Female ekkie and huts in cage

[Boki]

Hello, I am considering adopting an female ekkie. I have a large enough cage but the current owner says that I will need some kind of private area inside of the cage. Do other female ekkie parronts do this and what does one use for this hut/private area? Photos will help

 

[chris-md]

As with all other birds, the answer is it’s completely unnecessary.

With ekkies it’s even counterproductive. Unlike your other birds which have springtime hormones, ekkies have year round hormones: they are inducible based on environmental factors such as living arrangements, diet, petting, to name a few. Part of hormone prevention and maintenance is never provide a dark private space like a hut or nest box. It will guaranteed trigger hormones.

 

[Boki]

Chris MD, I appreciate your reply and it helps me that you own an ekkie. But maybe this is a special case. For starters, I am being given this advice from a woman who manages a lot of adopted parrots of all kinds. She is not a novice when it comes to adopting problem birds including 2 other ekkies, several maccaws, CAG, and a cockatoo.

The other factor is this specific female ekkie's history. Her original owner (male) of more then 15 years sexually overstimulated this female through way too much complete body petting, private hutch, and etc. Then he passed. The wife then try to care for the bird, got bit, and then basically ignored it other than feeding. The bird's body is completely bald from five years of solitary confinement.

The current owner, who deals with many adopted birds, has repeatedly tried to have her mate with numerous male ekkies. She has shown no interest whatsoever. She only responds to human males like her initial owner.

Maybe after having hormones triggered on for almost her entire life that such a hutch has become a biological necessity? Just throwing out thoughts. I can't ignore the current owner's guidance as she clearly has worked with lots of parrots of all types. I posted the question here in hopes that someone might have some similar situation.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Ekkies are not your standard parrot. Chris summed up the hormonal problem in friendly, layman terms.

You can check out this link for more scientific details on their opportunistic breeding: https://www.birdhealth.com.au/research-male-hypersexuality

It has a section related to females. See the section that starts with:

Rapid onset and short duration of mating phase of reproduction

The occupation of the nest hole by the female eclectus parrot is the ultimate stimulus that triggers the full functionality of the hypothalamic- pituitary- gonadal reproductive axis.

I repeat: The occupation of the nest hole by the female eclectus parrot is the ultimate stimulus[...].

Females ekkies will pluck a brood patch due to hormones. You putting a nest is just going to encourage the hormones which trigger her to pluck.

The fact that the current owner is trying to get a domesticated ekkie, that has clearly bonded to humans, to mate with its own species is a clear sign that the she is not familiar with breeding ekkies. Experienced, knowledgeable ekkie breeders will tell you that human-raised ekkies often don't know what to do and rarely make good breeding pairs. Full stop.

Please read the article.

Eclectus parrots are a bit unique. Your friend may be experienced in New World parrots - I won't argue that, but eclectus parrots often throw things out the window.

 

[noodles123]

nests are not needed- it will make her hormonal. They are never really necessary and almost always hormonal triggers. In the absence of triggers, hormones are way less intense- but when they are stimulated all of the time (with no outlet) you can end up w/ health and behavior issues. Your bird is captive-bred and sounds like she is more interested in humans. There is no need for a nest box-- if you do adopt her, the kindest thing for both of you is to minimize hormonal influences to the best of your ability.

 

[chris-md]

Hi Boki, unfortunately there are no “other factors” in this. You can outright disregard that dangerous tidbit.

One thing I’ve learned about people who have managed lots of birds: they shouldn’t be held up as a paragon of knowledge. A well respected eclectus breeder here in the United States once made the claim that vitamin a is a man made compound. This person has been in the industry for decades. I’ve had a couple problems with the advice this person gives. She’s great at raising chicks, but I wouldn’t go to her for much else.

Your person also trying to breed her? Another key she doesn’t know what she’s doing.

Stick with us here on the forum who have actual, serious eclectus experience

 

[saxguy64]

Excellent advise above! Notice the consistent theme? There is good reason for that. Nesting areas are not necessary, nor recommended unless you have the knowledge, experience, and desire to be breeding your birds.

My two, an Ekkie and a YNA are finally coming down from the throws of what seems to be an epic hormonal spring for our fids. Anything to help minimize the hormonal triggers is the best thing you can do for this girl. Like Chris said, stick with us. We're here to help in any way we can!

 

[itzjbean]

You may think this woman giving the eclectus is knowledgeable, and perhaps she is, but she is very wrong in her assumption that ekkies need a hut/nest!

It will only lead them to be more hormonal, aggressive and unpredictable! They do NOT need any sort of nest, hut or bedding material unless they are breeding! AKA with a male and intended to raise babies. With a single bird all this does is cause more problems than solve any -- more hormones, possible egg laying which could end up with your female ekkie being egg bound and dying! Please take heed of the advice given and do not give a hut. She doesn't need it. But she does need an owner who understands her species.

 

[chris-md]

unless you have the knowledge, experience, and desire to be breading your birds.!

Panko or deep fried?

 

[saxguy64]

unless you have the knowledge, experience, and desire to be breading your birds.!

Panko or deep fried?

Lol! Great catch there. See what happens when you don't wear your glasses and autocorrect rears it's ugly head! Thanks for the heads up Chris, I'll go fix it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Boki]

Thank you all for your consistent message. I really enjoyed the article and found it very informative. What surprised me is that the current owner went into verbal detail about the differences of the ekkie mating as discussed in the article. She clearly showed me that she understood the difference of the ekkie from other parrots.

I am wondering if I mistakenly described what she has in the cage. Basically it was a carrying cage within the larger cage. Light penetrates it from all directions in the windows of the carrying cage. It allows the bird to go into a tight spot but she is not hidden. So it looks more like a tight sleeping area that is out in the open for all to see. Would that make any difference? Frankly I would like to keep the interior of the cage with simple, no additions other than toys and food/water bowls.

I really do appreciate your expertise with ekkies and the consistent message is not lost on me. I do like to keep things simple with my birds.

 

[chris-md]

Nope, no need for that. Just a regular cage set up is all you need.