Anyone here own an Eclectus?

[neoow]

Afternoon all,

 

I just wondered if anyone here owned an Eclectus as well as their grey? Or had experience with them? I was curious to know a bit more about them, is all. I've read a bit about them but just wanted to hear some stories from someone who had experience with them or owned one.

 

I used to work in a pet store (which is where I met my first African Grey and what set me on the path to owning one) and we took on an Eclectus for a while because another store wasn't looking after him properly. He was in a right state, poor thing. His feathers were all tatty and messed up and he wasn't really used to people. A few of us (including me) spent a lot of time working with him on our breaks. We'd take him out of his cage on our lunch breaks and socialise with him and give him fresh fruits and veg etc. He was a fantastic little guy and if I didn't already have Alfie, I would have taken him home with me! His name was Reggie and I sometimes wonder how he's doing all these years later. Once he was used to people and was looking much healthier and happier the store sold him to a family. We actually refused to sell him to a few different people because they didn't know what they were doing and we didn't trust them to look after him. (The last thing we wanted was for him to come back to us).

 

I'm not planning on getting a second bird. (I don't have the space for another cage!!) I was just interested to know a bit more about a different breed.

[Luvparrots]

I owned a male Eclectus for a couple of years. I got him from a local small pet store. He was found in a carwash and every time he was purchased, he always as returned. I purchased him, Sully, because he always would interact with me when I went to the shop and I felt sorry for him. I only had Ana Grey, my TAG, then and I don't know why but she hated him. And I mean hated him. She would attack him when he was out of his cage, perhaps because he truly loved me. He would lick my arm with his tongue. It would have been sexy if he had been a human. He was a jewel. The attacks were vicious and Sully would hid under my bed. I give him away to the next door young man.

 

Sully was very loved there and went on day trips with the young man and his mom all the time. One time when Sully was over with his owners (Ana Grey was in her cage in another room) and we were all playing cards, Sully walked from his owner's shoulder up my arm to my shoulder and give me a kiss on the cheek and then walked back to his owner. It was his thank you and I will never forget such a touching scene.

 

We tried to figure out how old Sully was and figured out he was probably in his 20 years at least. He died last year. He was a wonderful companion for my friends.

 

There is a thread or two about Sully here at the forum. And a few pictures if I remember right.

 

Edited April 30, 2015 by luvparrots

[Greywings]

I have worked with several and we have some at the Sanctuary, they can be good mimics a very human sound to their voice. The females are often more aggressive and brightly colored as in the wild they stay with the nest and defend it from predators. the males are usually easier going and a lovely green base color with some blue touches as they go out and forage in the forest for greens fruit insects and fungi to feed mom and the chicks. Several males mate with the female and then support the family. Their feathers are more hairlike than most birds the thinking is that it helps to shed water in their tropical environment.

[Greytness]

I have an Ekki. He's a rehome, and has been with us for 2.5 years. He's now around 11 years old. He's very easy-going and has never bit us. He'd been clipped all his life, so he doesn't know what wings are for, even though his flights have all grown out ages ago.

 

He doesn't really like my grey, and will take tufts of feathers out of him if Maalik ventures too close to him.

 

What Greywings has said about their vocalizations is true. Their pronunciation of words is crystal clear!

[birdhouse]

Kura's a Solomon Island Eclectus I rescued at about a year old. She's 9'ish now. I've never had a bond w/any other bird like the one we made on the day we met.

 

Female eclectus are generally supposed to be a real handful. But she certainly doesn't know that. Kura's usually totally laid back. Loves to travel because she loves to just sit & watch the world go by. Generally easy to please. Rarely has a problem w/things like new toys, etc.

 

Normally, she's a quiet bird, although she certainly can talk & also let out w/the occasional jungle call. Unlike Phenix who started talking in my voice, Kura's always had her own. Sweet, almost shy, w/just a hint of a completely inexplicable drawl. No idea how that happened having been hatched & raised in New England & since she didn't learn to talk until after we got her home.

 

She seduces everyone who meets her. Even Phenix, which never happened before. Of course I'm pretty selective. But she will pretty much go to whoever I let handle her & has never remotely threatened anyone.

 

Loves To Eat! Does not leave the dish until it's empty. Ekkies are prone to internalize fat. But she can't be left go hungry for extended periods, either. So she gets lots of little, light feedings which seems to to be fine by her. She's at least part hobbit; 'breakfast, second breakfast, elvens'ies, tea, dinner, supper...' lol

 

Unfortunately, she is a little hormonal. For just about 3 weeks, she will act like a cross between a teen w/PMS & a 3 yo w/an earache. That's admittedly a little rough to be around. Over the winter she strips out her feathers & has been known to lay a few pair of rather large white eggs.

 

But eventually, one day, she'll come lay her face against mine & quietly bliss out for for as long as she's allowed. Just from her stillness, I know for this year at least, it's over & I get my sweet girl is back.

[neoow]

Awesome, thanks everyone!

 

From the little I've read recently, I believe females can be a bit more of a handful and are prone to being a bit hormonal- much like how birdhouse described Kura. I believe they can be prone to displaying nesting behaviours- so might try and hole up somewhere in the house if the mood strikes them.

 

I remember Reggie's feathers being totally different than Alfies. He was a bit of a mess when the store took him in- very messy feathers. But once he had settled, had his diet sorted and was getting socialized they neatened back up again and he was a gorgeous looking bird as well as super soft to touch. He was always really friendly (even though he hadn't spent much time with humans) and VERY curious. Always wanted to take a look (and a nibble) of whatever we had for lunch! I just hope he has a happy, healthy life with the family that took him.

 

The information from greywings was really interesting. Their colours makes a lot of sense when you talk about their roles.

 

I'll look out for the posts about Sully too.

[birdhouse]

Several males mate with the female and then support the family.

 

I've been reading about a couple of field studies that seem to support the idea that several males "court" a female & feed her while she's on the nest. But where they were able to do DNA testing, each hen's chicks all had the same Daddy from year to year. So, if the breeding male is lost, the family still has a realistic chance of survival w/all those "uncles" to keep Mom fed. Really super slick by survival standards!

Edited May 5, 2015 by birdhouse

[Greywings]

I need to catch up on the new info. thank you!