Grayson 1st week Home

[James972]

Hey guys,

Grayson's first week at home was quite a busy one.. Needless to say I feel he is comfortable with his new cage and his surroundings He follows me to the kitchen and loves to eat dinner with me.. He is a really good boy.

The reason I'm posting a new thread is I'd like some opinions about his plumage... He had a vet appointment today but I couldn't make it.. had to reschedule for this coming Saturday March 1st...

He has a lot of grey feathers under his wings and on his chest..

His chest feathers look a bit overpreened.. which is what worries me..

Tomorrow Night I am going to move his cage next to My Female Ekkie so they can start getting acquainted with each other.. Should I maybe wait until His feathers get better before introducing him? I don't want him to stress and continue overpreening (if that is the issue).

Perhaps he is molting? I've never owned an eclectus before so all of this is really new to me...

I have changed his diet to entirely fresh/cooked foods with Crushed Harrison's Pellets sprinkled lightly on his food. and a few tablespoons of seed on Sundays..

I believe he was on an entirely Seed-Dried fruit Mix with Some really awkward Chip like pellets...

He is absolutely loving the cooked/Fresh Fruits Veggies diet.. he makes a mess of himself but its really cute to see him enjoy his food.

He is very active and vocal and his droppings look fine.

Any suggestions/opinion would be greatly appreciated as I am waiting anxiously for his vet appointment..

 

[Joshuwaaa]

hi, wow Grayson looks lovely!

Loki has had some issues with plumage as you may of seen on my thread, and its something i went into deeply with our vet.

Grayson however isn't a discolouration but more showing his under feathers, its looks like his feathers are thinned out. However, Im no expert.

poor previous diet may be the cause, so your new diet sounds great. Keep an eye on him, and personally i wouldn't introduce just yet, it can be a little stressful an if he is over preening you don't want to accidently incourage it.

sorry i cant be of more help, hopefully someone on here can shed some light. However he looks happy and your diet will help a ton, its worked well for Loki an his feathers were black

hope he gets better soon, good luck and have fun with your new baby

x

 

[James972]

Joshuwaa, Your insight is really appreciated.

And I have been reading your posts about Loki. He is absolutely
adorable. I am glad his feathers are coming in nicely

I love his Java Table Top Stand.

This weekend I'll be building a few items for my pair. Hopefully Their stand turns out as great as yours.


I think I will take your advice and hold off Introductions..

I suspected his diet was the cause of his grey plumage..

He seems to be eating very well... and he loves showers although its

sometimes a chores to pat him down with a towel.

Hopefully the vet will guide me in the right direction.

Veronica Just looks more amazing every week. She is bright Red and

her blue eye ring is almost full.


Here is Grayson Pigging out with Food on his Chin lol

And here's A Pic of Veronica that I took last night.

 

[Peeker]

The birds look great! Grayson has plenty of down feathers but his green ones look thin. His head is in better feather. My guess would be from poor diet but I would watch him for plucking so you can let the vet know. If he's molting he should feather in nicely and with the new cage and new foods and showers hopefully that's all it will take. He's had a lot of changes so i would hold off on introductions for now. Female ekkies are not always incredibly friendly lol. You don't want to rush things.

You towel-pat him after the shower? I never do that. Mine shake a lot of the water off and then preen as they dry.

 

[James972]

Peeker, Thank you very much for your feedback..

I Clean his Dropping Pan Daily and I have yet to see a Green feather...

Mainly I see white down feathers... almost like he is molting.. but Its an awkward time to molt no?

I'm very glad he took to his new food very well.. He loves his yams and green peas. he likes to pick out the Kale and Broccoli.. I think im going to puree all his deep green veggies and mix it with the sweet potatoes..

I pat him down with a towel out of habit lol. thats the way Veronica likes it.. I Don't use detergent on their towels.. I just throw in a splash of bleach and wash with very hot water in the washer. No fabric softener either..

I agree that female ekkies are a bit feisty lol.. Veronica can sense grayson in the house.. she's been extra clingy this past week.. she also just wants me to play with her beak when shes on my lap...

Oh the joy of being a ekkie parent

The birds look great! Grayson has plenty of down feathers but his green ones look thin. His head is in better feather. My guess would be from poor diet but I would watch him for plucking so you can let the vet know. If he's molting he should feather in nicely and with the new cage and new foods and showers hopefully that's all it will take. He's had a lot of changes so i would hold off on introductions for now. Female ekkies are not always incredibly friendly lol. You don't want to rush things.

You towel-pat him after the shower? I never do that. Mine shake a lot of the water off and then preen as they dry.

 

[Peeker]

I Clean his Dropping Pan Daily and I have yet to see a Green feather...

Mainly I see white down feathers... almost like he is molting.. but Its an awkward time to molt no?

That's great! I have seen a few grey fluffies blowing across the floor lately from mine so I would think that's ok.

 

[Joshuwaaa]

oh gosh, both look so happy and healthy, I'm sure good diet and showering will be an excellent treatment. An then a vet check to compliment it is always good.

Loki is loving his java, its ideal really, today he was able to sit while i studied and we spoke. That's a first having him in the room without holding him he's been so attached so sitting alone is a great way to have him with me even when i study.

her red is so bright an vibrant, no doubt Grayson will come through the same x

 

[sodakat]

He is missing lots of green feathers for sure. Now, did he pluck them or did he molt and new ones not regrow? Lets hope for the latter. If he is eating the fresh food diet well and getting frequent baths, he'll molt soon. Also get him out in the sun (since you live in Texas and CAN) a few minutes every day. Or 1/2 hour a week all at one fell swoop. I'm so jealous of that weather.

I think you can introduce them whenever you want. Just move his cage into the same room with her, don't force them to be out together if you are very nervous about them getting along. If you let only one out be sure to watch that they don't climb on the other's cage and get bit. Neutral territory, like the top of a table strewn with toys and some dry food is a good place to make the actual one on one introduction. And don't freak out if they posture at each other. If you get nervous, calmly put one away.

 

[James972]

Its only been a week since he's been with me.. I don't see evidence of him self-Mutilating. I kept a close eye on him last saturday but did not notice him overpreening or plucking..

I'll take close up shots of his feathers perhaps y'all will be able to see.

I can assure you that he is eating a Ton. It scares me on how much he eats.. usually its a 30 minute ordeal each meal.. oh and he refuses to eat inside his cage.. is this bad?

I pay my Mother to go to my house and tidy up/ cook and clean. She likes to take them outside a few minutes a day. She also feeds them and lets them listen to the radio or TV for a few hours.. She is still a bit scared of Grayson but its a work in progess..

Veronica is soooo relaxed and passive compared to Grayson..

I probably will give Grayson 1 more week before any introductions.. He seems relaxed enough. I'm going to build them a new Playstand hopefully it will be a good place for both of them to meet each other.



Sodakat, I appreciate your advice very much!

He is missing lots of green feathers for sure. Now, did he pluck them or did he molt and new ones not regrow? Lets hope for the latter. If he is eating the fresh food diet well and getting frequent baths, he'll molt soon. Also get him out in the sun (since you live in Texas and CAN) a few minutes every day. Or 1/2 hour a week all at one fell swoop. I'm so jealous of that weather.

I think you can introduce them whenever you want. Just move his cage into the same room with her, don't force them to be out together if you are very nervous about them getting along. If you let only one out be sure to watch that they don't climb on the other's cage and get bit. Neutral territory, like the top of a table strewn with toys and some dry food is a good place to make the actual one on one introduction. And don't freak out if they posture at each other. If you get nervous, calmly put one away.

 

[sodakat]

I can't tell from looking at his existing feathers if he's plucking. Sorry. So a closeup wouldn't help. Sometimes when they go through a heavy molt they are grey in areas for a long time. A poor diet makes it harder to molt properly. I'm guessing this is a molt. It may take months for the feathers to come back so don't get all worried if you don't see green right away. Of course, he could start growing new feather soon.

If he were barbering his feathers a close up picture of a feather on the bottom of his cage would tell if he had snipped it off or if it was molted naturally. Snipped feathers don't have the plug that was in his skin, molted or plucked feathers do.

Again, I'll bet this is just a heavy molt.

 

[James972]

I took your advice and introduced them to each other..

They were really curious especially Veronica! she was really happy, Grayson was bobbing his head and jumping around.. no pinned eyes no biting no screaming. I put them on opposite ends of the couch and Of course Veronica took the initiative and approached him.. They started to preen each other :B I let them play for a few minutes before dinner and then returned them to their respective cages.

I was a bit nervous at first but I will let them interact for a few minutes each day. I will be moving Veronicas Cage next to Grayson's in the Living room.

Here are some pictures. (Sorry about the quality I normally just have cell phone handy for pictures).

 

[Peeker]

Whoo! That sounds like it went really well! I hope this is the start to a wonderful friendship!

 

[lpolliard]

Too late now but maybe a 60 day quarantine period the next time if you are unsure of a birds health.

Chico seems to molt in the spring and early fall. Can others chime in on their observations?

 

[sodakat]

Good job. She looks like she's pretty darn happy to have a friend. Now she'll have someone to boss around!

 

[James972]

hahaha she spent no time in showing him who's the boss... today they took breakfast together on my kitchen counter (a Neutral place) and they were eating from each others bowls.. Veronica even stole a piece of sausage link from my plate..

Good job. She looks like she's pretty darn happy to have a friend. Now she'll have someone to boss around!

 

[James972]

Grayson's vet appointment went great... The Vet said he was overpreening.. recommended I get him a full spectrum lamp... or expose him to direct sunlight a few minutes a day (which I have been doing since I acquired Him).. He weighed 440 grams (which he said was pretty average for a 4 year old male vos)..he did not recommend a full blood panel, aside from his feathers, he was in excellent condition). he also told me he was molting (he couldn't explain that one..) but recommended what everyone here in the forums told me to do.. (Frequent showers, change in diet)... of course he questioned Grayson's diet.. He highly recommended me that I put him on Harrison's high potency diet with veggies and fruits occasionally.. I explained to him that I was crushing a few harrison's pellets to include with his cooked/fresh meals for added nutrition.. and that i would not consider a mainly pellet diet...

He, of course, with a raised eyebrow recommended another visit in a few weeks for a follow up.

Too late now but maybe a 60 day quarantine period the next time if you are unsure of a birds health.

Chico seems to molt in the spring and early fall. Can others chime in on their observations?

 

[sodakat]

Mine molt different times of the year; different from each other I mean. It seems to be an individual bird thing in my house, when they are going to molt. Being healthy enough to molt is very important.

I believe Harrisons High Potency pellets are the best pellet, but not all Eclectus tolerate pellets. Mine do, although I'm not feeding pellets right now. I think they have their place, especially if you are not willing to provide a varied fresh food diet which covers complete nutritional needs. I know Harrisons High Potency pellets made a big difference for LaFitte the 2 years I fed them.

 

[drlisaort]

I don't have much to add but I can say Oliver seems to be shedding these little gray fluff balls all over the place. He's 7 months old--not sure if it's an age thing or what they (Ekkies) do. I recall my cockatiel (Orky--may he rest in peace) plucked his feathers so I always saw tons at the bottom of his cage. He was pretty much naked for a good portion of his 23 years--and knowing what I know now I did things wrong...wish I knew you guys much sooner.

Both of your babies are gorgeous and with all your love, positive attention, and vigilance with their diet and showers I bet you'll see great results in no time.

 

[sodakat]

Oliver is right at the age for his first molt of head and neck feathers. Try not to worry. I'm sure you are doing great. He'll molt is larger feathers some time after his first hatch day. His adult feathers will be stronger than his baby feathers.

I don't have much to add but I can say Oliver seems to be shedding these little gray fluff balls all over the place. He's 7 months old--not sure if it's an age thing or what they (Ekkies) do. I recall my cockatiel (Orky--may he rest in peace) plucked his feathers so I always saw tons at the bottom of his cage. He was pretty much naked for a good portion of his 23 years--and knowing what I know now I did things wrong...wish I knew you guys much sooner.

Both of your babies are gorgeous and with all your love, positive attention, and vigilance with their diet and showers I bet you'll see great results in no time.

 

[James972]

I am still learning but I'm pretty confident I am providing a well balanced diet for my ekkies.

I really love these forums its a great resource that people tend to overlook.

Can't wait til Grayson's feathers get back into tip top shape.

Mine molt different times of the year; different from each other I mean. It seems to be an individual bird thing in my house, when they are going to molt. Being healthy enough to molt is very important.

I believe Harrisons High Potency pellets are the best pellet, but not all Eclectus tolerate pellets. Mine do, although I'm not feeding pellets right now. I think they have their place, especially if you are not willing to provide a varied fresh food diet which covers complete nutritional needs. I know Harrisons High Potency pellets made a big difference for LaFitte the 2 years I fed them.