Brand new member.. Need help bad! 😬

[BarnabyRose]

Hey guys, my name is Barnaby and I just signed up literally 5 minutes ago. I also am HORRIBLE with forums and etc so I very well may be posting in the wrong section, if I am, please let me know and I will fix it!

Anyway here goes. Currently we have one bird, Emma. She is a three year old female Eclectus, Solomon Island, the bird in my picture thing! She is literally, the best bird ever. I don't know if we are spoiled and got very lucky, or if most Eclectus parrots are this way, but she is very quiet, very calm and docile, extremely independent and content to hang out by herself but at the same time loves her time with my wife and I, together or separate, and is very sweet and social at times as well! Not so much a 'cuddly bird', but very sweet and does love to be petted and etc, and that is more than okay with us.

Now then, having Emma has convinced both my wife and I, that birds are AMAZING pets, incredible animals to have and needless to say, we want another one. Now I am very aware that there are probably a MILLION posts on this website and everywhere else for that matter about 'what bird should I get' or 'this bird versus this bird' and etc, and from what I am reading, most of these posts are all over the place. I am EXTREMELY patient however, have done TONS of research on different species and have considered every angle of this decision so please believe me this is far from spontaneous. I have spoken with vets, avian specialists, breeders and even a few zoologists, and do feel very educated on a few subjects, but what I am really looking for is personal experiences and personal 'opinions' on a few different things.

Here's the thing, if it were JUST up to me, my 'perfect bird' would probably be a Caique. Either white bellied or black headed it wouldn't matter, but from every bird I have interacted with, and everything I have read they would click vey well with my personality and etc. I know that they are very cuddly and affectionate, but also very independent and can play with themselves and amuse themselves with lots of toys and games and etc, I know they are very goofy and funny and like to hang upside down and play games and such and I also know that they are not "extremely" loud, which yes, is quite important.
If it were JUST up to my wife, we would be getting some sort of huge Macaw or something, not going to go into much there, but for so many reasons, that will not be happening
If it were JUST up to Emma, we would probably be getting another Eclectus, a Pionus of some kind, or a Meyers or something like that, for the obvious quiet, docile/calm and independent nature, very much like hers.

All of that being said, here are the species I am considering, in no particular order:

A PANAMA Amazon parrot..

A Blue Headed Pionus parrot..

A Meyers parrot..

A Senegal parrot

Or yes, a Caique..

Here are my problems. I am TERRIFIED that I could bring a bird home that would be like a caique (or a conure of any kind) or something like that, and I would love it, but it would make Emma miserable, drive her bat **** crazy, give her anxiety or etc. important to note, we would be keeping them in the same room. Of course not the same cage or perch or anything, but definitely in close quarters. I am thinking this because of the noise, the movement and games and general ADHD nature of these little birds is POLAR opposites to Emma, she basically just sits quietly and observes. Unfortunately no matter what, Emma does come first, so god forbid anything was to happen, Emma would stay and the new addition would have to be rehomed, and that is not a path a feel comfortable with in any case.
Of course we could play it safe, and bring home a baby Pionus, or baby Meyers or etc.. But if I am being COMPLETELY honest, they do not excite me as much as the Panama Amazon does, or the caique or etc would. And even then, I know every bird is an individual, and we would be risking it no matter what.
I also know that the PANAMA Amazon, is very rare and hard to find now, and are supposed to be considered a lot more docile, a little smaller and quieter, and generally more easy going and a lot less 'Amazon like' than like every other species of Amazon.. Can anybody attest to that? Any advice or? The reason why is that I just so happen to have a VERY reputable breeder, with two Panama babies coming in, and I do have first pick at them, with a deposit needed of course, if that is the way I want to go.
Also important to note, I am not in ANY rush, and can wait as long as I need to for a perfect bird. I also will be bringing in a BABY, regardless of what species I choose, for a few other reasons but that isn't so relevant.

ANYWAY, I am SO sorry for the HUGE rambling post.. I am sure everyone reading this will know this is my very first post on any site ever.. So again, let me know if I am doing anything wrong!

Any help or advice would be so awesome and appreciated you have no idea. Thank you so much in advance,
Barnaby

 

[chris-md]

Brand New Member...Need help bad

Welcome Barnaby! Your post is fine, just trying to provide as much information as possible, nothing wrong with that. I'm prone to long posts myself, unfortunately.

My male ekkie Parker is exactly how you describe: sweet, docile, quiet. Based on your description of what you are looking for it sounds like what would likely be the best fit for you is another ekkie!

I've had the same thought as your wife: Parker is perfect, exactly what I need as far as what I can and will do; but also would love to have a macaw. Thing is, macaws will not be like ekkies. More rambunctious, more outgoing and attention oriented, higher energy. All sounds great on paper but I myself am a couch potato who doesn't really wanna take the dog out to play fetch. Would prefer to have a nice cuddle on the couch all day.

I can't speak to caiques, but I see that energy and I get nervous. Likely incompatibility with my own personality.

Plus you already have one ekkie. Chances might be greater that they get along with someone of the same species. But I've ever had two birds at once aside from parakeets so I can't speak with any authority.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome! Slow down!

 

[sailchoc]

My Sengal does not play nice with my other parrots. She wants to be the center of attention and bites me and the other birds, soI have to take them out separately. Keep this in mind when you get another bird, that the birds may not get along.

 

[BarnabyRose]

My Sengal does not play nice with my other parrots. She wants to be the center of attention and bites me and the other birds, soI have to take them out separately. Keep this in mind when you get another bird, that the birds may not get along.

Yes I am aware of that, there is always going to be risk no matter what... Do you have any other parrots listed above? Is the Senegal the only bird you have that does not get along with the others or...?

 

[BarnabyRose]

Re: Brand new member... Need help bad!

Welcome Barnaby! Your post is fine, just trying to provide as much information as possible, nothing wrong with that. I'm prone to long posts myself, unfortunately.

My male ekkie Parker is exactly how you describe: sweet, docile, quiet. Based on your description of what you are looking for it sounds like what would likely be the best fit for you is another ekkie!

I've had the same thought as your wife: Parker is perfect, exactly what I need as far as what I can and will do; but also would love to have a macaw. Thing is, macaws will not be like ekkies. More rambunctious, more outgoing and attention oriented, higher energy. All sounds great on paper but I myself am a couch potato who doesn't really wanna take the dog out to play fetch. Would prefer to have a nice cuddle on the couch all day.

I can't speak to caiques, but I see that energy and I get nervous. Likely incompatibility with my own personality.

Plus you already have one ekkie. Chances might be greater that they get along with someone of the same species. But I've ever had two birds at once aside from parakeets so I can't speak with any authority.

Chris thank you so much for responding! Yes you know what I have thought the exact same thing to myself many times and here are my thoughts.. So I know in theory that getting another Eclectus (ideally a male) is right up my alley, however I have been told by a few different people that getting another Eclectus could greatly change Emma's hormones.. Making her much less sweet and much less attached to me and my wife and a lot more to the other bird.. That and obviously put myself in an unwanted breeding situation (getting another female would be difficult as there would be a MASSIVE jealousy issue between birds I am assuming), any thoughts on that?

 

[Anansi]

Hello, and welcome to the forum!

No one can speak with certainty as to what might happen between one parrot and another until they actually meet, but getting a second female would be more likely to invite issues. With eclectus, it is common for one female to claim a hollow in a tree for her nest and then entertain a group of male suitors. The flip-side of of the traditional perception of harems. (Of course, unbeknownst to said female, the males have multiple female partners in different hollows spread over quite a few miles. Promiscuous birds, these ekkies. But I digress...)

Point is, while males in the wild operate in close proximity while attempting to woo a given female in her hollow, the females stake out their own territories and are fully prepared to defend them to the death. So having more than one female in a household has a greater chance of sparking territorial aggression or jealousy issues between them.

I'm not saying it cannot be successfully managed, but there is some potential for conflict there.

I also happen to have a male and female ekkie. There haven't been any changes in Maya's behavior since Jolly became a part of our household a year ago. Both are relatively young. Maya is over 3 years old and Jolly will turn 3 in September. But both are bonded to me rather than each other.

Wishing you the best in your decision!

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[BarnabyRose]

Hello, and welcome to the forum!

No one can speak with certainty as to what might happen between one parrot and another until they actually meet, but getting a second female would be more likely to invite issues. With eclectus, it is common for one female to claim a hollow in a tree for her nest and then entertain a group of male suitors. The flip-side of of the traditional perception of harems. (Of course, unbeknownst to said female, the males have multiple female partners in different hollows spread over quite a few miles. Promiscuous birds, these ekkies. But I digress...)

Point is, while males in the wild operate in close proximity while attempting to woo a given female in her hollow, the females stake out their own territories and are fully prepared to defend them to the death. So having more than one female in a household has a greater chance of sparking territorial aggression or jealousy issues between them.

I'm not saying it cannot be successfully managed, but there is some potential for conflict there.

I also happen to have a male and female ekkie. There haven't been any changes in Maya's behavior since Jolly became a part of our household a year ago. Both are relatively young. Maya is over 3 years old and Jolly will turn 3 in September. But both are bonded to me rather than each other.

Wishing you the best in your decision!

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

That is extremely helpful thank you so much for replying.... So when you had a female already, and then brought in a male correct? That would effectively be what I would be doing as well, and they are about the same age. Do they interact with each other? Are they friendly towards each other and can be trusted in the same room etc or do they show any aggression? You said you have not noticed any changes in 'behavior' , have you noticed any changes in either their noise level, their actual temperament towards you or anything else? You also said that they are 'bonded to you' not each other.. This is very important to my family and I and would want the same outcome.. How exactly does one go about that? Just spending time with each one separately and not letting them interact within the same cage and etc or?
Again any information on the matter would be awesome as I am potentially going to be putting myself in your same situation.
Thanks a lot

 

[Anansi]

Yes, I'd had Maya maybe 8 months already before Jolly arrived on the scene. Though the story goes further.

Before getting Maya, I'd had a male ekkie named Bixby for nearly a year. He and I were already bonded by the time Maya came along. Bixby was a baby when I'd gotten him. Maya I received as a rehome at a year and 7 months old. (At which time Bixby was a year and 2 months.)

Neither was sexually mature, but Maya was clearly more advanced. She sought, rather aggressively, to feed and bond with him. Bixby was a more shy kind of guy, and was put off by her advances. This led to minor bickering and such, but since I was always around to stop it the little squabbles never escalated to anything more. So despite Maya's best efforts, the two never bonded too deeply to one another. Though there were moments of genuine affection here and there. And their dynamic never affected mine with either of them one way or the other.

Unfortunately, Bixby passed early last year. He'd been born with PDD. A bit after that, Jolly became part of our family. Maya was not a big fan of his, at first. I think Bixby's death unsettled her and put her off from the idea of forming any kind of connection with another make ekkie. But eventually she got to the point where she tolerates him. Though he does get on her nerves on occasion.

The fact that both are flighted does help, however. Anytime that Maya gets angry enough that she really starts going after him, Jolly has no problem flying back to his own tree stand.

I didn't consciously set about keeping Jolly, or Bixby before him, from bonding with Maya. Truth to tell, I'd have welcomed it. Still would, actually. But since I formed a solid bond with each of them independently of the bonds I'd formed with the others, I felt confident that other relationships wouldn't change that.

No, they are not kept in the same cage. Separate cages, always. And despite little squabbles, as I said they can be out on their playstands at the same time without undue concern. Being flighted helps a lot with this, as does having more than one playstand. Each having his/her own space is also important.

Note, though, that I never leave them unattended for more than maybe a minute at a time.

No, there haven't been any changes to noise level or temperament toward me. Only change I've really observed is that Maya used to talk a lot more before Jolly came around. And that Bixby used to talk a lot more before Maya came around. It's weird. Almost like in each case, the bird always yielded the floor to the superior speaker. (Well, Jolly is the superior speaker in terms of vocabulary size, but no one touches Maya's speech quality. Her voice is virtually indistinguishable from the sound of my wife's whenever she is mimicking her. Uncanny!)

My interactions with them, while they are both out, tend to be turn-based. (I train them every day, so they have each learned to wait their turns.) During training, I keep them on separate playstands. But when they are just relaxing with independent play, they are free to hang out on the same playstand.

Hope all that answers your questions, but feel free to ask away if you have any more.

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[Terry57]

Hello and welcome to the forum!
I have a male Ekkie, and he really isn't friends with any of my other birds. He is the only ekkie. He isn't aggressive towards them, but just isn't really interested in them. He will sometimes hang out on a playtop cage with my Alex and IRN, but they keep their distance.
I have a Blue Headed Pi, and he is a fantastic bird, but he doesn't hang out with any of the other birds either.
I have a friend who raises Caiques, and those are the only birds she has. She had some issues with them attacking her other birds back when she had different species, so just went with the Caiques. All birds are different though, and I am sure that others have had different experiences

 

[Kalel]

Hello and welcome, BarnabyRose! First of all, good for you in doing your research prior to bringing home a new bird. If I can put in my 2 cents, I would say eliminate Meyer's and Pionus off your list. Not because there's anything wrong with them, but because you said those two species don't excite you as much as the caique and the panama amazon. Probably more productive to focus your efforts on researching those two, because if you end up getting a bird that you're not as excited to get my guess is you'll still want one of the other ones in the future. I think that's how the MBS bug works LOL. Good luck with your search!

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Hi and welcome to you and Emma to the forum. I cannot advise you as to what type of parrot to go for as I dont own any of the parrots you have listed but you have received a lot of good advice and pointers in the other posts which I hope will help make your decision easier for you ...looking firward to hearing about your new addition in the future

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome, Rose!
I see you're getting lots good advice here. I don't have much to suggest, but I do compliment you on the very fact that you are planning, researching, reaching out! Your next fid will be a lucky bird!

 

[BarnabyRose]

Hi and welcome to you and Emma to the forum. I cannot advise you as to what type of parrot to go for as I dont own any of the parrots you have listed but you have received a lot of good advice and pointers in the other posts which I hope will help make your decision easier for you ...looking firward to hearing about your new addition in the future

Hello and welcome to the forum!
I have a male Ekkie, and he really isn't friends with any of my other birds. He is the only ekkie. He isn't aggressive towards them, but just isn't really interested in them. He will sometimes hang out on a playtop cage with my Alex and IRN, but they keep their distance.
I have a Blue Headed Pi, and he is a fantastic bird, but he doesn't hang out with any of the other birds either.
I have a friend who raises Caiques, and those are the only birds she has. She had some issues with them attacking her other birds back when she had different species, so just went with the Caiques. All birds are different though, and I am sure that others have had different experiences

Thank you for your response, very interesting for sure.... So let me ask you this, assuming I was to get another bird, maybe a bird that wouldn't get on with Emma so well anyway.... A caique or a Panama or even a conure or something, and kept them in separate rooms.. Would this solve my problem? They would still be in the rooms next to each other so in fairly close proximity, but could potentially be kept separately if needed. What do you think? Would they make contact calls to each other and try to compete with each other noise level wise assuming they are different species and can't see each other..? Not ideal, but I really do have my heart set on another bird and I want to do it the best way I can for all parties, including emma. I would never want her to change as yes, she is perfect. Thanks again for reading,
Barnaby

 

[Anansi]

You'd only need to keep them in separate rooms for a 3 month quarantine period.

After that, they could be kept in the same room... even if they didn't get along. So long as they were kept in separate cages.

Management of birds who don't get along is mainly in separate out of cage times. Though this is only necessary if they are aggressive enough toward each other that one would actively seek out the other. Otherwise, separate playstands should do the trick nicely. Just get them used to spending time with you in turns.

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