Are eclectus strong Chewers?

[scott4687]

I have a 5 month old male eclectus who seems to really want to chew on the wood toys but can never even make a dent. He tries for a while and then gives up. I went to the hobby shop today and bought some balsa wood. Balsa wood is very soft and light wood use to make models with. Anyways, I zip tied a chunk of it in his cage and wow, he spent a solid hour chewing on it. He looked so happy. When he gets older will he be able to chew the regular wood found on parrot toy or are eclectus not strong chewers?

 

[Aussie Ben]

When he gets older will he be able to chew the regular wood found on parrot toy or are eclectus not strong chewers?

Hehe don't underestimate that pretty beak. My eclectus started out as a big chewer, slowly making his way through wooden toys. But these days he doesn't really chew, he more like 'fiddles' with things using his beak. But when you see the way they can crack open a hard shelled nut you know they are more than capable of being big chewers if they wanted. I have read that they just generally choose not to, not sure why though.

 

[caliopi]

We have an ecky and in his first year he has chewed through three ladders, four wooden toys and three perches. He loves to chew but funnily enough his favourite perch he never touches!

 

[scott4687]

Interesting...maybe I don't have a big chewer. No problems with me

 

[Mel]

Shadow is nearly 6mths old and has only recently started to chew on toys but only the very soft wood toys we made - none of the harder stuff. Even then she doesn't do a great deal of damage. The Sulfur Crested... now that's another story!!

 

[Aussie Ben]

The Sulfur Crested... now that's another story!!

After seeing what they do to the trees out front, I'm surprised your house is still standing

 

[Mel]

The Sulfur Crested... now that's another story!!

After seeing what they do to the trees out front, I'm surprised your house is still standing

She goes nuts with the Grevillia branches, I try to keep a constant supply in her cage so hopefully the urge to chew my house will be satiated with the destruction of branches The only thing she's destroyed so far is the foxtel remote and my son's confidence - It's early days yet though

 

[Aussie Ben]

omg the remote! what a naughty bird

 

[apatrimo94]

Not the remote!!!! That's a man's 3rd best friend!!!

 

[Criddle85]

I have an Eclectus who doesnt seem to chew much! the Alexandrine however she is the total opposite!! she chews anything she thinks is chewable and yes our remote seemed to have dissapearing buttons too

 

[[email protected]]

How does your Eclectus and Alexandrine get a long? Wha sex are they?
I have an additional question that maybe I should post - but here goes - when I had a male LB and a female Teil ( in side by sode cages )my vet said even another species of parrot if it is a male can cause egg laying. Do you think that is true - anddoes that mean only get females with females if you don't want eggs?

 

[Mel]

when I had a male LB and a female Teil ( in side by sode cages )my vet said even another species of parrot if it is a male can cause egg laying. Do you think that is true - anddoes that mean only get females with females if you don't want eggs?

There are a lot of factors that contribute to egg laying, teils are one of the species that are prone to egg laying and it can occur without any other parrot in the house.

 

[Criddle85]

My Alex and Eckie used to get along but they dont now that the Eckie is a bit older i dunno why. I just dont let them out at the same time anymore to avoid incident

 

[Birdamor]

Ekkies are normally not big chewers and the females are not usually friendly to other birds once they reach a certain age (they don't even like ekkie males that much). They are also one of the easiest species to keep from laying eggs.

 

[Scott]

Of all my parrots, Eclectus are the least interested in chewing - particularly the female. But yes, the beak is strong!

 

[J & K]

Oscar has chewed video cables, clothes, speaker wires, furniture. Pretty much anything he can get his beak on.

 

[pawsfoot]

Ezmerelda my ekkie chews the heck out of her toys. She just loves to make a mess. haha

 

[2Birds3Kids]

I would really recommend teaching your young Eclectus to chew on toys. My Eclectus came to me like this: she will not chew on anything except the occasional pinecone. She is quite fearful and will not chew popcicle sticks, balsa wood, wood toys or anything else. She does however chew her feathers and pluck her feathers, so teach your parrot to play young so this does not happen to your parrot who will be bored if they don't know how to play, or chew or forage.