Asking for friend

[Teaganb7]

Hello, new member here!
Just wanting to describe some things my Ekkie Allan does and see if these will improve/resolve with age and get any advice/tips that would help?

He is 18 months old now, and is very hit and miss with screaming: he has improved a bit since I started screech training, however things still set him off very easily, like loud dishes, the dog barking, me getting home from work, if my partner and I go outside for a minute(but can still see him through the door) or if we are upstairs or lying in bed in the morning when he hears us?

I bought him for my partner for his 30th last year, however he has since pretty much become my bird due to the responsibility and effort required, and it’s putting some strain on our relationship as my partner I think just ‘tolerates him’. As a lot of kids, I think he thought it would be cool without realising the commitment required. So now I’m struggling to try and train and get the most/best out of Allan to then ease the stress between our relationship around the Ekkie if that makes sense :/

Any tips ? Advice?
We are pregnant and bringing a Bub into the mix in March which also worries me in regards to our relationship and staying on top of our ekkies’ needs.

I love him and I am his favourite/companion. He definitely still likes my partner but not to the same extent.

He is on fresh fruit and veg daily, with some seed and a walnut to crack and eat.

Also any advice / tips of toys that are durable? Because they’re sooo expensive and he destroys all of them so far quite quickly!
I have also tried to make my own foraging toys with straws and paper etc which he quite enjoyed but now I put them in and I think he’s a bit bored of them :/

Just wanting to know if in 5 years or whenever after a while if they calm/settle down or if they pretty much stay the same?

Thank you in advance !!!!

 

[clark_conure]

All birds calm down. but....he's about to hit the terrible twos.... just wait that out then your bird will be sweet again.

 

[Teaganb7]

All birds calm down. but....he's about to hit the terrible twos.... just wait that out then your bird will be sweet again.

Is there anything that I can do/not do to help with the terrible two’s? And how long does this last usually? :/

 

[kme3388]

Hi there,

What the above poster @clark_conure was trying to describe is when a parrot hits puberty. That’s when they come into hormones. It’s like having a teenage child. They aren’t really in control of themselves, and can be very behavioral. They are more vocal at this point, aggression issues can occur, and such. The length can be a few years. It all depends on the parrot, species, environment. Every bird has its own personality like us humans do. I have a macaw who is rambunctious, breaks out of his cage, bends his cage bars with his beak, chews up play stands, bites all strangers, and can be a lot to handle for an inexperienced macaw owner. I had to learn things the hard way with lots of trial and error. I have a friend who has a macaw who a stranger can handle, and is a perch potato. Needless to say she has tried to help me with my macaw but doesn’t have the experience with the behaviors I am dealing with although it’s the same species of parrot.

Just make sure to at least meet with an avian vet to give you some good education on Ekkie’s, their diet, and their needs. They are a unique bird to work with. My Ekkie is very sensitive (emotionally) in comparison to most parrots I’ve worked with. He’s one that will feather pluck if I don’t get him out of his cage for 24 hours is an example. He doesn’t deal well with loud environments, and will become distressed in one is another example. He doesn’t like to be touched what so ever but he loves sitting on my shoulder all day long. Someone else’s Ekkie may be more tolerant, or the opposite.

Makes sure you are giving your Ekkie 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep, good diet, time out of the cage, training (if you want your parrot to be friendly to humans), and all of the things he needs to be a happy Ekkie.

Best of luck to you, and your Ekkie

 

[Thechoplady]

Ekkies are sensitive so what you are describing is normal. However, as you ekkie builds confidence, his reactive screaming should lessen. At least it did for my girl. You can build your ekkies confidence by keeping him fully flighted and practice target and trick training every day and indoor flight training. You can also bring him to different areas of the house and make sure he has different places to hang out (multiple play gyms, etc.). Not just one area. Its a process of desensitizing him and building his confidence. It does take awhile. It took my girl about 2 years. Also, as far as toys go. If he is destroying them, then they are the right toys. The are supposed to be destroyed and thereby lessens his excess energy, which is a good thing. They have a natural drive to destroy things. If you have a toy that he never destroys then usually that is not the right toy for him (not including acylic, plastic, etc toys).

 

[Teaganb7]

Ekkies are sensitive so what you are describing is normal. However, as you ekkie builds confidence, his reactive screaming should lessen. At least it did for my girl. You can build your ekkies confidence by keeping him fully flighted and practice target and trick training every day and indoor flight training. You can also bring him to different areas of the house and make sure he has different places to hang out (multiple play gyms, etc.). Not just one area. It’s a process of desensitizing him and building his confidence. It does take awhile. It took my girl about 2 years. Also, as far as toys go. If he is destroying them, then they are the right toys. The are supposed to be destroyed and thereby lessens his excess energy, which is a good thing. They have a natural drive to destroy things. If you have a toy that he never destroys then usually that is not the right toy for him (not including acylic, plastic, etc toys).

Sweet thanks so much!
Yeah I think after reading a few posts and stuff from other people he’s actually pretty chill and good so far, I’m hoping the terrible twos aren’t terrible and I can manage alright!

He does already come up and downstairs with us and showers etc and flies around the whole house even if we aren’t up there he takes himself up haha!

And as for the toys, I know a lot are meant to be destroyed and that’s fine but it’s more even the plastic and acrylic ones he’s snapping and breaking which just makes it really hard to find stuff to put in there that isn’t costing us an arm and a leg if ya know what I mean coz they’re quite expensive :/

 

[Teaganb7]

Hi there,

What the above poster @clark_conure was trying to describe is when a parrot hits puberty. That’s when they come into hormones. It’s like having a teenage child. They aren’t really in control of themselves, and can be very behavioral. They are more vocal at this point, aggression issues can occur, and such. The length can be a few years. It all depends on the parrot, species, environment. Every bird has its own personality like us humans do. I have a macaw who is rambunctious, breaks out of his cage, bends his cage bars with his beak, chews up play stands, bites all strangers, and can be a lot to handle for an inexperienced macaw owner. I had to learn things the hard way with lots of trial and error. I have a friend who has a macaw who a stranger can handle, and is a perch potato. Needless to say she has tried to help me with my macaw but doesn’t have the experience with the behaviors I am dealing with although it’s the same species of parrot.

Just make sure to at least meet with an avian vet to give you some good education on Ekkie’s, their diet, and their needs. They are a unique bird to work with. My Ekkie is very sensitive (emotionally) in comparison to most parrots I’ve worked with. He’s one that will feather pluck if I don’t get him out of his cage for 24 hours is an example. He doesn’t deal well with loud environments, and will become distressed in one is another example. He doesn’t like to be touched what so ever but he loves sitting on my shoulder all day long. Someone else’s Ekkie may be more tolerant, or the opposite.

Makes sure you are giving your Ekkie 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep, good diet, time out of the cage, training (if you want your parrot to be friendly to humans), and all of the things he needs to be a happy Ekkie.

Best of luck to you, and your Ekkie

Thank you!
Yeah I understand that, hopefully his doesn’t last years
But even from your post I think he’s doing pretty good considering his age, he’s very confident already, anytime we get ANY visitors or randoms he will fly straight to them and perch on their shoulder and watch them haha! He’s a friendly boy!

As for biting and aggression I haven’t had much of that yet, he’s never bit bit me, but the last week or so he is nipping a bit more when I try to get him to step up and do something but I just calmly have been saying ‘no’ and then getting him to still step up so he doesn’t think that’s how he gets out of something, like children I guess haha, once they get away with something they will continue

And yeah he does get enough covered dark sleep, and then anywhere from 2 1/2 to 4/5 hours out each day flying and playing and socialising! He loves a cuddle and a nap on the couch with me haha! All in all so far by the sounds he’s doing well so that’s good!

 

[rheashard2]

You're getting a lot of advice. It can be hard not to be overwhelmed. Do lots of reading here and at other forums. Read actual owner recommendations and text book recommendations. Evaluate what may work for you, your bird and situation. Each bird has their own personality. Personality will effect everything. Learn your birds personality. Most birds like a routine especially wake-up and going to sleep. Look for toys that stimulate mind and body. That will aid in preventing boredom. Congratulations on your new friend.