Eccie Questions?

[slugas]

I got my very first large parrot in January, and the perfect match for me was the eclectus parrot, so i got one, and i love her to bits, recently my brother has been complaining about her squawking while i'm away (at school or whatever) so we had to move her outside (she has a big cage that was in my room) she lives outside now, but she comes inside to sleep because it gets cold at night, i was wondering whether it is cruel to keep her in a cockatiel cage to sleep (but in the biggest cage i could afford to play in the day)

also, how can i get her to stop biting, i dont know why she does it, ask questions if you want more info about this, i will try to answer

whats the safest way to trim her toenails?

 

[MikeyTN]

If you don't have experience in nail trimming, you need to have someone that knows how to show you! Have blood stopper available, you can use flour or corn starch to stop the bleeding as well.

You care to show a picture of the sleeping cage???

Give some more details about her...Also when does she bite? And how much have you really worked with her???

 

[lpolliard]

Chico sleeps in my closet in this cage. I upgraded the perches to something more appropriate. He gets lots of undisturbed peace and quiet upstairs in the closet, 9-10 hours each night. With his nails he is comfortable with me touching his toes so I can nail file his nails. To help get to this point use a few treats. Touch his toes, then give him a treat. Pickup his foot and give him a treat. Touch his toenail with a file, you get the idea. Soon you will be able to file his nails no problem. I do it outside with his harness on so he is also distracted by all the activity while perched in a tree above my head.

 

[slugas]

OK, i couldn't figure out how to post a picture, but the cage is about the length of her wingspan, and about half that in width, and the height is about her beak to tail length x 2, sorry if that's confusing.
she pretty much bites all the time, i will go to get her out of her cage, and she will bite (she is a bit better now since i got her into a routine) sometimes she will bite to get my attention, or she will be riding on my shoulder and she will nip my ear, i don't know why, originally i thought she had a fear of hands but she will also bite my legs, hip, neck...face, i don't think its out of fear either, because she will chase me around the house (in a game) right before biting or we could be watching a movie when she randomly bites my hand.
and lpolliard, i will try that, but can you just use any nail file, or does it have to be one designed for parrots

 

[gemgem19]

Hi there

Firstly, I have to say I was rather shocked to read:

'Have blood stopper available, you can use flour or corn starch to stop the bleeding as well. '

Please don't cut or 'trim' nails to the point of bleeding. My motto that I live by regarding owning birds is. Do nothing for your own benefit if it harms or does not benefit the bird. Birds are not just 'pets'. Especially larger parrots, they are companions for life.

If this is occurring, I would see no other explanation for the biting.

In regard to your question, Does she have enough toys and foraging food toys available to her whilst you are out? I found that the reason my eckie boy was screeching was that he was bored, and once I invested in foraging toys and hanging fruit and veg squers throughout his cage, the screaming stopped immediately. Be sure to mix it up abit every few days, as well, changing toys positions, bright food items and toys that make sounds. I am sure you know this already. Sometimes it is hard to figure out a birds behavior, but with enough patience, it should all work out.

I hope this has helped in some way.

Regards, Gemma

 

[MikeyTN]

Hi there

Firstly, I have to say I was rather shocked to read:

'Have blood stopper available, you can use flour or corn starch to stop the bleeding as well. '

Please don't cut or 'trim' nails to the point of bleeding. My motto that I live by regarding owning birds is. Do nothing for your own benefit if it harms or does not benefit the bird. Birds are not just 'pets'. Especially larger parrots, they are companions for life.

If this is occurring, I would see no other explanation for the biting.

In regard to your question, Does she have enough toys and foraging food toys available to her whilst you are out? I found that the reason my eckie boy was screeching was that he was bored, and once I invested in foraging toys and hanging fruit and veg squers throughout his cage, the screaming stopped immediately. Be sure to mix it up abit every few days, as well, changing toys positions, bright food items and toys that make sounds. I am sure you know this already. Sometimes it is hard to figure out a birds behavior, but with enough patience, it should all work out.

I hope this has helped in some way.

Regards, Gemma

Accidents do happen you know! We don't just clip them to make them bleed for the fun of it. It is a necessity to have right by you when you do clipping just in case! So I don't understand how that's shocking to read???? By the way, even the vets that I've been to for the past 16 years had to use blood stopper for my birds. Cause accidents do happen!

 

[lpolliard]

One with a firm backing. Firmly hold the end of a toe with one hand while using the file.

 

[Boysmom]

I totally agree with Mikey about the quickstop !!! I keep it around for accidental injuries. A bird can get their toe nail caught in carpet or something and have an injury, a bird first aid kit is a must ! I suggest you get some good concrete pedicure perches and allow her to work down the nails that way. I never have to trim nails using these perches. If you need a link to some just PM me. I would never suggest you try to trim or file the nails since she has a biting problem already, it may make matters worse as she may not trust you any longer.

It is you're bird to do with what you want, so I will choose NOT to comment on the fact that she has been banned to the outdoors, as it would not be a nice comment.

 

[Pixie603]

and what size is "the biggest cage you can afford"? i've had months in the past were a parakeet cage was "the biggest cage i could afford"....
Are there toys available for her?

 

[slugas]

hi, the biggest cage i can afford would be a small macaw cage/xxl parrot cage. it would be about 1 squared metre on each side, maybe a bit bigger length wise and hight wise. she has chewing toys and a few simple foraging toys. and even though she lives outside, she is in a weather protected area, and gets brought in if the temperature drops below 16 degrees. but she spends most of her time on the couch with me XD!
http://www.birdcagecentral.com/macaw-mansion.jpg
http://www.mybirdstore.com/40194951.jpg
the cage is about this big, but a different shape.
http://funtimebirdy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/tobys-freedom-cage-1.jpg?w=224&h=300
it looks like this cage, but i don't know exactly how big that one is
she also has 4 concrete perches in her cage (one in front of each food bowl)

 

[Pixie603]

If she is comfortable in a small cage then its fine overnight. I use a small conure cage for travel but i let him out often and it is mainly for sleeping.
If you got her as a rehome she may be screaming until she gets into a routine.
my rehome grey does a smoke alarm noise when she is nervous and for 3 days coming into my home....she was nervous... our ears were bleeding by day 3, but we ignored and she began adjusting and getting into a good routine.
If she is young she may still be looking for comfort feedings or just attention with the baby ekkie scream. (which sounds like a little old lady who has been living on 3 packs of cigarettes a day)
Birds make noise, its a given. I am assuming not all family members were on board when bringing your bird home and now the bird is suffering.
If she is going to continue to be an outside bird, may i suggest researching building an aviary for her? more natural branches and foraging toys are a definite plus as well.
Biting just needs to be ignored or prevented. if you make a big deal about it she will too. Your reaction is very important in how far she takes is. Hope this helps a little bit.

16 degrees? a typo i'm hoping?

 

[MikeyTN]

Those cages are fine for a ekkie. By putting concrete perches in front of food dishes means you must remove them often to clean cause they'll rub their beaks on it and toss food on it....I take the whole cage outside for a good scrub down. Its one nasty mess....lol

 

[slugas]

yes, i did realize that the perches got dirty quickly...
What is the maximum temperature an eclectus parrot can withstand? i live in Australia and its getting warmer by the day!
whats a good way to get her into foraging?? i got her a new toy and she just looked at it like it was going to kill her... (she is really wary of new things, so i took steps to get it inside her cage, is that what i should be doing?)...its about a week later and she still hasn't used it!
and yes, all the people weren't in on it, it was a birthday present for me, and my brother had never really voiced his concerns, she is normally pretty quiet, but if she wants cuddles or something she screams once, and then waits for me to come, if i don't come, she screams again. She is always very quiet when she is with me (unless i leave for more that 1 min, then she searches the house, screaming and trying to find me) i have found a way to get her to stop screaming, but after one squawk, especially early in the morning, my brother wants her out. Is it bad that she spends most of the day riding on my shoulder, or should i be doing more training work with her?
also, when i said 16 degrees, i meant 16 degrees Celsius, sorry, thats about 60 in Fahrenheit, sorry, here in Australia we mostly use degrees Celsius.

 

[slugas]

oh, and a quick update on how she is doing with the biting... i recently started a training game and it is really paying of, what i do is i pick a part of her to work on (lets say i chose under her wing) i would give her an under her wing scratch, say under-wing, and then, if she didn't try to bite me, give her a treat, but if she does, i walk away and "read a book" or "watch tv" for about 2 minutes before trying again.
is this a safe way to train her not to bite? or do you have a better method!?