Abused eclectus

[cracker122]

Hi guys new to this forum anyway just adopted a female eclectus about 6months old from a lady while her husband is away at work at the oil rigs or sumthing i think and she wanted to get rid of the bird while he was gone apparently he was choking the bird when she was squaking (probz just wanted attention poor thing) and slaping the bird when she bit him long story short i have her now and am trying really hard to make her calm and tame but she gets scared when i try to pat her gently on her back/wing/neck and starts freaking out any ideas to help would be great thanks guys

 

[Betrisher]

Welcome! There's lots of people here with specialist experience with Eclectus and they can give you great advice for your poor bird (what's her name?)

For what it's worth, here's what I reckon.

Don't try and touch this bird for a very long time! I bet she's petrified of human hands, considering what they've done to her in the past. Instead, gain her trust by offering treats from a distance. If she accepts them, then gradually shorten the distance. You can find lots of good videos on YouTube for teaching 'step up' and dealing with hand-shy birds. But first, you have to spend some days or weeks (even months?) helping the bird forget her past. Lots of toys, interesting food and your calm, quiet company are what's needed. Sitting by her cage and reading aloud is a good way to get her used to you without feeling threatened.

Do keep us informed of how she goes, won't you? I'm glad she found you!

 

[SandyBee]

Trust takes time, talk to her, feed her well and keep the cage clean. Don't invade her space but give her opportunities to come to you, offer treats by hand and offer patience.

 

[cracker122]

Welcome! There's lots of people here with specialist experience with Eclectus and they can give you great advice for your poor bird (what's her name?)

dont have a name for her yet only had her for a week and have been offering her lots of fresh fruit and vegs and a little bit of a special mix blend of dried fruit seed and pellets just for eclecuts she seems to eat when im not looking at her or out of the room and have been trying to lure her to me with sun flower seeds haha thanks for the replys will keep yous informed on how she go's

 

[Chikoo]

If she's been abused, then don't touch her or try to pet her. Let her be. Feed her and talk to her. She will eventually learn to trust you, but trying to pet her is not going to help right now.

 

[MikeyTN]

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you for taking in this poor baby!!!! It will take time and trust, I think my ekkie boy JoJo was abused at one point too cause he was absolutely terrified of hands and everything we did at one point. I did not try to pet him! You MUST earn their trust first!!! I teach him to step up first, then we practice step up over and over. My ekkies are two of my birds that I actually trust on my shoulders so I let them sit on my shoulders while I do my thing. I do that on a daily basis, 3+ times per day, 20min+ each time. Then within a week, he sees me not so bad and he steps up easily and did his step up over and over on his own. Within a month he allows me to sorta touch him without trying to bite me. After awhile I was able to pet him, then I started teach him kisses, he would turn his cheek towards my lips for a kiss and make a kissing sound like I do to him. I would say kiss kiss, he brings his face over for a kiss. He 100% trust me now days as I can cuddle with him, take him in shower with me, etc etc. It will just take time and lots of love and patience! Just don't push it, she's had a hard life to begin with.

 

[Charliegirl]

Hey Cracker...

Glad you have saved a beautiful bird from a bad home...

Im not expert on birds but I would think of it this way..

Reverse the roles, imagine if you were in her situation and had been abused by someone the way that she had then you were rehomed and this new person tried to touch you... You would freak out... Do all the things that you would like if someone was trying to earn your trust... Just a thought

I dont know if she will ever come around to letting you touch her neck or those sensitive places where she has been hurt, some birds dont... But have patience with her and treat her like a new baby who needs someone to trust and love them..

Good Luck

 

[antoinette]

That poor bird has been traumatized it will take a long time to get the bird to trust anyone.
Give the bird lots of love and attention.
Spend hours sitting near the cage, talking and singing to her, showing her you mean no harm.

 

[mtdoramike]

This bird has been unsocialized. But it could be because the guys wife didn't interact with the bird while he was gone for 6 months at a time. Secondly, don't believe everything some body tells you. I personally wouldn't have taken this bird under the circumstances that you did. I don't blame you for feeling sorry for this bird. But after being a cop for 20 years and dealing with numerous family disputes, I see this becoming a serious issue. You may have to give the bird back in 6 months or when the husband returns since she sneaked around behind her husbands back and rehomed the bird while he was gone. If the wife's story IS true, I hope he lets it be when he returns, but if not then he may pursue getting his bird back.