VICKIE - 2011-11-07 My eclectus is a male and I have had it for almost 2 years . I have NEVER had a problem with it biting and about 2 months ago it started pinching me just for putting food in his cage or when I go to put him back in. He puts bruises on me and has drawn blood. Otherwise he is good natured loves attention ect but I never know when he is going to attack. I am thinking about giving him up if I can't find a solution do you have any suggestions?
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Charlie Roche - 2011-11-07 Many parrots do not like a human putting their hand in their cage. It is their safe territory. I would just stop doing that. He obviously has a mind of his own and doesn't wish to go back to his cage. I had a bird that would bite (for no rerason and no body language) and I finally called a trainer. The trainer tole me when the bird goes to bite, grab him up yell 'JAIL' and put him in the bathtub for 60 seconds. Yell 'JAIL' put him in the bathtub, turn the lights out and close the door. The third time I yelled 'JAIL' the parrot just sorta shook like a wet puppy but didn't bite. This sounded a little off the wall to me but for whatever reason it did work. Watch you little guys body language and you will be able to tell when he is going to bite. Putting him back in the cage - maybe do it with a peanut.
Charlie Roche - 2011-11-07 Was thinking more and wondered if your cage has the perch top? Most of the time parrots will go into their safe place/cage when the sun starts going down. Mine are all out and come sundown they all go to their own cages - they go in on their own. Just a thought. If your fella is fine except if you put your hand in his cage or when you try and put him back in his cage - just don't do those two things. Is that possible?
Tom T - 2011-11-06 I have a question about Eclectus Parrots. Is it true like macaws they should not be around cockatoos and African Greys because of the heavy amount of dander?
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Charlie Roche - 2011-11-07 No that isn't true. I have had cockatoos, macaws, amzons, conures and greys all in the same room or on perches in the living area for years. Cockatoos have a powder but if spritzed - it doesn't get all over and my cockatoos and macaws have just always been fine together. Only had a male ecletus for little awhile but no problem with the other birds.
Sharon frankovich - 2011-06-28 I bought an Electus. She's about 3 to 4 yrs old. She will not let me handle her. She flops all over her cage if I try to get her to step up and come out. I talk to her before I try. She says step up.lol. She eats good and seems happy. I don't know what to do Please help Tks
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Charlie Roche - 2011-06-28 A female Eclectus can be very agressive and is known to fight another female Eclectus - even unto the death for her nest. You have a female and she has her nest (which is her cage). In the wild a female Eclectus will perch in her nest up to 11 months out of the year being fed by several males. She will only select one to mate with. So your female Eclectus by nature is attached to that cage. You need to get her out of her cage. It is best with an Eclectus to have a perch on top of her cage so she can go in and out as she pleases. Put toys and food on the play top perch. Given it was another bird, I would tell you to place her food outside the cage so she is forced to come out and you can try that first. Put treats, food etc outside her cage on the play top and hopefully she will come out on her own. Then you can try feeding her with your hand (but only outside the cage) something like a peanut first and then go smaller like a hulled sunflower seed. Initially you can just put the peanut down on the perch so she knows what it is. You need to go very slowly with this creature. So just open the door to her cage and see if she will come out on her own to the play top perch and then gradually give her treats. She is frightened and you are too so just go slow. The female Eclectus by nature is agressive. It is not considered by most to be a cuddly bird. It is a beautiful bird and will interact with you but it is not a bird for cuddling. Let me know how you are doing and if she comes out of her cage to the perch. We can take it from there.
elizabeth - 2011-01-14 I have a 9 month old male eclectus hand fed from a breeder. I work nights but most days of the week he spends at least 6 hours out on his tree stand with me close by. Just recently he has started pacing and looking like he wants to come onto my hand and be with me, and then once he is on me he bites. I have trained him to wave and say hello, shake 'hands', so he doesn't seem to be afraid of my hand, but he won't let me pet him. He doesn't seem content to just sit with me. He has many toys etc, but doesn't play with them a whole lot. He eats lots of fruits, veggies, and organic pellets. I am confused by the aggression of what is classically supposed to be an affectionate loving species. Please help!
Christine - 2010-03-06 I never owned a bird before but my husband and kids are allergic to cats and dogs, so that sent me searching for a pet with out dander and such. I came upon the eclectus parrots and decided that they would make a good pet. We found a little boy on a parrot website that they had bought for their 12 year old son that just lost interest. Oh my, I could have never asked for a better pet, I have two children 5&6 and they play with him so well but always supervised. Keiko loves the girls and has never bitten any one just snuggles and kisses. His vocabulary is about 20 words and so unbelievably loud and clear its amazing, one thing he is great at it mimicing all kinds of silly noises, knows all the cell phone tones in our house, door bell,and kids silly toy noises. Keiko has the largest cage I could buy him 70" x 40" x 30" and he has free fly of our house in the morning when we are getting ready for work and school and all night till bed time, so he does interact with us alot so maybe thats why we have no screaching or bad behavior with him. I could not have been more pleased with any pet in the world and all my friends love him to death. If you want a bird that eats well, plays well, showers, travels and even goes to me with work a couple days a week this is the bird for you. Keikos one bad habit is he learned from his previous owners, he is a Dorito Junkie... I just open a bag and he flies over and gently tugs on my hair till I give him a tiny piece. He is just too cute!
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cheryl - 2010-09-26 Hi Christine, I loved your post about keiko. I have Oscar who is sooo precious and well behaved as well. He too is a dorito junkie lol I could not ask for a better bird. my family have severe allergies and my husband was in the hospital in crisis. the doctor said my birds had to go and I was devastated. When we found Oscar was hypoallergenic my prayers were answered. We have a 37 year old special needs son who Oscar adores. He has to be in a nursing home for a while and Oscar goes to visit. When I don't bring him all the residents are upset. Would love to be friends with another ekkie lover. If you would like to connect my email is molymisfit123@aol.com Cheryl
Caren - 2010-08-20 I have a female eclectus who I think is about 11 years old. I adopted her from a man who rescued her from a couple who could not cope with her. He had 27 parrots and could not give her the one on one attention she needed - she also has sprayed legs so she struggled to stand. I don't know the full story except that she hated the husband as he was aggressive. She took to me but bit my husband and my teenage children really badly. All she did was lie at the bottom of the cage and would mess all over herself because she would not stand up. At first I thought I would leave her alone to calm down and adapt to her new home but I slowly started taking her out and speaking to her and building her trust. She then let me was her in the basin and blow dry her which amazingly she loved. I let her walk on the wooden floor in my room for about an hour or two a day and she started getting stronger. She can now perch herself and even sits on the stand and ring unaided. She is so strong it is amazing.
One morning I woke up and she was making a terrible noise, I took her to the vet and he found she was egg bound and had to give her a sedative to help her pass the egg. She then layed another 2 eggs all by herself without trouble. I don't think she will ever speak but she does make a humming noise when she sees me and will scream if she can't see me. My hubby has tried everything being gentle and kind to her but she just shook - she now goes out of her way to attack him if her is anywhere near me, she has even bit me if he comes too close to me trying to bite him.
I now notice she is lying at the bottom of the cage where she has chewed up her paper. Do you think she is going to lay more eggs? I have heard you can have your bird sterilized - which I think is a good idea for her since she struggles with her disability. Love your site -
MYRNA - 2010-07-08 I have a 5 yr old eclectus parrot female that has started laying eggs. She searches out behind the couch and stays there on her egg. I have taken them away and she lays more. She is not eating well anymore and when I do put her on her perch to feed she makes the little chirping noise constantly. I read that this is the noise they make to get the male to feed them on the nest. She has lost weight and I need some help. No avian vets in my area. Any suggestions?
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Bird Lover - 2010-07-14 Hello, I am not an eclectus expert but I know a really good one who will be able to help you. Her name is Jane, she is a very reputable breeder of only eclectus and she's extremely knowledgeable. She will know what to do and is used to getting lots of calls from eclectus owners seeking answers. Here is her number: 1-404-321-4488
paula reeder - 2009-06-21 My eclectus, clementine, was beautiful. was. she has picked almost every feather she has. she has been bare chested for nearly 2 to 3 years. she has also been short on her other feathers elsewhere. what has happened?
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Rachel - 2010-05-03 Your bird is suffering from bordeom and depression, feather plucking is a sign of neglect. Do you leave her alone for long periods of time?
Stan Sweaney - 2010-07-07 Boredom, food sensitivity, and possibly can start, as my female eclectus did, from a skin irritant that has morphed into an obsessive compulsive disorder. Parrots in their native settings are preoccupied with feeding,breeding and survival,and have little time to become bored or preoccupied with an itch or irritation. Wild parrots are well socialized, are on the move, breeding, or avoiding being eaten by predators. A cage is not natural for a parrot, so you must compensate for her needs as one of her flock, and include her more in day to day activities. Also provide her with natural vitamin D, if possible. Stan
Irene - 2010-04-23 I'm hoping someone out there can help me. My problem is that I don't have any money to take my red-sided Eclectus parrot, Sierra, to a vet right now. She appears healthy otherwise, is eating and drinking with no problem, her feathers are still brilliant colors, and she is behaving fine. Her left eye is fine, but her right eye seems to have lost the tiny "eyelashes" that make up the "red-sidedness" of her. She is blinking a lot and sometimes holding her eye closed for a second or two. Her eyes are not red or watery and there is no discharge, so I don't think it's conjunctivitis. She is not around any other birds and eats a pretty balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Does anyone know what I should do? Perhaps a home remedy? Thanks for reading!
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Carlos - 2010-06-28 Hello Irene,
Hmm, you're parrot otherwise seems perfectly healthy apart from the eyelashes falling, I'm a trained Avian vet and I'm going to ask you to do something.
Gently put you're thumb and feel above the eye of you're bird for any little balls (sometimes tumors cause a tad of hair loss).
If there is nothing there, it means maybe too much concentrated air is rushing to that eye (heater or lots of wind) causing it 2 blink often hence eyelashes falling out.
I have the most two beautiful birds in the world. Billy (just over a year) and Ruby, his wife to be(10 months) are the most entertaining, comical clowns - they have no clue they are birds. Billy has been brought up as first born - spoilt brat, and still thinks he is only a baby. Ruby was bought as a present for my husband but also has no clue she is supposed to belong to paul (my husband). Lately Billy feeds her, getting down off his perch to get some choice bit of food and taking it up to her.
Both birds are out of their cage from 6:30am and sit in my office with me until 2:30pm. All of our customers think they are amazing and if they breed I already have orders! Both have the most wonderful natures - our BREEDER told us that we would not enjoy a female Eclectus - but she is far more tolerant. Both talk extremely well - singing "How much is that doggy in the window" - one sings and the other will do Woof Woof at the end. Both Know my dogs by name and will give my cats a run for their money!
I would recommend these wonderful family members to anyone who is looking for a companion or family pet.
Eclectus are real show stoppers with their beautiful, vibrant coloring!
My eclectus is a male and I have had it for almost 2 years . I have NEVER had a problem with it biting and about 2 months ago it started pinching me just for putting food in his cage or when I go to put him back in. He puts bruises on me and has drawn blood. Otherwise he is good natured loves attention ect but I never know when he is going to attack. I am thinking about giving him up if I can't find a solution do you have any suggestions?
Many parrots do not like a human putting their hand in their cage. It is their safe territory. I would just stop doing that. He obviously has a mind of his own and doesn't wish to go back to his cage. I had a bird that would bite (for no rerason and no body language) and I finally called a trainer. The trainer tole me when the bird goes to bite, grab him up yell 'JAIL' and put him in the bathtub for 60 seconds. Yell 'JAIL' put him in the bathtub, turn the lights out and close the door. The third time I yelled 'JAIL' the parrot just sorta shook like a wet puppy but didn't bite. This sounded a little off the wall to me but for whatever reason it did work. Watch you little guys body language and you will be able to tell when he is going to bite. Putting him back in the cage - maybe do it with a peanut.
Was thinking more and wondered if your cage has the perch top? Most of the time parrots will go into their safe place/cage when the sun starts going down. Mine are all out and come sundown they all go to their own cages - they go in on their own. Just a thought. If your fella is fine except if you put your hand in his cage or when you try and put him back in his cage - just don't do those two things. Is that possible?
I have a question about Eclectus Parrots. Is it true like
macaws they should not be around cockatoos and African
Greys because of the heavy amount of dander?
No that isn't true. I have had cockatoos, macaws, amzons, conures and greys all in the same room or on perches in the living area for years. Cockatoos have a powder but if spritzed - it doesn't get all over and my cockatoos and macaws have just always been fine together. Only had a male ecletus for little awhile but no problem with the other birds.
I bought an Electus. She's about 3 to 4 yrs old. She will not let me handle her. She flops all over her cage if I try to get her to step up and come out. I talk to her before I try. She says step up.lol. She eats good and seems happy. I don't know what to do Please help Tks
A female Eclectus can be very agressive and is known to fight another female Eclectus - even unto the death for her nest. You have a female and she has her nest (which is her cage). In the wild a female Eclectus will perch in her nest up to 11 months out of the year being fed by several males. She will only select one to mate with. So your female Eclectus by nature is attached to that cage. You need to get her out of her cage. It is best with an Eclectus to have a perch on top of her cage so she can go in and out as she pleases. Put toys and food on the play top perch. Given it was another bird, I would tell you to place her food outside the cage so she is forced to come out and you can try that first. Put treats, food etc outside her cage on the play top and hopefully she will come out on her own. Then you can try feeding her with your hand (but only outside the cage) something like a peanut first and then go smaller like a hulled sunflower seed. Initially you can just put the peanut down on the perch so she knows what it is. You need to go very slowly with this creature. So just open the door to her cage and see if she will come out on her own to the play top perch and then gradually give her treats.
She is frightened and you are too so just go slow. The female Eclectus by nature is agressive. It is not considered by most to be a cuddly bird. It is a beautiful bird and will interact with you but it is not a bird for cuddling. Let me know how you are doing and if she comes out of her cage to the perch. We can take it from there.
I have a 9 month old male eclectus hand fed from a breeder. I work nights but most days of the week he spends at least 6 hours out on his tree stand with me close by. Just recently he has started pacing and looking like he wants to come onto my hand and be with me, and then once he is on me he bites. I have trained him to wave and say hello, shake 'hands', so he doesn't seem to be afraid of my hand, but he won't let me pet him. He doesn't seem content to just sit with me. He has many toys etc, but doesn't play with them a whole lot. He eats lots of fruits, veggies, and organic pellets. I am confused by the aggression of what is classically supposed to be an affectionate loving species. Please help!
I never owned a bird before but my husband and kids are allergic to cats and dogs, so that sent me searching for a pet with out dander and such. I came upon the eclectus parrots and decided that they would make a good pet. We found a little boy on a parrot website that they had bought for their 12 year old son that just lost interest. Oh my, I could have never asked for a better pet, I have two children 5&6 and they play with him so well but always supervised. Keiko loves the girls and has never bitten any one just snuggles and kisses. His vocabulary is about 20 words and so unbelievably loud and clear its amazing, one thing he is great at it mimicing all kinds of silly noises, knows all the cell phone tones in our house, door bell,and kids silly toy noises. Keiko has the largest cage I could buy him 70" x 40" x 30" and he has free fly of our house in the morning when we are getting ready for work and school and all night till bed time, so he does interact with us alot so maybe thats why we have no screaching or bad behavior with him. I could not have been more pleased with any pet in the world and all my friends love him to death.
If you want a bird that eats well, plays well, showers, travels and even goes to me with work a couple days a week this is the bird for you.
Keikos one bad habit is he learned from his previous owners, he is a Dorito Junkie... I just open a bag and he flies over and gently tugs on my hair till I give him a tiny piece. He is just too cute!
Hi Christine, I loved your post about keiko. I have Oscar who is sooo precious and well behaved as well. He too is a dorito junkie lol I could not ask for a better bird. my family have severe allergies and my husband was in the hospital in crisis. the doctor said my birds had to go and I was devastated. When we found Oscar was hypoallergenic my prayers were answered. We have a 37 year old special needs son who Oscar adores. He has to be in a nursing home for a while and Oscar goes to visit. When I don't bring him all the residents are upset.
Would love to be friends with another ekkie lover. If you would like to connect my email is molymisfit123@aol.com
Cheryl
I have a female eclectus who I think is about 11 years old. I adopted her from a man who rescued her from a couple who could not cope with her. He had 27 parrots and could not give her the one on one attention she needed - she also has sprayed legs so she struggled to stand. I don't know the full story except that she hated the husband as he was aggressive. She took to me but bit my husband and my teenage children really badly. All she did was lie at the bottom of the cage and would mess all over herself because she would not stand up. At first I thought I would leave her alone to calm down and adapt to her new home but I slowly started taking her out and speaking to her and building her trust. She then let me was her in the basin and blow dry her which amazingly she loved. I let her walk on the wooden floor in my room for about an hour or two a day and she started getting stronger. She can now perch herself and even sits on the stand and ring unaided. She is so strong it is amazing.
One morning I woke up and she was making a terrible noise, I took her to the vet and he found she was egg bound and had to give her a sedative to help her pass the egg. She then layed another 2 eggs all by herself without trouble. I don't think she will ever speak but she does make a humming noise when she sees me and will scream if she can't see me. My hubby has tried everything being gentle and kind to her but she just shook - she now goes out of her way to attack him if her is anywhere near me, she has even bit me if he comes too close to me trying to bite him.
I now notice she is lying at the bottom of the cage where she has chewed up her paper. Do you think she is going to lay more eggs? I have heard you can have your bird sterilized - which I think is a good idea for her since she struggles with her disability. Love your site -
I have a 5 yr old eclectus parrot female that has started laying eggs. She searches out behind the couch and stays there on her egg. I have taken them away and she lays more. She is not eating well anymore and when I do put her on her perch to feed she makes the little chirping noise constantly. I read that this is the noise they make to get the male to feed them on the nest. She has lost weight and I need some help. No avian vets in my area. Any suggestions?
Hello, I am not an eclectus expert but I know a really good one who will be able to help you. Her name is Jane, she is a very reputable breeder of only eclectus and she's extremely knowledgeable. She will know what to do and is used to getting lots of calls from eclectus owners seeking answers. Here is her number: 1-404-321-4488
My eclectus, clementine, was beautiful. was. she has picked almost every feather she has. she has been bare chested for nearly 2 to 3 years. she has also been short on her other feathers elsewhere. what has happened?
Your bird is suffering from bordeom and depression, feather plucking is a sign of neglect. Do you leave her alone for long periods of time?
Boredom, food sensitivity, and possibly can start, as my female eclectus did, from a skin irritant that has morphed into an obsessive compulsive disorder. Parrots in their native settings are preoccupied with feeding,breeding and survival,and have little time to become bored or preoccupied with an itch or irritation. Wild parrots are well socialized, are on the move, breeding, or avoiding being eaten by predators. A cage is not natural for a parrot, so you must compensate for her needs as one of her flock, and include her more in day to day activities. Also provide her with natural vitamin D, if possible. Stan
I'm hoping someone out there can help me. My problem is that I don't have any money to take my red-sided Eclectus parrot, Sierra, to a vet right now. She appears healthy otherwise, is eating and drinking with no problem, her feathers are still brilliant colors, and she is behaving fine. Her left eye is fine, but her right eye seems to have lost the tiny "eyelashes" that make up the "red-sidedness" of her. She is blinking a lot and sometimes holding her eye closed for a second or two. Her eyes are not red or watery and there is no discharge, so I don't think it's conjunctivitis. She is not around any other birds and eats a pretty balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Does anyone know what I should do? Perhaps a home remedy? Thanks for reading!
Hello Irene,
Hmm, you're parrot otherwise seems perfectly healthy apart from the eyelashes falling, I'm a trained Avian vet and I'm going to ask you to do something.
Gently put you're thumb and feel above the eye of you're bird for any little balls (sometimes tumors cause a tad of hair loss).
If there is nothing there, it means maybe too much concentrated air is rushing to that eye (heater or lots of wind) causing it 2 blink often hence eyelashes falling out.
Hi from South Africa,
I have the most two beautiful birds in the world. Billy (just over a year) and Ruby, his wife to be(10 months) are the most entertaining, comical clowns - they have no clue they are birds. Billy has been brought up as first born - spoilt brat, and still thinks he is only a baby. Ruby was bought as a present for my husband but also has no clue she is supposed to belong to paul (my husband). Lately Billy feeds her, getting down off his perch to get some choice bit of food and taking it up to her.
Both birds are out of their cage from 6:30am and sit in my office with me until 2:30pm. All of our customers think they are amazing and if they breed I already have orders! Both have the most wonderful natures - our BREEDER told us that we would not enjoy a female Eclectus - but she is far more tolerant. Both talk extremely well - singing "How much is that doggy in the window" - one sings and the other will do Woof Woof at the end. Both Know my dogs by name and will give my cats a run for their money!
I would recommend these wonderful family members to anyone who is looking for a companion or family pet.