly Terrorist:D Or it might be that the different federal licenses I hold put me on the harass list.:02:

If you ever make it this way give a shout. We have a vast number of micros and a good number of small independent distilleries. Not all of the distilleries are buried in the woods.:D


I've never been to Texas, but I've heard that Austin is a fantastic city, especially for musicians like myself...But I'd love to see any part of Texas, it does seem like another country in and of itself...

And don't worry, hill-billy's don't even phase me, I'm from central Pennsylvania, the Redneck capital of the US, next to WV (there's very little difference :15:)
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,045
8,742
Cleveland area
Parrots
The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Welcome!
I like your style already. Researching and reaching out is so smart*. Volunteering is a beautiful thing, especially if it leads to a bird for you!
I look forward to sharing your journey, either way.

*As opposed to what I did, 34 years ago, when I fell in love with a parrot in a bird store, charged his cost, took him home, sat all night with him on my shoulder until the cage was delivered the next morning. I had to learn everything from scratch, with NO INTERNET! I can't believe he lived!
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
I've never been to Texas, but I've heard that Austin is a fantastic city, especially for musicians like myself...But I'd love to see any part of Texas, it does seem like another country in and of itself...

And don't worry, hill-billy's don't even phase me, I'm from central Pennsylvania, the Redneck capital of the US, next to WV (there's very little difference :15:)

You'd love Austin, especially if you crave BBQ.

Ah yes... my dad lives in Reading and married a lovely family with some interesting habits. The younger kids are Jeep fanatics and love to off-road onto locales distinctly off-limits. They've taken me to Centralia several times, even spray-painted my name on a stretch of buckling asphalt with fissures of steam from the underground fire visible on cold days. Last year we were chased off a windmill farm after taking a non-public dirt trail for access.

For those interested in the history of Centralia PA and the massive coal fire burning underneath this ghost town: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
I've never been to Texas, but I've heard that Austin is a fantastic city, especially for musicians like myself...But I'd love to see any part of Texas, it does seem like another country in and of itself...

And don't worry, hill-billy's don't even phase me, I'm from central Pennsylvania, the Redneck capital of the US, next to WV (there's very little difference :15:)

You'd love Austin, especially if you crave BBQ.

Ah yes... my dad lives in Reading and married a lovely family with some interesting habits. The younger kids are Jeep fanatics and love to off-road onto locales distinctly off-limits. They've taken me to Centralia several times, even spray-painted my name on a stretch of buckling asphalt with fissures of steam from the underground fire visible on cold days. Last year we were chased off a windmill farm after taking a non-public dirt trail for access.

For those interested in the history of Centralia PA and the massive coal fire burning underneath this ghost town: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania


Ha Ha, the Reading area is still Central PA, and actually the Jeep/off-road thing, or as people here call it, Muddin', is a big thing...

Centralia is about 2 hours from me, and it's a trip that everyone here makes at least a few times in their lives...there are actually still 3 families that still live there full-time, in the same houses they had back in the day...One of them is split right down the middle, as they had to cut-off the other half of the house...it's amazing to see...They refuse to leave, good for them I guess...It's an amazing place to see, if you've never seen a truly completely abandoned city, like people just up and left one day, it's worth the trip...
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
Oh, and I actually got my Australian Cattle Dog, Lola, from a breeder outside of Reading, in Intercourse, PA...which is connected to Bird-In-Hand, PA...

I can't make this stuff up...
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Oh, and I actually got my Australian Cattle Dog, Lola, from a breeder outside of Reading, in Intercourse, PA...which is connected to Bird-In-Hand, PA...

I can't make this stuff up...

Too funny, there is also Blue Ball near Philadelphia, and Virginville, north of Reading! :D
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,045
8,742
Cleveland area
Parrots
The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
I'm a native Texan. Houston!
Some areas are quite cosmopolitan and international... parts of Dallas and Austin... Galveston Island...
You should all visit!
 

ChristaNL

Banned
Banned
May 23, 2018
3,559
157
NL= the Netherlands, Europe
Parrots
Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
LOL< you guys all sound like so much fun!!
 

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