New Ekkie!

[MrsB]

So, I have spoken with a couple of you but figured I'd update. The lady with the Ekkie,(SI 5 YO Male) that I was worried was just a scam ended up calling me. It was awesome! We talked for an hour! He sounds great!:laugh:

 

They are his only home, and they are re-homing IF they can find the perfect match b/c she used to stay at home, and now works and he is not getting the time he deserves. She feels terribly guilty, and is terrified at the thought that he will get bounced around. So, she wants an "open adoption", and if for any reason we can no longer keep him or if he is not happy with us, she wants him back. Even if it is 5-10 years from now, and if we don't agree to that, she won't do it. She wants to stay in touch, get updates etc.

 

I LOVE this. It makes me know that she cares about him, and that he was raised with love and care. I could hear him kissing her "SMACK" while we were talking. He eats a great diet, and really most things are the same, like the bird bread etc that I feed. So, no all seed diet to deal with. She says he is a love bug, and loves to be with his people. He has never bitten, and has an easy going temperment. She is going to consult this friend of a friend who is an avian behavoiralist and see what the best thing is to do, should we go there first, should she bring him here? ETC. She was excited she said, and relieved to speak with me and feels really great about it, and "thinks this will work out well"! She sounded almost as excited as me! YAY! Maybe this will happen! I told her to go take care of her family stuff (sister in labor!) and to call me back when it was quiet. I feel confidant now that she is legit. She laughed and told me she was gonna mess with me and email me and say, "Send me the money and I'll bring the bird!" HA HA! Funny lady. :pinch: She said she'll call this weekend, or beginning of this week.

 

Yeah! Erika, do you prefer or reccomend a great Ekkie site to learn from?

[Luvparrots]

MrsB, so glad things are working out with finding an Electus. What is his name? I am terribly jealous as I want an Electus some day, but I am also very excited for you!!

[BaxtersMom]

I am so happy for you Mrs. B!!! I know how heartbroken you were when you thought this to be a scam. I can understand her feeling guilty about rehoming and I think it's great she is really looking "long term" for her (ex) ekkie. They are soooo sweet and I think I know of the "Smack" kissy noises you were talking about. Tigger does it, too and my heart just melts when I hear it.

 

I haven't found any good "ekkie" sites unfortunately but I didn't look real hard either:S I just ran across a few sites that gave information out about them but if you do find a good site about them where we can chat please please let me know.

I haven't found any sites that top this one and since they have the "other birds" section I don't have any reason to look elsewhere. I would like to find a good site for amazons and ekkies just for fun though.

 

What is your new ekkies name?

 

Also, when I first brought Tigger home he let out some growls that sounded like a huge panther.:ohmy: Don't let that scare you like it did me. :laugh: I was terrified of him the first 3 days but I think he was just scared himself;)

 

Please keep us posted. I can't wait untill you get him and I've got to see some pictures too. Congradulations again!!!

[MrsB]

Thank-you!!

So, his name is Kramer, but we will change it. We are going to call him "Verde", for obvious reasons, but also b/c of Mesa, "Mesa Verde", we love Verde salsa too..lol. The Ekkie was hubby's first choice, and he came up with Verde when we were researching. I got Mesa, he gets Verde. Plus, there are three of us human girls, plus Mesa. He is dying for a "guy" to balance the scale a bit.

Erika, I have been looking at http://www.landofvos.com/phpBB2/index.php

Maybe peep over there and see what you think.

Also, you said you got Tigger when he was five, when is their sexual maturity? Did you ever have any issues with him wanting any of you too much?, if you know what I mean!

The lady who has him now says he has been extra friendly with her, and giving her hubby some head bobbing/lunging (not moving his body) when her hubby comes too close to her and him (Kramer) when they are sitting together.

I wonder if that is b/c she has been his main provider and hand weaned him. Her hubby is in the Air Force and tends to be gone for sometimes 8 months at time. Could that be a factor?<br><br>Post edited by: MrsB, at: 2009/04/20 06:09

[Tycos_mom]

I glad you got a call about the Elkie thats great news. I hope that everything goes ok with this bird and your husband The bird was raised by a female and may just prefer woman over men. My Amazon hates men and will bite them if she gets a chance yet with woman she is as gentle as a new born kitten she loves to snuggle and cuddle. But not with a man LOL

[MrsB]

Thanks for all of the info, Pat. We are going to see him in a couple of hours. :woohoo:

 

Ya, I hope he'll be OK with hubby. We'll see!

[judygram]

Well congrats on getting an ekkie, can't wait to hear more about Verde, glad you renamed him, Kramer just doesn't fit, pictures too if you can manage it.

[MrsB]

I will take pics and post as soon as we have him here. I know how now b/c I had an expert teach me, right Judy?

 

Thanks for the congrats..I'll surely let you know how it goes tonight!!

[MrsB]

Saturday! Woot! :woohoo:

 

We went and spent two hours with him tonight, and had a great talk with his "mom". He is calm, cautious but friendly. Stepped up onto myself and my husband. Spoke a little, was kissing his mom and being lovey with her. Just a sweet little man! My little man!! Looks very healthy, and happy. No plucked feathers or anything that would indicate a problem.

 

I didn't want to push her on anything and she suggested Saturday I was so happy. Yay!

[Lyric]

Congratulations! I can't wait to see pictures of Verde when you get him home.

Don't forget--- do things for Mesa first, greet her first, feed her first, take her out first. Mesa is your top bird and she may become jealous of Verde if she thinks he is taking over her spot in your flock. I bet you can't wait until tomorrow!

[judygram]

OMG, Saturday is the big day, well I look forward to seeing this eclectus when you get him home, I can just imagine he is so pretty and handsome, don't make us wait too long now ya hear.:whistle: :laugh:

[BaxtersMom]

One more day!!! I bet you are so excited.

 

Tigger does the lunging when I go to feed him. That is about the only time he does it. He lunges/punches the back of my hand with his beak. I thought it was just something that ekkies do and a game to him. I am his main provider and the only one who feeds him but he was raised from an egg by a breeder who was a man. Hmmm, maybe is actually is mad at me when I go to feed him. He has never lunged at my husband at all. He loves to spend time with us and a true snuggle bug. I can't wait to hear how things go with you & Verde. It may take him awhile to settle in though before he gets comfortable in his new home.

 

Let us know when he gets home.

[Luvparrots]

Congratulations on Verde, great name!!!! Can't wait to see the pictures of your new FID!!! Hurry up Saturday!!

[she]

Wow its Saturday.I cant wait to hear and see more.

[BaxtersMom]

Yep, it's Saturday. I'm twiddling my thumbs on Verdes arrival.:whistle:

[Luvparrots]

[MrsB]

Hello!! We're here! It has been a busy day!:silly: Verde is home and settling in so well!

 

He came to us with very messy, dirty perches and cage and playstand (I told his mom that was OK, I would clean everything) so man did I! My hands are nasty from all the bleaching and hot water etc. Anyway!

So, he went to me right away off his mom's hand, and is eating, and eating....and yes...eating. Lol. :laugh:

 

He seemed to want to "beak" me through his cage, maybe a little cage aggresive, Erika? Is that an Ekkie thing? But while I was making dinner in the kitchen he kept calling to me, so I thought I would invite him out and see how it went. He readily accepted!! So, he is on one side of the kitchen where he can see us all, but from a little distance and he is eating, and watching and doing so well. I had planned on leaving him be for a few days, but he really wanted out.

So! There you have it! I will keep you all posted on how he is doing

 

Thank you so much, for remembering today was our day, and for your support and enthusiasm! So appreciated! xo

 

OH! I forgot the pictures, Lol...

 

 

 

<br><br>Post edited by: MrsB, at: 2009/04/26 01:39

[BaxtersMom]

YAY!! He made it home. Sounds like he is settling very very well. I think it took Tigger about 3 days to feel comfortable and I thought that was good, too.

 

He is just beautiful. I love the green color and the candy corn beak:kiss: I think the females ekkies are beautiful too but I still favor the males and that lovely green.

 

Tigger doesn't beak through the bars except at night time like I was telling you about. He gets a little grumpy at bedtime and does his little "roar" and if he is near the bars he will beak at them like he is really going to get me:laugh: I don't think he means any harm though.

 

Let me know if Verde makes the roar noise I was telling you about. I've only talked to one other lady who had an ekkie and she said hers did it, too. Now I am just wondering if Verde will do it too.

 

I bet you are just tickled pink that it all went through and he is finally in his new home. Just curious, how did his former mom take him leaving? She sounded like she really did care for him and wanted to do best for him and I figured she might have gotten a little emotional.

 

Now that he is home, you must give us regular updates...BTW, Does Verde talk? If so what does he say?

 

Congradulations again!

[MrsB]

Thanks Erika! I do remember you saying that Tigger does that at bedtime. I am not sure what he was up to, b/c it wasn't bedtime, but I'll figure him out. I havn't heard a "roar" either! Which is good, I think! Lol He does a noice which is exactly like a crow, how wonderful! :pinch: But no roar I think. Also, he says his old name, and he says, "Stop it!" and "Jesus!" B/c his other mom used to say that to the dogs a lot we are told-Lol. He said "Hello" today, and was saying others but it was so quick we didn't catch them. What does Tigger say? Do they have the ability to continue to learn new words?

 

Thanks for asking about his other mom. She did pretty good, a little watery as she walked out the door. She sent me an email and thanked us for giving him such a great home and family, and that is helps knowing that he will have a better life here. I promised regular updates too, and told her she is welcome to visit anytime. She was glad for that.

 

It is still a bit surreal for me, b/c I was still not convinced she was coming. The whole CL thing made me so leary, even after we went to visit at their house. I just didn't trust.

 

It is weird to be with a strange bird again, I already know Miss Mesa so well, that I look forward to knowing Verde like that too.

He hasn't had any new perches or toys, so I swapped some things out tonight, he seemed to enjoy being on a different perch, and I hung some vegetables and he had fun picking at them. I can't see that he missed a beat at all. He was in a basement with low light before, and now he is here, with so many windows and much space, I think that makes him feel better already.

Oh, about his beak-can you see? What do you think? Plus, do you have pics of Tigger? I have no frame of reference for what Verde should look like. He is molting a little on his head, but all else looks good. I am going to try and weigh him tomorrow. He looks a little "round" to me.

 

Thanks again Hon! So glad to have you. {Feel-good-00020069}

[BaxtersMom]

When Tigger came he mainly just made some noises. He was saying Be Be Be Be over and over again:S Then day by day he opened up. He says Hello, Woody (which I have no idea who woody is:lol: ) Then he amazed me by saying this phrase "They call him Tigger, Tigger, King of the Jungle" all in one sentence.:woohoo: and emphasis on the gle or gull sound. JunGUUUULLLLLLL. I about fell out of my chair when that happened. He says Good Baby, Good Baby Boy, Pretty Pretty Baby, Whatcha doin, Whatcha doin here. I have taught him to sing "I'm a bird" but he pronounces I'm a bir" or gets confused and sings I'm a Gull. :laugh: So funny. He picked up "Step Up" I also taught him to say "Mama's Baby Boy". there might be a few more I'm forgetting but those are the main ones. I got him last September or October and he caught on to the new things I taught him pretty fast. I really should spend some more time teaching him new things.

 

I seen his beak in the photos. That is about how long Tiggers is right now, too. I think it's ok but I am already thinking that I need to have Tiggers beak trimmed pretty soon. He is the only flock member I have grows the beak so fast or needs trimming. I last had it trimmed in November or December I think. His nails grow fast too and get so darn pointy and sharp! I even have some cement perches as well as wood in his cage.

 

 

Here is a picture of Tigger around Christmas time and there is a good view of his beak. I think that is the perfect lenght of the top beak but it has grown quite a bit since that picture.

 

<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/26 15:55

[MrsB]

Thanks Erika...Tigger is so cute!!B)

As the morning progesses he says, "Step up", "No", "Don't!", "what?" "what are you doing?" and some noise similar to that of Donkey! Lol...He speaks very clearly too. I think he looks much bigger than Tigger...What does Tigger weigh? I just weighed Verde, and he is 380g into the morning. I guess that is lighter than average from what I read. He just seems so round to me. :side:

 

[BaxtersMom]

Tigger speaks very clearly too. I am amazed at how clear he is. He sounds like a high pitched person:laugh:

 

I just weighed Tigger and he was at 355 grams. In Verdes last picture I can tell he is more rounder across the belly.

 

Mine is an SI (Solomen Island) Eclectus and they are the smaller of the species. The VOS are the bigger eclectus's. Is yours a Vos or SI?

 

Since you brought it up, what is the average weight for a SI ekkie, do you know? I just looked through my ekkie book and it said to weigh them regularly but it didn't give their average weights:huh:

 

The longer he is there the more he will talk I bet. Sounds like he already has a nice vocabulary:)

[MrsB]

His "mom" told me he was an SI, and in conversation while we were visiting, she even asked if I had ever seen a VOS, that they were much bigger. I am going to take him to the vet anyway, so I shouldn't even bother. Here is the link to the page I got weight from. It says average for an Eclectus, but does not indicate sub-species. So...? http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww67eii.htm

 

I will call the vet tomorrow and make the appt. and he can fill me in. I definitely think that Verde is wider too. Hrmmm.. But at 380g he's not even at the low end range, which is 388, and the average is 430!? Vet, vet! Lol

 

He does this "honk" too...I wonder what is "natural" sound and what is learned. He is doing a high pitch something right now, sounds like "What?" but very high. I love it!

[BaxtersMom]

If that is the case my baby is underweight:ohmy: I know I've read the weights before and do weight from time to time and wasn't alarmed about it. This is about his normal weight since I've had him, but now I will do some more research and refresh my memory about his weight. He was on a seed diet with some fruits and veggies when I got him. No pellets though and it took me several months before he took to the pellets. He eats pellets daily but to be honest I wish he would eat a little bit more.

 

And as for the honking...:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I know the sound well. That is the squaking sound I was talking about. Mine does that in the mornings once he sees me and is waiting for his food and every now and then when he wants attention from me. That is how he lets me know if I have been neglecting him time wise:) I love mine too.

[BaxtersMom]

I did a yahoo search for "SI eclectus average weight" and it took me to a website called www.birdboard.com

 

There were many different answers to the ekkies weight question but one specific one was said the Ideal weight is 350 to 425. Whew!<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/26 19:41