Eclectus siblings. Bad idea?????

[Kaja4paul]

I'm about to take home 2 Eclectus siblings and I'm worried of them breading when they become mature enough, or should I keep them in separate cage's? The breeder says they're find as they are just make sure they're occupied

 

[StormyPica]

Siblings can still breed and will still breed. I recommend only getting one, but if you get both, they should only have supervised out-of-cage-time (for at least 4 hours), and if you see them trying to mate, separate them.

The best thing you could possibly do if you got both would be to keep them each in their own bird room, or divide a previously made bird room.

Good luck!

PS Seperate cages are a MUST, many breeders just want to sell you the bird and they say what they think you want to hear.

 

[Scott]

In my experience siblings can be housed together and closely bond. Total absence of next box, cuddle huts, or similar enclosures generally prevents mating leadng to fertile eggs.

 

[StormyPica]

In my experience siblings can be housed together and closely bond. Total absence of next box, cuddle huts, or similar enclosures generally prevents mating leadng to fertile eggs.

I still wouldn't risk it. If they do happen to mate (10% or so chance), the babies will be severly inbred. I wouldn't risk that.

 

[Scott]

I still wouldn't risk it. If they do happen to mate (10% or so chance), the babies will be severly inbred. I wouldn't risk that.

One need not allow egg to hatch, in fact absence of nest locale virtually ensures unviability.

 

[StormyPica]

One need not allow egg to hatch, in fact absence of nest locale virtually ensures unviability.

Egg laying is still very stressful on the female's body and if one doesn't see the egg, you have a problem. For an experienced bird owner like yourself, you can handle that, but this person doesn't seem like an experienced bird owner so I'd advise against.

 

[Laurasea]

Females without any other burds or males around can and do still lay eggs.

Many people manage mixed sex birds. I agree with separate cages just in general, but fine being in the same room together.

I know we had a mod who had both male and female Eclectus. I don't remember him ever mentioning issues with eggs. I'm definitely not an Eclectus specialist.

For me their diet needs , and common liver and beak issues, higher plucking tendency scares me off. I wonder if there are husbandry needs that haven't been identified yet with them.

 

[kme3388]

I do have an ekkie. They are high maintenance (Nico is anyway). If you can handle two, more power to you!! There is someone on here with 3. I do love Nico, but he can be a lot, and very demanding. What I mean by that is his diet, his attention needs, he's a 1 person bird (tends to be mean to anyone else), beak & nail trims. His beak grows fairly fast, and he doesn't really play with toys like my conure does. Also he has his vet on speed dial. He tends to get stressed out easy, and rips out feathers. An avian vet is something that I would highly recommend.

To answer your question about housing them together. I have heard that the female ekkies can be quite territorial, and aggressive. I have not met a female in person to know firsthand. They sure are beautiful though. I am not sure about the mating. My guess is that they don't know they are related, and could potentially bond/mate. My male ekkie try's to mate with me. I'm not a bird, and he tends to disagree. Hormones are something else to research on the ekkies.

I hope everything goes well with your 2 new ekkies. Welcome!!! Keep us updated

 

[Scott]

I do have an ekkie. They are high maintenance (Nico is anyway). If you can handle two, more power to you!! There is someone on here with 3. I do love Nico, but he can be a lot, and very demanding. What I mean by that is his diet, his attention needs, he's a 1 person bird (tends to be mean to anyone else), beak & nail trims. His beak grows fairly fast, and he doesn't really play with toys like my conure does. Also he has his vet on speed dial. He tends to get stressed out easy, and rips out feathers. An avian vet is something that I would highly recommend.

To answer your question about housing them together. I have heard that the female ekkies can be quite territorial, and aggressive. I have not met a female in person to know firsthand. They sure are beautiful though. I am not sure about the mating. My guess is that they don't know they are related, and could potentially bond/mate. My male ekkie try's to mate with me. I'm not a bird, and he tends to disagree. Hormones are something else to research on the ekkies.

I hope everything goes well with your 2 new ekkies. Welcome!!! Keep us updated

I had an unrelated pair and they never got along. Female extremely territorial and wouldn't let male in the nestbox. Eventually separated them into cages same room. They'd be perfectly civil in neutral areas such as playpen and stand.

 

[AnnieMae]

I had an unrelated pair and they never got along. Female extremely territorial and wouldn't let male in the nestbox. Eventually separated them into cages same room. They'd be perfectly civil in neutral areas such as playpen and stand.

Do you mind saying their ages when you introduced them? Did anything help?

 

[Scott]

Do you mind saying their ages when you introduced them? Did anything help?

I bought them from a breeder-friend about 30 years ago so recollection a bit sketchy. They came from different genetic lines, my mom completed weaning process. Think they were introduced around 4 months and caged together around 10 months. Male was always curious, female defensive. Separated for several years, reintroduced about age 6 with next box. All downhill from there with female agitation. Caged separately for the rest of their lives, though they would amicably hang out on neutral playpen.