male electus parrot Bud.....

[chamile]

Well I today I just put down a deposit for my first parrot. This little male electus that I will soon bring home is wonderful. I have spent six hours with him in the last two days. I have read two book about eclectus parrots in general. He is 5 years old and very calm. I was told that he had one previous owner who didn't handle him much at all. I know I have a lot to teach him and he will definitely have a lot to teach me. I won't be able to bring him to my home until august 18th...I will be reading much more in the meantime. So excited, any helpful advice will be much appreciated. I'm all ears!!!

 

[thekarens]

I don't know much about Eclectus, but congrats! That's so exciting!

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I have 2 males [their new to me too] . They seem to bond very strong with their owners . Mine I hug and kiss[but they have to get used to you touching them.] My guys are worried birds . They don't like loud noises and conflict. This breed is amazing ,mine talk well and dance. I think their big sweethearts . Oh and they are the only ones that seem to get along with a lot of my other birds.

 

[chamile]

Thanks, glad to know that if I chose to get another bird he could possibly be okay with it. Glad all is working out for you.

 

[MikeyTN]

When I brought my pair home, Gracie was the tame one while JoJo was not tame at all. I worked with him constantly to get him to trust me. Got him to learn to step up in 3 days and it took awhile for him to fully trust me. But right now he's my precious angel that I love dearly. They're awesome birds as long as you can deal with the diet and the mess they make. Trust me, they make one heck of a mess!!! Make sure you understand their diet as pellets don't do well with them!

 

[Selestine]

Mike is definitely not understating the mess! I swear, Zephyr chucks his food around just for the fun of it.

Couldn't ask for a sweeter bird, though. Zephyr is so calm and inquisitive, and so so gentle. He gets worked up now and again and just needs to PLAY. He loves if you hold a piece of soft wood for him to shred and will try to decorate you with it. He loves bells and anything that jingles. He also loves to beak wrestle (I gently hold the sides of his beak and "shake" his head back and forth). That gets him going crazy, but he is always very careful not to hurt me when he grabs my finger and shakes me back.

After he gets his crazy-play mode out of his system he loves to just sit on someone for hours and nap, watch TV with you, etc.

As much as he likes to be together, though, he definitely isn't a cuddler. He will allow me to gently stroke him, but he doesn't want hugs or scratches (pretty common for eclectus I hear). He does like to kiss.

 

[drlisaort]

Congratulations! You are in for a real treat as this is an amazing species...wouldn't trade one second of time I've spent and will spend with Oliver...totally awesome...

 

[chamile]

Yes, I've been reading about their special diet. At the bird store his food seems to have a lot of pellets, yet they were the first to tell me about his strict diet. I need to follow up. How often should they have pellets?

 

[Selestine]

I'm not sure they ever really -need- pellets. Mine loves them though, so a couple of times a week I will give him maybe a tsp of the pellets I have for the conures.

 

[MikeyTN]

Yes, I've been reading about their special diet. At the bird store his food seems to have a lot of pellets, yet they were the first to tell me about his strict diet. I need to follow up. How often should they have pellets?

They shouldn't have pellets period. Please do visit Eclectus Parrots

She's like the queen of eclectus parrots and there's a lot of informative information she gives about Eclectus.

 

[Anansi]

Definitely little to no pellets. Eclectus have a longer digestive tract than other parrots, which results in a significantly greater extraction of vitamins and such. So large amounts of vitamin enriched foods like pellets tends to be too much of a good thing and can lead to toe-tapping, wing flipping, general irritability, a change in feather coloration and even feather plucking.

If you do give pellets, keep the portions very small. And they must be organic and uncolored. Some examples are Harrison's Adult Coarse and Topps. I'll usually allow Bixby (my male eclectus) 4 in the morning and 4 in the evening of Harrison's.

The observations made about them not being the cuddliest of birds is generally true, though Bixby has definitely loosened up in that regard. He now allows me (and only me) to hug him, but only in 15 second increments. Haha! And has come to enjoy being petted, though only by those with whom he feels most comfortable. That limited list includes me, my wife, and now Wendy (JerseyWendy) who managed to charm him nearly instantly!

He's very much used to all of the bustling activity of my household, and he is for the most part a pleasantly quiet bird. Very intelligent and full to bursting with personality. You are very much in for a treat!

 

[chamile]

Anansi thank you so much for the useful info! I went to go visit Bud today and he also enjoys and allows me to pet him once he warms up to me. To my surprise I actually heard him speak today (YAY). I have been visiting him for a week now and haven't heard him say or make any sounds. Today he surprised me with "hello" and many different sounds, I was so amazed.

 

[RavensGryf]

How exciting! I know you won't be disappointed! Great that you've been doing your homework too . Eclectus really have the cutest voices

 

[Anansi]

You're welcome, Chamile! And I'm glad to hear your ekky is showing off his vocabulary, already! Any pics?