Eclectus parrot - Too Scared

[encyclopedia]

So a few days ago, I got the most cutest male Eclectus. When I first met him at the breeders, he was super calm and playful, yet when I brought him home and let him rest and get use to his surroundings for a couple of days (as instructed by the breeder), he is now very weary and doesn't really want human contact.

We can stick our hands into his cage to clean it up and such and he won't try bite unless you attempt to touch him, but as I read, most Eclectus will tend to freeze when scared rather then fly/ fight like other species.

Im not really sure how I can start socialising with him, and I was wondering if any Ecky owners had this experience and what they did to over come it.

He is only 16 weeks old and is super shy and quiet.

We sit my his cage a few hours a day and talk to him but he is still scared (which is understandable.)

At the moment, he isn't tempted by any treats meaning I can not train him like I did to my galah ):

Thank you in advance x

 

[chris-md]

It sounds like you're doing exactly what you need to be doing. It is still VRRY early, and he is still acclimating to his new home. He's just a baby and his whole world has been turned upside down. It'll take more than a few days for him to really settle down and open up. My male when I adopted him at 6 years old took a few months to really ease into his new home. And he is generally an easy going well behaved ekkie.

Keep doing exactly what you are doing, move at his pace and he will open up for you in no time.

 

[BruceTheQuail]

Is he weaned yet? He might be still wanting baby food and could be tempted by some spoon feeding. Our Parker was still wanting baby food well over 4 months, but he is a little bit of a slow developer.

 

[encyclopedia]

Is he weaned yet? He might be still wanting baby food and could be tempted by some spoon feeding. Our Parker was still wanting baby food well over 4 months, but he is a little bit of a slow developer.

yeah! he has been weaned for just over 2 weeks and is happily loving his fresh fruits/ veggies.

 

[davefv92c]

14 week weaning period. seems a little short to me. Maxx was abundance weaned and it took 22 weeks. when ever bringing home a new bird I give them maybe 2/3 weeks inside the cage getting used to everything and the flow of the home. along with spending a lot of cageside time chatting and treating. try frozen pees as a treat Maxx loves em. new birds also get to sit and watch my interaction with the other birds which also helps in the trust area. just keep at it and he will come around.

 

[BruceTheQuail]

Seems a bit short to me too, from everything I read when we went to get ours. Eckies are notorious for being late weaners. Not to push the panic button but nutrition and vitamins are really important for these guys especially when they are young because their body grows so much in the first couple of months. I'd be just checking to see if you should be giving some baby food as a supplement. Spoon feeding him might be a bonding experience for you.

 

[chris-md]

Just a counterpoint to above but if the baby isn't screaming for comfort feedings I wouldn't worry too much about it right now.

 

[BruceTheQuail]

True. Our Parker screamed at 4PM on the dot every day after we got him, which we soon realised had been his baby food time. He was about 5 months old.

 

[Roo1130]

I just got my male ekkie a couple of days ago, I look forward to following your experience as a new owner! My guy is ~6 months old and i just kind of followed his pace after i brought him home this weekend. I think i'm more scared of that big beak than he is of me. Each time i attempt to get him out of his cage it takes me several attempts to get him to really "step up". He sometimes slowly approaches with his beak (not sure if inquisitive/or warning) and then i'll gently back off and talk sweetly too him. Mainly to calm my own fears, if several attempts i can't get him to step up, I put a dish towel over my hand and he shows no fear at me approached him like that and i then feel more comfortable to nudge his belly a little or his foot to continue helping teach him "step up". My other bird would be terrified if approached by a toweled hand, so that may not work for some. I'm just not comfortable pushing him a little yet with my bare hand vs that big beak, but he's been a good boy. Good luck settling in and establishing your own trust bond with your little guy!

 

[coopedup]

Even though Liesl was 16 weeks when I got her and would eat her chop/fruit meals she seemed a bit underweight so I started offering her some formula in the evening (2 weeks after I got her)---sure enough, she went for it--Every bird is different so just give him time--as much as he needs.

I rescued a One Eyed Zebra finch (Zoe) in October and gave it to my neighbor who has smaller birds. She was concerned because Zoe wouldnt come out of her cage even though the companion she bought for her was happy to fly around the room. I told her to give it time, and sure enough, after 4 weeks Zoe deemed it safe to leave the cage and is now happily frollicking with her buddies.

 

[davefv92c]

I just got my male ekkie a couple of days ago, I look forward to following your experience as a new owner! My guy is ~6 months old and i just kind of followed his pace after i brought him home this weekend. I think i'm more scared of that big beak than he is of me. Each time i attempt to get him out of his cage it takes me several attempts to get him to really "step up". He sometimes slowly approaches with his beak (not sure if inquisitive/or warning) and then i'll gently back off and talk sweetly too him. Mainly to calm my own fears, if several attempts i can't get him to step up, I put a dish towel over my hand and he shows no fear at me approached him like that and i then feel more comfortable to nudge his belly a little or his foot to continue helping teach him "step up". My other bird would be terrified if approached by a toweled hand, so that may not work for some. I'm just not comfortable pushing him a little yet with my bare hand vs that big beak, but he's been a good boy. Good luck settling in and establishing your own trust bond with your little guy!

I would not worry bout the beak thing to much. when you reach into HIS house to get him out you have entered his domain. I would bet he is just looking to touch your finger to check out who is reaching in. body language is what you will need to study. you will know when he is upset by the body language Maxx back feathers all puffed up and he seems to take on a squaty position which he can and will strike out at if something is coming his way. with Maxx it is real easy to see when this is going to happen. I think some of the biting you may be worried about is just your bird trying to touch you. I was lucky with Maxx and able to be involved in his weaning so he was sucking on my finger at just a few weeks old. to keep the biting and nipping thing down every morning when I uncover him he comes to his door perch and I offer him a finger and he touches with beak and tongue and that is our good morning. I myself don't worry much bout getting bit by any of my birds if it happens it does it is part of the game. as for the towel thing I would not ever use a towel to handle a bird other then doctoring, nail clip and such. and to be honest when you are using the towel you are forcing your bird to do something he does not want to and that is a better way to make an enemy rather that a friend. slow down and relax you and your bird will have a much better experience. put a perch on the inside of the cage door call the bird to that perch so he knows you are intending to get him out, it works