Kylie - 2012-05-20 I have a 4 month old eclectus male. Every now and then he stretches one leg out straight behind his body and lifts corresponding wing. He then does the same to other leg. When he stretches his leg back he extends all his toes. Is this normal . He has a large cage and does this likely every hour...?
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Charlie Roche - 2012-05-20 Yes, it is normal. You don't have him on doll rods - correct. Should be using a actual wood perch like fruitwood, cholla, sanded manzanita).
Robert - 2012-04-24 I am about to purchase a female eclectus I am told she is approx 13 months and appears to be a Vosmaeri, however she has no yellow in her tail feathers , would she be hybrid any help would be appreciated. as I am a beginner.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-04-25 A Vosmaeri Eclectus at 13 months would have yellow in her tail. She would have already molted and have her adult coloring (which may even get more yellow by 3 years). However, she would definitely have the yellow coloring in her tail. She is not Vosmaeri. Question. Can you handle and hold this bird? Can you pick her up and have her sit on your finger? Can you move her from one place to another? Does she 'step up'? Can you pet her? If the answers to any of these questions are NO, then do not buy this bird. A female eclectus in the wild is a very agressive bird, fighting to the death if she has to in order to protect her nest. Many people have female eclectus that are just wonderful poets, but they are not a great first bird. They are independent, tempermental and their bite is just horrible. Body language is difficult to read. If you can pick her up, hold her, pet her - then fine - if you can't do not buy the bird. You would not buy a puppy or a kitten that you couldn't hold - same is true for a parrot.
manuela rutledge - 2012-01-23 Hi I'm the proud owner of an female soloman eclectus. Annie was a rescue bird. I got her from a couple who did not want to bother with her anymore and they got her from a petstore where the previous owner brought her after 3 years. Anyways the last owner did not want to bother because after they had her for a month she started eating her feet and peeling the skin right off. So I took her and brought her to the vet done all the bloodwork ,it came out good oh and she is toetapping and wingflipping also. They said she does it because she was bored but watching her she bites because it is very annoying the cramps in her feet. So I did everything I could find on it out on the net ,my vet is clueless she never had that in her office and she is an avian vet arghhhhh lol.So I am surging everywhere in the hopes someone out there has others idears . sorry for writing such a long story ...
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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-23 Many people use doll rods for perches and just about destroy a birds feet without realizing it. There are many types of 2 - 3 inch perches avaiable to put in a cage that allow the parrot to step on it more flat footed and way easier to hold on to. Cholla wood, sanded manzanita, branch from a fruit tree. Birds don't sit on the narrowest end of the perch on a tree - they are in the widest part - almost flat footed and well balanced. The birds feet should not be able to go around the perch - Toe tapping. Toe tapping can be a normal body expression for a parrot in that they stamp their feet. Sounds like yours might be doing it to stretch out tendons.muscles and excercise or maybe the perch is so small, his feet are actually flling asleep or cramping. The parrot is not going to go down and wlk on the bottom of the cage - they don't go down. Wingflapping - again could be body language but also could be keeping balance. I'd get way wider perches - cholla - works and Golden Cockatoo has a web site and you can order them from there. They screw on. Did the vet check for gout? Many vets say they are avian but they just took a two day class. Just thoughts. Good luck.
Loree McKee - 2012-03-12 in response to toe tapping - it is possible that your bird may be having a reaction to colored dyes in food. My eclectus did this once when we changed his diet and gave him colored food (from teh pet store) as soon as we changed his diet back to all-natural (no dyes) he stopped this behaviour. Also, I am not sure where the previous writer got his birds, but mine absolutley love to "come down" to the bottom of thier cage - they play with foot toys there, and their food dishes are ob the bottom of the cage as well. I have ladders that dangle all the way to the floor - so they like to walk around the house on teh floor. You can try a resting stone also, these can be placed in the cage on teh floor of the cage, or attached to corners like a shelf. Mine like thiers a lot. - Good luck!!
Keiko and Chloe's mom - 2006-05-17 I am the proud Mom of an Eclectus pair. Keiko, 3 yrs and Chloe, 2 yrs. I have a background with exotic birds and I brought them both home just as their feathers were beginning to show. Hand feeding was a joy and Keiko truly thinks I'm his Mom. He is amazingly friendly, talks up a storm, is too lazy to fly, lives on my shoulder whenever possible and plays "dead bird". He loves to meet new people and has never even attempted to bite anyone. He is jealous when I give attention to Chloe and he tries to get between us so he can give me a kiss. He's a great traveler and loves to take a shower. Chloe is a little more timid when it comes to strangers but she absolutely loves Mom. She took longer to warm up, but taking their cages from the living room and giving them their own room, definitely made the difference in Chloe's social temperment. She is eager to come out of her cage now and will stay with whoever is currently spoiling her, until they put her back or pass her on to someone else. She says "hello" very clearly and jibber jabbers constantly. She jumps on my shoulder whenever I walk by her and also loves her shower. She and Keiko fight for the best position on the shower perch. She sets her own bedtime. Around 8PM every night, she flies off the couch, my shoulder or where ever she is and walks to her room. We follow behind and pick her up to put her in her cage. We never hear a peep out of her after that. Keiko, on the other hand, has to be sent to bed. He would live on my shoulder if I let him. Thank goodness he has NEVER used me as a potty. He will leave me, go to Dad to do his business, and then return to me. Chloe, on the other hand, could care less where she goes, so I'm constantly cleaning up behind her. We keep a fresh towel on the back of the couch and another on the floor behind. That takes care of most of the mess. The two are considering starting a family and we're anxiously awaiting the first arrivals.
LeAnn Spychalla - 2012-01-24 I have about a 7 to 8 yr old beautiful male, he's so quiet compared to other birds I have and I love it HOWEVER my concern is this, he's getting a dull oily look to his feathers. It goes away after a bathtime for a day or two but then right back. I was wondering could he be starting his firt molt? I noticed it about a month ago..I haven't seen any new feathers coming in and I know he hasn't molted as of yet
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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-24 If you have a 7 - 8 YEAR old eclectus, he has molted although depending on where you live, it may not have been obvious. ie Arizonia or some such place. The Eclectus will molt, usually somewhat gradually in late summer where there is 100 % exchange of old feathers for new. You see large feathers on the ground but frequently just one at a time and new feathers coming in with sorta a white wax around the new feather. They just love being preened this time of the year. They go through another molt in real early spring and you see this white down (regardless of the color of the parrot) in the cage or on the floor. It is similar to a cat/dog shedding its winter undercoat. The white down feathers are so light they just blow around. So whether real visible or not, your fella has gone through some molts. Again, I do not know where you live but my birds now are shedding their undercoat and they look a little oily. I spritz them with an Aloe spritz. My birds are also big nut eaters and that has a tendency to create oil. Think about what you are feeding him but it is probably just the normal early spring getting rid of the under coat and him over preeening to get rid of excess down.
Yvette - 2010-05-26 I have a baby Eclectus last week (female), I want to know the age of the baby. She doesn't have the baby fluff anymore I'm still giving her the baby food during the day but she doesn't eat much, however she would eat seeds after the baby food. Should I keep feeding her or should I stick to the seeds?
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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-23 I don't know how old she is but if she is taking the baby food (do you mean bird formula?), I would continue to give it to her. You can cut back to let's try 30CC around 1 pm or when you get home from work and then 45 or so before bedtime. If she takes it - she does - if not then OK. I just don't like to take the chance my children are hungry. Eclectus can be difficult to feed and they can go through stages. You can also try feeding her acxtual baby food (apricots or applesauce) or adding it to the formula. That formula doesn't taste great. Then you cut out the afternnon feeding and slowly cut back the evening (before bed) feeding. Let her have the seed, cracked walnuts work good, almonds (Vitamin A) veggies. They usually like millet as well. Because she doesn't eat MUCH doesn't mean she won't eat it if hungry. I like to feed them till they really do not want it.
manuela rutledge - 2012-01-23 If she does not eat it anymore don't force it. Start giving her fresh fruit and veggies and some almonds here and there .
Mar-Louise - 2012-01-15 Hi. I have a 9 month old eclectus male, who is just adorable. His eating is good,he has alot of toys and he gets alot of attention. Until the age off about 6 months he was feeding on seeds and dry fruits alone. Then I read that they love fresh fruit and vegtables. I immediatly introdused him to that and he love his food. I dont know what could be the problem but he still has alot of baby feathers, i have come across alot of other young eclectus parrots which feathers are all grown out already. Am i doing something wrong? Does he need something? Is there something that I can do for him? Please help me.
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Toby Jungle - 2012-01-15 I don't think you are doing anything wrong, actually I think you are doing great! Eclectus usually start their first molt around 7 months, but in captivity it can be delayed due to lower light levels than they would have in the wild, and being kept at a constant temperature.
To help encourage a molt, there are several things you can consider. Increase the light output by using full spectrum or other lighting (but use with caution as you don't want the cage to overheat). Increase the photoperiod... up to two hours a day of additional lighting - one hour more in the morning and one in the evening. If you keep your bird in a cool house, you can increase the temperature. You can bathe your bird daily. You can increase the amount of protein in the birds diet along with a good balance of deeply colored vegetable foods. Some protein you can add include fully cooked poulty, eggs, fish, shrimp, or steak. And finally, reduce any stress in the environment.
DAWN - 2011-11-29 My Ekkie is driving the family nuts with hiss ear piercing screeching and squawking, so much so that talk has been of finding him a new home. Much of it I am sure is when he wants more attention than he is getting other times it seems to be just for the hell of it. The only way to quieten him is to place him in his cage and cover the cage and once he's quiet let him back out. His cage is inside and unless we are going out he spends the majority of his time out of his cage, on the upside he is the most gentle bird you could ask for he loves being with you, he loves having raspberries blown on his chest and loves kisses, he is also a good talker. I just need to find a way to keep him a bit quieter before the rest of the family get their way and rehome him, any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-11-29 Try different kinds of toys. Paper rolls (there are toys set up and you put rolls of cash register paper on them) usually keep them busy. Bells, anything he can demolish. They need things to entertain themselves with when you aren't right there. Many times it is a contact call and if you just sorta say back 'I am here' then they know where you are. Also, it usually calms down as they mature. Like a puppy. They get calmer.
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?
Eclectus are real show stoppers with their beautiful, vibrant coloring!
I have a 4 month old eclectus male. Every now and then he stretches one leg out straight behind his body and lifts corresponding wing. He then does the same to other leg. When he stretches his leg back he extends all his toes. Is this normal . He has a large cage and does this likely every hour...?
Yes, it is normal. You don't have him on doll rods - correct. Should be using a actual wood perch like fruitwood, cholla, sanded manzanita).
I am about to purchase a female eclectus I am told she is approx 13 months and appears to be a Vosmaeri, however she has no yellow in her tail feathers , would she be hybrid any help would be appreciated. as I am a beginner.
A Vosmaeri Eclectus at 13 months would have yellow in her tail. She would have already molted and have her adult coloring (which may even get more yellow by 3 years). However, she would definitely have the yellow coloring in her tail. She is not Vosmaeri. Question. Can you handle and hold this bird? Can you pick her up and have her sit on your finger? Can you move her from one place to another? Does she 'step up'? Can you pet her? If the answers to any of these questions are NO, then do not buy this bird. A female eclectus in the wild is a very agressive bird, fighting to the death if she has to in order to protect her nest. Many people have female eclectus that are just wonderful poets, but they are not a great first bird. They are independent, tempermental and their bite is just horrible. Body language is difficult to read. If you can pick her up, hold her, pet her - then fine - if you can't do not buy the bird. You would not buy a puppy or a kitten that you couldn't hold - same is true for a parrot.
Hi I'm the proud owner of an female soloman eclectus. Annie was a rescue bird. I got her from a couple who did not want to bother with her anymore and they got her from a petstore where the previous owner brought her after 3 years. Anyways the last owner did not want to bother because after they had her for a month she started eating her feet and peeling the skin right off. So I took her and brought her to the vet done all the bloodwork ,it came out good oh and she is toetapping and wingflipping also. They said she does it because she was bored but watching her she bites because it is very annoying the cramps in her feet. So I did everything I could find on it out on the net ,my vet is clueless she never had that in her office and she is an avian vet arghhhhh lol.So I am surging everywhere in the hopes someone out there has others idears . sorry for writing such a long story ...
Many people use doll rods for perches and just about destroy a birds feet without realizing it. There are many types of 2 - 3 inch perches avaiable to put in a cage that allow the parrot to step on it more flat footed and way easier to hold on to. Cholla wood, sanded manzanita, branch from a fruit tree. Birds don't sit on the narrowest end of the perch on a tree - they are in the widest part - almost flat footed and well balanced. The birds feet should not be able to go around the perch - Toe tapping. Toe tapping can be a normal body expression for a parrot in that they stamp their feet. Sounds like yours might be doing it to stretch out tendons.muscles and excercise or maybe the perch is so small, his feet are actually flling asleep or cramping. The parrot is not going to go down and wlk on the bottom of the cage - they don't go down. Wingflapping - again could be body language but also could be keeping balance. I'd get way wider perches - cholla - works and Golden Cockatoo has a web site and you can order them from there. They screw on. Did the vet check for gout? Many vets say they are avian but they just took a two day class. Just thoughts. Good luck.
in response to toe tapping - it is possible that your bird may be having a reaction to colored dyes in food. My eclectus did this once when we changed his diet and gave him colored food (from teh pet store) as soon as we changed his diet back to all-natural (no dyes) he stopped this behaviour. Also, I am not sure where the previous writer got his birds, but mine absolutley love to "come down" to the bottom of thier cage - they play with foot toys there, and their food dishes are ob the bottom of the cage as well. I have ladders that dangle all the way to the floor - so they like to walk around the house on teh floor. You can try a resting stone also, these can be placed in the cage on teh floor of the cage, or attached to corners like a shelf. Mine like thiers a lot. - Good luck!!
I am the proud Mom of an Eclectus pair. Keiko, 3 yrs and Chloe, 2 yrs. I have a background with exotic birds and I brought them both home just as their feathers were beginning to show. Hand feeding was a joy and Keiko truly thinks I'm his Mom. He is amazingly friendly, talks up a storm, is too lazy to fly, lives on my shoulder whenever possible and plays "dead bird". He loves to meet new people and has never even attempted to bite anyone. He is jealous when I give attention to Chloe and he tries to get between us so he can give me a kiss. He's a great traveler and loves to take a shower. Chloe is a little more timid when it comes to strangers but she absolutely loves Mom. She took longer to warm up, but taking their cages from the living room and giving them their own room, definitely made the difference in Chloe's social temperment. She is eager to come out of her cage now and will stay with whoever is currently spoiling her, until they put her back or pass her on to someone else. She says "hello" very clearly and jibber jabbers constantly. She jumps on my shoulder whenever I walk by her and also loves her shower. She and Keiko fight for the best position on the shower perch. She sets her own bedtime. Around 8PM every night, she flies off the couch, my shoulder or where ever she is and walks to her room. We follow behind and pick her up to put her in her cage. We never hear a peep out of her after that. Keiko, on the other hand, has to be sent to bed. He would live on my shoulder if I let him. Thank goodness he has NEVER used me as a potty. He will leave me, go to Dad to do his business, and then return to me. Chloe, on the other hand, could care less where she goes, so I'm constantly cleaning up behind her. We keep a fresh towel on the back of the couch and another on the floor behind. That takes care of most of the mess.
The two are considering starting a family and we're anxiously awaiting the first arrivals.
I have about a 7 to 8 yr old beautiful male, he's so quiet compared to other birds I have and I love it HOWEVER my concern is this, he's getting a dull oily look to his feathers. It goes away after a bathtime for a day or two but then right back. I was wondering could he be starting his firt molt? I noticed it about a month ago..I haven't seen any new feathers coming in and I know he hasn't molted as of yet
If you have a 7 - 8 YEAR old eclectus, he has molted although depending on where you live, it may not have been obvious. ie Arizonia or some such place. The Eclectus will molt, usually somewhat gradually in late summer where there is 100 % exchange of old feathers for new. You see large feathers on the ground but frequently just one at a time and new feathers coming in with sorta a white wax around the new feather. They just love being preened this time of the year. They go through another molt in real early spring and you see this white down (regardless of the color of the parrot) in the cage or on the floor. It is similar to a cat/dog shedding its winter undercoat. The white down feathers are so light they just blow around. So whether real visible or not, your fella has gone through some molts. Again, I do not know where you live but my birds now are shedding their undercoat and they look a little oily. I spritz them with an Aloe spritz. My birds are also big nut eaters and that has a tendency to create oil. Think about what you are feeding him but it is probably just the normal early spring getting rid of the under coat and him over preeening to get rid of excess down.
I have a baby Eclectus last week (female), I want to know the age of the baby. She doesn't have the baby fluff anymore I'm still giving her the baby food during the day but she doesn't eat much, however she would eat seeds after the baby food. Should I keep feeding her or should I stick to the seeds?
I don't know how old she is but if she is taking the baby food (do you mean bird formula?), I would continue to give it to her. You can cut back to let's try 30CC around 1 pm or when you get home from work and then 45 or so before bedtime. If she takes it - she does - if not then OK. I just don't like to take the chance my children are hungry. Eclectus can be difficult to feed and they can go through stages. You can also try feeding her acxtual baby food (apricots or applesauce) or adding it to the formula. That formula doesn't taste great. Then you cut out the afternnon feeding and slowly cut back the evening (before bed) feeding. Let her have the seed, cracked walnuts work good, almonds (Vitamin A) veggies. They usually like millet as well. Because she doesn't eat MUCH doesn't mean she won't eat it if hungry. I like to feed them till they really do not want it.
If she does not eat it anymore don't force it. Start giving her fresh fruit and veggies and some almonds here and there .
Hi. I have a 9 month old eclectus male, who is just adorable. His eating is good,he has alot of toys and he gets alot of attention. Until the age off about 6 months he was feeding on seeds and dry fruits alone. Then I read that they love fresh fruit and vegtables. I immediatly introdused him to that and he love his food. I dont know what could be the problem but he still has alot of baby feathers, i have come across alot of other young eclectus parrots which feathers are all grown out already. Am i doing something wrong? Does he need something? Is there something that I can do for him? Please help me.
I don't think you are doing anything wrong, actually I think you are doing great! Eclectus usually start their first molt around 7 months, but in captivity it can be delayed due to lower light levels than they would have in the wild, and being kept at a constant temperature.
To help encourage a molt, there are several things you can consider. Increase the light output by using full spectrum or other lighting (but use with caution as you don't want the cage to overheat). Increase the photoperiod... up to two hours a day of additional lighting - one hour more in the morning and one in the evening. If you keep your bird in a cool house, you can increase the temperature. You can bathe your bird daily. You can increase the amount of protein in the birds diet along with a good balance of deeply colored vegetable foods. Some protein you can add include fully cooked poulty, eggs, fish, shrimp, or steak. And finally, reduce any stress in the environment.
how much do they normally go for the price range ?
The eclectus runs about $600 - $700 purchased hand fed diretly from a breeder. They run about $1200 in a pet store.
My Ekkie is driving the family nuts with hiss ear piercing screeching and squawking, so much so that talk has been of finding him a new home. Much of it I am sure is when he wants more attention than he is getting other times it seems to be just for the hell of it. The only way to quieten him is to place him in his cage and cover the cage and once he's quiet let him back out. His cage is inside and unless we are going out he spends the majority of his time out of his cage, on the upside he is the most gentle bird you could ask for he loves being with you, he loves having raspberries blown on his chest and loves kisses, he is also a good talker. I just need to find a way to keep him a bit quieter before the rest of the family get their way and rehome him, any suggestions would be appreciated.
Try different kinds of toys. Paper rolls (there are toys set up and you put rolls of cash register paper on them) usually keep them busy. Bells, anything he can demolish. They need things to entertain themselves with when you aren't right there. Many times it is a contact call and if you just sorta say back 'I am here' then they know where you are. Also, it usually calms down as they mature. Like a puppy. They get calmer.
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?