Frustrated

[katie_fleming]

Hey guys,

So I've had Jasper just over a week now, and this is probably premature for me writing, but I'm a little frustrated.

First, when I come home from work, I feed Jasper, and open his cage door. He always steps right up. So I sit on the floor with him on my hand and offer him toys, talk to him, etc. It lasts about 5 minutes then he flies back to his cage. Always.

Why doesn't he want to stay with me longer? Am I doing something wrong?

He's also started lunging at me a bit on the weekend. I think it was because I was staying up much later and his schedule was out of whack but he lunged at me tonight (after a full night sleep/alone through the day). He doesn't bite when he hits my finger, more or less just hits it with his beak (I guess as a warning).

He also lunged at a new perch I gave him, toy, treat....

Why? Please help me, I want to spend time with him outside of his cage but he keeps going back.

Right now he's on top of his cage looking happy. He's either there, inside, or on the perch on the outside of his cage.

I hope this is the "normal" part of him getting used to me.

 

[Timothy]

Well, firstly i would definitely try and spend time with him away from his cage for a while.

Also, keeping them up late is a bad idea, my B&G is super nice to me but if i keep her up past 8pm - im talking keeping her up to like midnight or one, she will be irritable the next day and sometimes draw blood ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it was my fault so i just ignore it.

They should be in bed by like 9 at the latest depending on when you wake up. they get up at sunrise unless you cover them, which bring me to a point, maybe cover him and keep it down if your going to be up late?

Are you making sure he has proper diet and entertainment?

Ill let the ekki experts correct me if im wrong and give you more information

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ Good Luck

 

[Selestine]

Mmm, yeah, mine definitely gets crabby when he doesn't get enough sleep.

Is he definitely lunging like, mean lunging, or could he be play lunging? My ekkie is obsessed with beak wrestling -- where I hold the sides of his beak with my fingers and (very gently!!) shake his head back and forth. And he'll grab my fingers in his beak and shake them.

And no, you probably aren't doing anything wrong. It also took a while for my ekkie to warm up. He used to fly away.. now he is always flying to me. He's such a brat. Just keep playing with him and making it fun. Give him treats when he is sitting with you, let him share special foods with you (like if you're eating healthy dinner). Make it awesome to be with you and he will want to be with you. You just have to give him some time.

After a week he really doesn't know you that well yet -- especially because ekkies are... slower to move than other birds may be. They are very thoughtful birds and they really like to take their time making up their minds about things.

 

[antman747]

Try moving his cage or play with him out of sight or a different room than his cage. I have a play gym, a Tstand and his cage, and he was super territorial of his cage. I move his cage and his toys when he does this. He now spends most of his day outside the cage. He hasn't lunged in some time.

 

[labell]

As has already been said you would be better off at this point taking him away from the sight of his cage to train and interact. Everything is very new to him right now and to him his cage is safe. Because eclectus can be nervous in very subtle ways it is best to keep the sessions short, frequent and enjoyable for him.
Eclectus are very food motivated, try giving him a food item he really likes while you are hanging out together.
Young ekkies go through a independent stand off attitude, just lovingly work through it. As for the grabbing you with his beak I consider this a very good, polite thing that eclectus do. If I am petting too much they will grab my finger and move it away, telling me kindly they have had enough. I respect that, as there are few eclectus who truly enjoy lots of petting.
Training him to step up to your hand and a stick is very important so I would be working on that until he gets it down consistently.