Eclectus Behavior

[michael_cb_125]

Good morning everyone!

I have a few questions and need some suggestions.

Scarlet (my nine year old Ekkie) is an amazing bird. Has such a sweet personality and loves being with people. Her cage is in the sunroom, and gets lots of traffic, she loves it.

Now for the questions:
Are most Ekkies very playful birds? That is, do they like toys in their cages?
Scarlet NEVER plays with toys. I guess she is just content people and dog watching?

Once I take her out, it is a different story, she is like a little child who loves play time.

Is a Velcro Parrot bad? Scarlet wants to be with me at all times, when out of the cage. On my shoulder, in my jacket, in my hoodie, etc. Hell, I even take her shopping at the mall and Walmart. Nobody ever knows she is there, she is so quite and chilled.

All that said, she does not mind being in her cage, and does not scream or anything. She is used to me waking her up at about 6:30 for breakfast, then I go to work. Around 5:30 I get home, and she is out and about until bedtime.

When she is in her cage, she is doing one of two things:
Eating or Nesting. I recently bought her a cat house, and shoved it into her crate. She went to town and now has the most comfy nest ever.

I know that Scarlet is being very broody, but she shows no aggression.

Last question.

What temp is considered too low for Ekkies?

Thanks

~Michael

 

[Boysmom]

I can say that it took finding the right toys Ruby preferred for her to play with toys. She wouldnt touch any toys we put in her cage until my Hubby purchased her a toy made of a wiffle ball hanging on chain with straws stuck all in it. Ruby loves hanging from the ball and pulling the straws out or just chewing on them. We just refill the ball with straws often. After that she really took to toys, but she does prefer them to have wiffle balls or straws as part of them. You can check out my photo album and see her playing with them.

 

[MikeyTN]

Mines choosy with their toys. If you don't mind her nesting, plucking, and laying eggs you can keep that cat house in her cage. Cause that's what she's going to do.

 

[Chikoo]

My male is 12yrs old and he does not play with toys. With his previous owner, he never got into toys, even though the owner tried. And here with me, he seems happy just being on his perch, he just sits there. So no, I don't think its unusual for a parrot not to be into toys.

 

[michael_cb_125]

"If you don't mind her nesting, plucking, and laying eggs you can keep that cat house in her cage. Cause that's what she's going to do."

Thanks for the positive response. I am fully aware of what nesting females are prone to doing. That said, she has nested in this same box for the last 7 years, she is 9.5 years now. She has never plucked, and has only laid two eggs and that has been since she has been with me. She is a fun bird, and I am sure the exception, not the rule when it comes to nesting hens.....

~Michael