Francie Mae
Active member
- Feb 22, 2025
- 105
- 129
- Parrots
- Bare-eyed cockatoo
Summary: Brought home 4 month old female Eclectus. Seems to be adjusting well, but it’s very early. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi everyone,
I hope you’re all doing well. I’m making this post today because we brought home a new baby. Her wings are clipped (It’s sad I think, but not as sad as her flying away and being alone and exposed out in the world. With her current trim, she can still glide). She’s a four month old Eclectus; we named her Ladybug. I know—we wanted another cockatoo, so this probably seems like a big shift! But I’ll explain.
We had been planning on another Galah. My dad was in contact with someone who would probably have a baby Galah come spring, and he went to visit her location only to meet Ladybug. Ladybug took an immediate liking to my mom and dad, started chattering to them and grooming my mom. It was like she picked them, they said. My dad had already been researching other parrot breeds for some time, including Ekkies. He’s aware that they aren’t as cuddly or Velcro-y as cockatoos, but he’s liked a lot of what he’s read about them. He’s also watched quite a few videos from people with Ekkies, discussing pros and cons and what they wish they’d known before getting one. He hadn’t been expecting for his contact to have an Ekkie on site, but when he met Ladybug, he said it felt right.
I’m quite nervous to have a breed I’m not familiar with. When my parents told me they’d put a deposit down, I went into researching the breed, but I’m not as well-versed as my dad. I do trust his judgement, though, it’s just hard not to be apprehensive. At the time of me writing this, we’ve had her for less than a day. She’s eating and drinking, and seems very interested in her environment. When we talk to her she starts beak grinding, which to my understanding is universally a sign of being content across parrot-kind, but please correct me if I’m wrong. She also babbled a ton last night after we covered her cage, no words but a lot of mumbling and laughter. It went on so long my parents almost wondered if she was sleep-talking. I hope it doesn’t mean the poor thing is nervous. She seems pretty calm and unafraid of us, but I have noticed she’s been trembling. I can only see it when I look at her lower stomach area. I’m pretty worried about this. Other than that, she doesn’t retreat into her cage when we come close, and she’s been grooming my dad’s arm hair. She doesn’t want to be pet, but Grim and Mischief were the same early on, and also I know Ekkies are less fond of being pet in general.
I really want her to be happy with us, and I want to bond with her in whatever way Ekkies prefer; I know that bond will look different than a bond with a cockatoo, though, and I’m okay with that. If anyone has any advice or thoughts I’d love to hear it.
Hi everyone,
I hope you’re all doing well. I’m making this post today because we brought home a new baby. Her wings are clipped (It’s sad I think, but not as sad as her flying away and being alone and exposed out in the world. With her current trim, she can still glide). She’s a four month old Eclectus; we named her Ladybug. I know—we wanted another cockatoo, so this probably seems like a big shift! But I’ll explain.
We had been planning on another Galah. My dad was in contact with someone who would probably have a baby Galah come spring, and he went to visit her location only to meet Ladybug. Ladybug took an immediate liking to my mom and dad, started chattering to them and grooming my mom. It was like she picked them, they said. My dad had already been researching other parrot breeds for some time, including Ekkies. He’s aware that they aren’t as cuddly or Velcro-y as cockatoos, but he’s liked a lot of what he’s read about them. He’s also watched quite a few videos from people with Ekkies, discussing pros and cons and what they wish they’d known before getting one. He hadn’t been expecting for his contact to have an Ekkie on site, but when he met Ladybug, he said it felt right.
I’m quite nervous to have a breed I’m not familiar with. When my parents told me they’d put a deposit down, I went into researching the breed, but I’m not as well-versed as my dad. I do trust his judgement, though, it’s just hard not to be apprehensive. At the time of me writing this, we’ve had her for less than a day. She’s eating and drinking, and seems very interested in her environment. When we talk to her she starts beak grinding, which to my understanding is universally a sign of being content across parrot-kind, but please correct me if I’m wrong. She also babbled a ton last night after we covered her cage, no words but a lot of mumbling and laughter. It went on so long my parents almost wondered if she was sleep-talking. I hope it doesn’t mean the poor thing is nervous. She seems pretty calm and unafraid of us, but I have noticed she’s been trembling. I can only see it when I look at her lower stomach area. I’m pretty worried about this. Other than that, she doesn’t retreat into her cage when we come close, and she’s been grooming my dad’s arm hair. She doesn’t want to be pet, but Grim and Mischief were the same early on, and also I know Ekkies are less fond of being pet in general.
I really want her to be happy with us, and I want to bond with her in whatever way Ekkies prefer; I know that bond will look different than a bond with a cockatoo, though, and I’m okay with that. If anyone has any advice or thoughts I’d love to hear it.
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