Think there's a problem

My daughter called me tonight pretty upset. She had gone over to her friends home to visit. This family has been going through some pretty hard stuff for he past year or so. My daughter was upset by their eclectus. Joesy (the bird) has always been beautiful, but she looking and acting a bit rough. I told my daughter I would ask your advise and let her know what you think is happening. My daughter watched as Josey rammed her beak into the bars of her cage over and over, she jumped to the bottom and started scratching around, her feathers looked greasy and ruffled. I don't know or sure how old she is but it's around 7 years old. Any ideas? Is this normal for his type of bird?

Did she ask them about the birds behavior?

Yes she did. They said she has not been herself since the "dad" left. She doesn't let anyone touch her now (except my daughter did). They were shocked that Josey went to her.

Sherry said:

They said she has not been herself since the "dad" left. She doesn't let anyone touch her now (except my daughter did).

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Therein lies the answer. Poor baby has suffered trauma and anxiety of separation either from loss of dad or this family maybe stressed so much. Her ability to stay in good health is clearly compromised.

Any more room at your inn?

I hope the family can help her and give her tons and tons of love and keep her busy and having fun and exercise. It will help to distract her and THEM too.

Oh Boy. Tough situation. If possible, maybe they will let your daughter visit every day if she can find the time and wants to.

MY Male Ecky bangs his beak against the cage a lot when he is playing.. he does look angry or sound angry when he is doing it but he isn't he's just... bashing his cage. LOL.. He also plays on the bottom of his cage too. he'll pick up a toilet roll cardboard and throw it around. Maybe she is looking for something to play with?

It sounds like she's playing to me and probably begging for attention. IF they can't get her out for a bath, they should get a water bottle to mist her. My ekkies LOVES to be misted. Perhaps get one for them since they're not costly at all....What concerns me is what is she eating? Since your saying they're having a rough time and all.....

Birds of any breed, when become a part of family, really become the part of family...........u know sherry i have these fantastic birds who really seem to respond to human stress levels and emanate different calls at each different level..............like when i cry i see them acting so hard to catch my attention and when i talk to them they really listen to me so carefully, their eyes all fixed on my eyes.....i love them so much:07:.........:40:

I think the case here is stress and trauma, of losing one's dad and the family crisis. The poor bird is frustrated as well as feeling sad and probably lonely..........she needs a lot of time and patience of a human being, wherein ur daughter has become a shoulder to trust in this case. Ask her to talk to her, give some good time by reading her story books and if possible ask the family to spend some quality time with her and talk to her...........hope this helps, in fact my babies have recently lost their buddy (who flew away), and i'm being their emotional backbone which is helping them a lot to recover their trauma.........all the best!!!