Good Morning. Newbie here.

[traceys]

Good Morning.
I'm so happy I've found this site. I've been reading all your great posts and information for awhile and finally decided to join.

We have a 12 year old female Eclectus Parrot named Pixie. Technically she is my son's but you know how that goes. She chose me as her person the day she came to our home four years ago. She loves me and pretty much no one else! She will tolerate my sons and husband.

She's a squawker, plucker and not the best eater. I am working on these issues but it's a work in progress. I did get the toe tapping stopped!
I'm sure with all the great information here I'll be able to figure out what works best for Pixie.

Thanks,

Tracey

 

[wenz2712]

and welcome to the forum

We would love o see some pics of Pixie.

 

[antoinette]

Welcome to our wonderful forum

 

[Jtbirds]

Hello and welcome to the forums, hope to see and hear more about pixie

 

[Chikoo]

Certainly sounds odd that Pixie would not be a good eater. Eclectus usually live to eat. It is the highlight of their existence, it seems. Squawking and plucking too....my female is mute 99% of the time, and makes breeding calls when she gets hormonal. Something must not be right here! Looking forward to hearing more and seeing how we can help.

 

[Jtbirds]

Well in rescue we call sme eclectus eplucktus because we see more plucked ones then fully feathered ones. Eclectus seem more emotional then most parrots and get stressed quicker in my expirences. As for the eating what was she feed in the past could be the answer. If you are trying to feed a good diet and she was on nothing but seed this could explain why because she doesn't know or want what you are giving her.

 

[traceys]

Thanks everyone.

When we got Pixie she was a "show bird" (no tricks though!) Her owner had her and two other birds; a macaw and a male Eclectus. They would sit on tourists shoulders and work parties!
She was fed a strict diet of colored pellets and apple. That was it. The owner raised her from a chick and said not to change her diet! Well, I didn't listen to him. I knew nothing about birds but I figured that colored pellets couldn't be good. But she looked fantastic and healthy with her old owner. We switched her to Zupreem pellets and tried all sorts of fruits and veggies and seeds. Her plucking was really bad 6 months after she came to the house but I think there was too much change for her so fast. (We've now had her for 4 years) She still plucks but it's sporadic. She's plucking right now and her chest has some bare spots. She also plucks under her wings. I am also noticing some yellow colored feathers. Not sure if it's due to the plucking or more serious problems.

She now eats pellets, apples, celery, mango and carrots. I'm trying to reduce the pellets and add more veggies but she's having none of that! When I took her off the seeds her plucking became much better but....

Since day one she was a Squawker. It is mostly aimed at me. During the day we keep her in the family room. When I leave the room she squawks. My husband says when I go out of town she is very quiet and coo's. I work from my home and am on the phone with clients and companies I deal with. It is impossible for me to have a conversation without her squawking. We live in a typical "open concept" home and all noise travels. It really is driving me crazy! I gladly welcome any suggestions to reduce her noise level!!

Does anyone think getting another bird would help her. Her owner did mention that she really didn't like the other two birds!

I will upload some pictures of her as soon as I can figure out how to do it!

Thanks for helping.

 

[drlisaort]

Welcome! I look forward to hearingmore about Pixie!

 

[moni.k]

I would have to say, don't get another bird mainly as a companion for Pixie. She may have gotten along well with the other two in the past but there is no guarantee that she may like her future companion. Get another bird because YOU want another bird and are ready for another feathered companion. At the end of the day, you will have to take care of double the mess, food, noise, time, money and energy.

What I've found that worked with Nalani's screaming behavior is foraging toys. It's imperative for a screamer and plucker (like Pixie). It encourages natural behavior and gives hours of entertainment and independence. Give her a foraging toy and when you get a minute of silence, shower her with affection. She may return your affection with screams but be persistent. Patience, commitment and dedication is key.

As for food, it sounds like she really bonded with you. Make a nice fruit and veggie salad (no dressing for her) and share the plate together. Allow her to see that the food is edible and delicious. Nalani get's super jealous when I eat chips because she's not allowed any, but she's used to sharing meals with me and when I'm not sharing she gets upset LOL. So I stopped eating in front of her unless it's something we both can enjoy.

Hope this helps.

 

[traceys]

Thanks Moni.k
I will try your suggestions. I never thought to show her that I eat those foods also.
I think because she spent quite a bit of time "working" I'm not sure she ever really learned to play. I have toys in her cage and I rotate them often. She plays sometimes but not as much as other birds I've seen. We'll keep trying.

 

[Chikoo]

Don't get another bird, it will stress you out more in addition to Pixie. I don't believe adding another bird to already unbalanced situation will even it out. If Pixie was doing just fine, then you could have another bird, but I wouldn't do it for her.

For one, I would take her off Zupreem. It is not good for eclectus. I would just stop the pellets altogether, because eclectus do not need pellets. Just feed fresh fruit and veggies. That's it. Very simple. Only fresh fruit and veggies, in as much variety as possible. A simple way to think of it is to open your fridge and cut up all the fresh fruits and veggies you have! And when you go shopping, try to get more fruits, like bananas, berries, papayas (if you have them where you live), mango, apple, etc. She needs carrots and sweet potatoes for Vitamin A. And quinoa is my recommended grain for eclectus. Its not necessary to feed her any grains, but quinoa can be nice every now and then because ekkies love it, and because it gives them a complete protein, which females need more than males.

So I would really get the diet straight. A lot of ekkies don't do well with Zupreem. Other than that, I don't know what to say. Ekkies are notorious for plucking, and its been impossible for me to figure out why and how to stop my own female from plucking. I've finally just given up.

 

[sodakat]

Well in rescue we call sme eclectus eplucktus because we see more plucked ones then fully feathered ones.

Lots of people give up their pluckers because they thing the bird will be "happier" somewhere else or that they, the owner, must be doing something wrong and that another owner will "fix" the bird.

 

[sodakat]

...I think because she spent quite a bit of time "working" I'm not sure she ever really learned to play. I have toys in her cage and I rotate them often. She plays sometimes but not as much as other birds I've seen. We'll keep trying.

Older birds don't necessarily "play". They may beat up a stuffed toy (yes the females do this too) or fool with some foot toys now and them, but often they prefer chewing over playing.

I would find things she will destroy, then give her an unending supply of those. My girls all love large pinecones. I'm lucky to live near a park with pine trees that drop the large cones. I gather them frequently. My park does not spray pesticides.

Shallow cardboard boxes are another option. You have to be sure you don't offer something she can crawl inside though because sitting in the dark inspires female Eclectus to think about starting a family.

 

[traceys]

Thanks. You've made me feel much better.

Sodakt, I've never thought about the fact that she's not young and she doesn't/shouldn't play like the young ones do. She does tear things apart. We do give her paper towel rolls, boxes and toys. There is always something to entertain her (other than me) she just chooses not to be entertained. Then she squawks because her main entertainment has left the room!

Chikoo, I will look into pulling her off Zupreem and maybe try some of the other brands I've seen mentioned. I think I need to keep her on some kind of pellet. It's all she's ever known. We try everyday to give her different types of fruit and veggies. She is very picky and will only eat a certain few, mainly fruits. She does like lentils, quinoa and brown rice. But if I pull her off pellets all together she will be hungry!

We won't go the new bird route. I don't think she would like another bird. It would be me taking care of it and I think that would upset her. And with 3 other animals to take care of, getting another bird was not high on my list. I wouldn't mind but...

Thanks again.

 

[Brodie]

I think it would be possible to take her off the pellets, if this is what you do choose to do in the end.
My eclectus has pellets in her cage all day, but she doesn't really touch them at all, maybe once every few days. And I change them every day too lol.
But basically if you take the pellets out, she will eat the fruit and veggies that are available to her. If she likes the brown rice, try mixing it up with some different veggies, and pasta.
I make two mixed up every week and freeze them, I do brown rice, with a bit of pasta and some veggies, and a mashed sweet potato mix with veggies aswell, this will be her dinner for the next week, I give her the rice one night, then the sweet potato the next. She loves it!
Leave the pellets out, give her something she is interested in and likes, and I can almost guarantee that she won't starve herself without the pellets, and she will eat what else is in her cage. Eventually she will realise she loves the fruits, veggies ect and choose them over the pellets any day. But just make sure she is eating enough just incase! If not, give her back the pellets for a short period of time so she can have some
Another thing she may enjoy is hot chillies, sounds ridiculous I know but she will love them!
Have you ever tried her on sprouted seeds or nuts? They are also a good de. And every now and then a little protein, boiled egg, cooked chicken ect.
As for the screaming... At the moment I'm having the same problem only ten billion times worse lol. So I don't think I can help you there. I have been through this before with scarlet when I first got her, I fixed the problem with ignoring her when se did scream. It worked for six months now five days ago she has chosen to go insane and hasn't stopped since, I know how your feeling! I haven't had a phone conversation in days because its literally impossible lol.
Good luck with her if you need anymore help with the diet I will be glad to help!
Hope everything goes well

 

[traceys]

Thanks Brodie, I will try your ideas for food. I would like to take her off pellets. We'll see how it goes.
I read your post. Wish I could help you with the screaming. I feel for you.
Good luck.