Final Baby

[OutlawedSpirit]

So, with my fostering work now, I have another one coming on Saturday. I am going to foster him with the intention to possibly adopt him in the future, as long as things work out with him here.

He is a 25 year old male Ekkie, thought to possibly be a Vos because he is huge compared to the pretty chicken. He was supposed to be a permanent resident at the rescue, but he is starting to become a bit of a screamer. It is thought that it is maybe too hectic at the rescue with the other birds and different people in all the time. So we are going to see if bringing him here calms him down any. On top of being an Ekkie, which tend to not like a lot of commotion, he is also blind.

I am hoping those of you with male and female Ekkies can give me advice on anything you feel is specific to male Ekkies, as opposed to the females. Also, if anyone has any experience working with a blind bird, this will definitely be a first.

 

[Scott]

Thank you for taking an interest in a parrot with compromised sensation!!

The Vos are typically the largest of Ekkies and are sensitive birds. Is he totally blind - no near vision? Do you know if he was born blind or suffered an injury?

Have not worked with a blind bird, but would imagine him highly susceptible to auditory stimulation, so a rescue may be problematic. I'd try to keep him in a very quiet environment and hope such a calming effect will reduce the screaming. Ekkies have a very distinct call!!

 

[plumsmum2005]

That is so kind to take this bird. Will certainly be different.

Will be very interested to hear how he settles and your birds reactions to him. Will they work out he is blind?

 

[chris-md]

Could also be a red sided. That's what Parker is . I have no advice for you but I so wish you the best of luck

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Thank you for taking an interest in a parrot with compromised sensation!!

The Vos are typically the largest of Ekkies and are sensitive birds. Is he totally blind - no near vision? Do you know if he was born blind or suffered an injury?

Have not worked with a blind bird, but would imagine him highly susceptible to auditory stimulation, so a rescue may be problematic. I'd try to keep him in a very quiet environment and hope such a calming effect will reduce the screaming. Ekkies have a very distinct call!!

I am not sure if he is totally blind or not honestly. I was told he is, but he could have limited vision, I might be able to discern better once I have him home and can work with him more. I am sure he is in at least one eye, because it is clouded over.

He is very much a talker though. If you stand next to his cage and talk to him, he'll talk back to you forever. Maybe he'll even convince the pretty chicken to be more open about her talking.

I think in addition to it being to chaotic at the rescue, I also don't think he gets enough one on one time, considering his limitations. Unlike the other birds, he cannot be visually stimulated by watching people and the other birds.

I actually think he'll be good to have around with our daughter, I think they'll benefit each other. I won't let her directly interact with him, just because I think there is too much of a bite risk with her being a child and him being blind, but she can read to him. It will help her to read more and read better, and he'll have someone to just sit and talk to him.

If we can curb his screaming, which I think we can, then in a few months we're going to discuss turning it from a foster to an adoption. Then I'm done, which is why I said this will be the last baby. I will probably get another foster, once the lovie I have gets adopted, but he will be the last bird I keep. Two ekkies and a sun is enough. Otherwise I would have to trade my wife in for more birds, and I'm not quite willing to do that.

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[jugoya]

What kind of cage do you have for him?

For a blind animal it is better for him if you have broad perches and several platform structures. Anything new can spook them and changing the cage at all needs to be gradual. They go by touch and memorize where things are.

Growing up we had a blind cockatiel. It took him months to memorize everything in his cage. I'd also suggest putting a chair next to his cage and ALWAYS sitting in it when you approach him or always coming from that side,

Routine is key for a disabled bird. They can relax if they know where and when things are coming from.

The stimulation at the rescue is likely too much and too chaotic for the poor guy to really be able to settle.

 

[Scott]

Wonder if the cloudy eye has a cataract? My female Ekkie has some very early hints of a cataract per the vet on her last visit. Angel is 25. With some experimentation you may find he has some vision in the other eye.

Please keep us updated on his progress!

 

[camo]

Thank you for caring enough to try to help him by bringing him into your life. The idea of your daughter reading to him sounds great, a possible win/win.

I have tried to think of some advice regarding male vs female, but the only thing I have learned from having Gizmo and Pebbles is that they have individual personalities, and don't necessarily conform to what I have read is the stereotype female and male eclectus.

As an example although Gizmo (our male) is younger, he seems to be the more dominant of the two. From what I remember reading the female tends to be the dominant of the pair, especially if she is older.

The main difference between Gizmo and Pebbles, is Gizmo is far more energetic, to the point that if he doesn't get to get out and do a few laps of the house every day, he can get a bit frustrated (like he has too much built up energy). Pebbles on the other hand, does everything efficiently, she can fly, but unless there is a reason, or a benefit, she wont. Not sure if this is specicific to males vs females, but I mainly mention it, as I have found Gizmo can act up (vocally), if he hasn't had his daily exercise, so perhaps another reason for this boy vocalising. Obviously a blind bird isn't going to be able to fly around the house, and I have no idea how he should be exercised, but possibly something to consider.

All the best, I really hope this fostering works out, and please keep us updated

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Well, Tiki is going to come home later today. He is in a stacked double cage, which is coming with him, so cages around here are getting rearranged.

As a note, he has been at the rescue for a long time, vetted, and has not been around any "new" birds, so I am not worried about quarantine.

The pretty chicken is going into the other cage in the stack. It is wider and deeper than her current cage, so it's an upgrade for her. Mango is going into her current cage. So last night, I took her current cage outside and deep cleaned it, then went ahead and moved Mango in, so that I'm ready to bring in the new cage today.

As a result of this, the pretty chicken had to spend the night in her travel cage. She was not a happy camper. It was difficult to give her breakfast this morning, because she thought my fingers were just as good as breakfast. Hopefully she appreciates the bigger cage later today and all will be forgiven.

 

[Anansi]

I think it's wonderful that you've opted to take in an ekkie with compromised vision. It'll likely be challenging, but also potentially quite rewarding. There has already been some excellent advice given above.

As for differences between males and females, I agree with Cameron's take that ekkies in general have such different and varied personalities. But that said, there are some tendencies attributed more to one gender or the other. Females are far more likely to jump down and make a beeline for the nearest nesty place they can find once they reach sexual maturity. In nature, they would find such a nesting site and remain within for months on end, which explains their constant desire to seek such a place out. They are also a bit more likely to seem temperamental, Which has led to so many labeling them as bad pets. In truth, though, they are just misunderstood. Once you understand their behavior in the wild, it becomes far easier to avoid any aggression from them.

Males, on the other hand, do tend to be more energetic. In the wild, they'll fly upwards of 40 miles in a day to bring food to their various ladies. (Yes, though the female ekkie's tendency to hold court with an entire harem of males is commonly known, some would be surprised to learn that each of those males has a few females upon whom they call. Players, one and all! Lol!) It is this active, food gathering aspect of their lifestyles that leads to their more streamlined physique as compared to the focus of their amorous attentions.

Males would also seem to be more expressive of their affections during hormonal bouts, including more frequent presentations of regurgitated food offerings and more of a tendency to attempt... coupling with their human companions. Lol!

I hope all goes well with this latest addition to your flock, and we'll be looking forward to pics!

 

[SirEdwin89]

Good on you outlaw, that's awesome. Hopefully I can offer some helpful advice on the blind-ness. One minor disclaimer, I've worked with several hundred animals with some degree of blind-ness, however birds were never in my wheelhouse so this is all "general blind animal advice" that should be applicable. That said, I haven't worked with a blind bird.

* Start vocalizing your daily routine more, at least at first. A lot of sounds are incredibly similiar, and in a new environment especially, reassurance that the sounds aren't coming from something dangerous can go a long way. We might think the trash-bag getting changed sounds pretty obvious, until you get the chance to hear a large snake moving through under-brush, then suddenly it's not quite as obvious without our other senses for confirmation.

* If the bird is only partially blind, slow your movements even farther than normal. Uncertainty tends to lead to defensive behaviors. If he is completely blind, that won't be as important.

*Location consistency: Try and approach from the same place, and get him out from the same place every time if possible. Knowing you are only going to approach him from a certain place is another way of offering reassurance that it is you.

Oh, and didn't think of this the first time, if one eye is better than the other, approaching from the side of his good eye will also help.

*Do your best to always meet in the middle. It's better to let the animal know you are there, and let them approach than it is to complete the full approach yourself.

* Try and target his other senses as much as possible to help stimulate him. odd textures and shapes are going to be that much more interesting, since just figuring out what something might be becomes an adventure.

*Make perimeter trips with him from his cage, around the "safe bird area" and back to his cage. As well as trips from his cage, in a straight line to the wall, then knock on the wall, and back to the cage. This will help him start getting a feel for what the size of his environment is, which will *reduce* the risk of injury if he does get spooked and take off.

 

[Terry57]

Kudos to you for giving this sweetie a home. I hope he does turn out to have some vision in the other eye. My Laughing Thrush, Suka, is completely blind in one eye due to a cataract that she is too old to do anything about, and she gets around almost as well as she did before she lost sight in that eye.
Please post pictures and keep us updated.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

I just got him in his cage and settled. I arranged both cages and got everything in them while he was still in the crate so I didn't bother him anymore than he's already bothered.

Although he doesn't seem too worried about it. He talked to me in the car on the way home, then sat and talked in the carrier while I got the cage ready. Once he was in, he went to his food bowl and started eating, so he's not too stressed.

The chicken is happy to be out of her travel cage, I think. She also started talking up a storm when Tiki started talking when I brought him inside.

I don't know how well it shows up in the picture, but there is a huge size difference between the two.

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[SirEdwin89]

I'd say it shows, he is massive compared to her.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Thank you, Tiki. I am now fully aware of what an Ekkie alarm call sounds like.

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[Terry57]

He is beautiful, and does look massive compared to Aria!

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Looking at what I can find on telling male subspecies apart, I'm guessing he is a Vos. He could be a cross, of course, but I'm guessing a Vos if he's pure.

And having a blind, 550 gram bird panic because he looses his footing while being held is not fun. I'm guessing at the 550, but I bet I'm close.

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[SirEdwin89]

Looking at what I can find on telling male subspecies apart, I'm guessing he is a Vos. He could be a cross, of course, but I'm guessing a Vos if he's pure.

And having a blind, 550 gram bird panic because he looses his footing while being held is not fun. I'm guessing at the 550, but I bet I'm close.

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Might be worth considering getting a glove for use with him. Not for protection or anything, but it may help to comfort him if he has something he can get a better grip on. Flesh is kinda slippery.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

I actually thought about getting a falconry glove. They are sturdy, so if he does panic, it will save my hand, and they are designed for a bird to perch on, so I think they would give him ample grip. I even looked, and you can order them online for a reasonable price.

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[Anansi]

Wow, Tiki is a big boy! Have you been able to tell yet if he is blinded in both eyes or just one? And is he somewhat hand tame? I see you got your first love bite from him. Ouch, but at least he didn't go all in. As I said, he's a big boy!

And Chris, your tips on dealing with a blind animal are great! Thanks for taking the time to lay it out.