Help! I'm at my wits end with my new Eclectus!

[EdwardH]

I feel for you however like all things "baby" the behaviour stops pretty quickly even though at the time it feels like it never will.
This is a prime example of why hand raised birds should not be sold before the weaning process is complete. Hang in there it be pass soon.

 

[drlisaort]

Several people have suggested training, which is not the issue now... It's great I agree for after this bird is old enough to focus on anything other than being weaned! As it was pointed out, it's not regular behavioral screaming, it's BABY screaming.

It's too bad breeders don't take the time to make sure they're completely ready for their new homes (and especially Eclectus which is one species who really needs an expert to wean), rather than looking at the money and telling the new owner it's easy.

I could not agree more! Oliver was born September 9 (my birthday!) and did not come home until January 6 as Charlie, the breeder, was adamant that I spend weekends visiting and leave the feeding and weening to him. Now Oliver is over two and is a talker for the most part. He too will let out a loud a shriek and/or squawk from time to time that sends my Sage (German Shepherd) diving into the pantry but other than that he's not loud. So, perhaps your baby needed more time with the breeder....

 

[strudel]

OP, are you still with us? I hope you've had some encouragement from the posts subsequent to your last one.

It seems very strange that 2 breeders would claim to be baffled by behaviour that others familiar with this type of bird consider normal development. It is disappointing that people could be sold a pet without all of the information that they need to know.

 

[JoelV]

Hello again everyone,

I'm still persevering with little Loki (perhaps he's just trying to live up to his name), and there seems to be some progress. He still squawks most of the time that he's near me, but sometimes will settle down and give more of a chirp than a desperate scream.

I'm keeping the fresh vegetables up to him, lots of corn kernels, peas and beans, and fresh fruit every day, and he seems to be getting most of his sustenance from these. I still hand feed every day, but he doesn't take a full feed before he loses interest, scrambles back up my arm and squawks until he gets tires.

I have invested in a very god set of earplugs which helps the relationship a great deal.

There may be hope yet.

Thankyou to everyone who has offered encouragement. I was so close to sending him back to the breeder, but I'm glad I didn't.

 

[strudel]

Thanks for the update, I hope this phase of development will be over soon.

 

[Taw5106]

Hang in there. Mine has started flock calling and if she can't see me she will sound off with a "beep beep" every few minutes. I don't reply. This is all new but she has also been bonding more with me so there is a dynamic change. Great to hear about the diet too. Venus is eating a lot of corn, peas, or okra with brown rice. It's the in thing right now, she's picky about fruits, she threw out fresh pineapple the other night. I've gotten her to eat apple and plum because I was eating it so she had to have some. I'm glad you are making some positive progress and getting results. Keep it up and don't hesitate to ask questions.

 

[JoelV]

Things seem to have taken a negative turn with Loki.

He's now at the stage where he will take perhaps one gulp of hand-feed, and loses interest. He's getting all his intake from fruit, veg, eggs, and a small amount of feed, so I'm pretty sure he's just about fully weaned.

Unfortunately he now seems much less interested in any sort of bonding. He'll sit on my shoulder for a while, still scream at me (while I try to either scratch him around the neck or pat him on the back, then fly off and do his own thing. He'll lunge and bite at me if I try to get him to step up.

Its like he's at the stage where he doesn't need me to give him food, and he's not interested in any sort of play or interaction beyond that. I offer him pomegranate kernels, and he'll take one, keep it in his beak, then lunge at me to chase my hand away whilst he eats.

I bought him as a companion bird, but there's nothing companionable about him at all at the moment. Sad to say, I'm starting to resent the little guy. I've bent over backwards to keep him happy, healthy, well fed and entertained, given him plenty of time and affection (none of which seemed to make any difference) but now I suspect I was just the "food bringer" in his little mind, and I'm not needed now he can feed himself.

 

[Anansi]

They go through this stage. Even my sweet Bixby tagged me a few times well during this phase. It was downright maddening.

Something about the latter stage transition from weaning to eating solid foods brings out the crotchety, ill-tempered gremlins in them.

But the phase passes. With care, attention and loads of patience, it eventually begins to wear off. And his trust in you begins to grow. But it does take time. Time you have to invest in him.

 

[weco]

Hi everyone,

I would have loved to join this forum to share wonderful experiences about my new buddy Loki, but instead I'm pleading for help and advice.

I don't know about the wonderful part, but I think you've succeeded in your aim to share your experiences with Mr. Loki...and...it appears you've garnered a wealth of good information in return.....

Hope you'll be able to retire your earplugs soon.....

 

[strudel]

I've bent over backwards to keep him happy, healthy, well fed and entertained, given him plenty of time and affection

You've only had him for a couple of months, and he's a baby. "Plenty of time" is much, much (much) longer than that. Try to relax and don't bend over backwards or try to entertain him or do anything other than let him be. When we are trying, and wanting, we can actually create the resistance that we are trying to avoid. Try to forget about your expectations as to how he is "supposed" to be, or how long it is taking, and just relax. If you feel hostile or resentful because he isn't responding, he'll pick up on that, and he'll want to stay away from you.

 

[Anansi]

I've bent over backwards to keep him happy, healthy, well fed and entertained, given him plenty of time and affection

You've only had him for a couple of months, and he's a baby. "Plenty of time" is much, much (much) longer than that. Try to relax and don't bend over backwards or try to entertain him or do anything other than let him be. When we are trying, and wanting, we can actually create the resistance that we are trying to avoid. Try to forget about your expectations as to how he is "supposed" to be, or how long it is taking, and just relax. If you feel hostile or resentful because he isn't responding, he'll pick up on that, and he'll want to stay away from you.

Very sound advice.

 

[labell]

Babies go through many stages. At this point he is showing some independence same as he would in the wild with his parents.

I am concerned that you are frustrated. Parrots are not puppies I think some times people get on forums such as this or look at YouTube vids and think that they can just buy a bird and it will be a great companion. It takes a long time and extensive training to create a great pet. All the while understanding that you are dealing with a wild animal that goes through stages, or have off days just as anyone or any living creature does. Working through them, establishing trust is critical. That said there are times that a particular species doesn't fit the person and their home in which case it maybe better to find the animal a more suitable home. One thing I can assure you is that birds are sensitive intelligent creature's and if they sense anger or resentment on your part they will feel it and respond in kind.

I will say that I think eclectus and greys are the two most sensitive parrot species as it applies to the mood of their person and home. Not to say other birds are not but it has been my experience that these two if treated in haste or rushed because the person isn't calm react more negatively.

 

[strudel]

All the while understanding that you are dealing with a wild animal that goes through stages, or have off days just as anyone or any living creature does.

Also, they have personalities, likes, dislikes, preferences, fears, etc. all of the qualities of living beings. Try not to jump to conclusions or make judgments from limited information. For example, my galah will often not want to come out of her cage in the morning or early afternoon. She prefers to do whatever it is she wants to do there. I can't help but feel a bit rejected when she goes "nah, get lost". It would be easy to get all "you've got to come and play because it's what I want" or "my bird won't come out and play!" or "my bird hates me!". If I fetch her out late afternoon, she's usually as keen as mustard then. She does come out at all times, but evening she's more "playtime! Yep, for sure! Let's go!". It took me a while to figure that out.

"No" doesn't have to mean "no, not ever", it just might mean "no, not right now, thanks". And that's when you've been together for some time and have learnt more about how each other operates. Your relationship is way too new to be deciding that you'll never have a fine companion. You now that you're not some scary monster out to kill and eat your bird, but it takes time for the bird to know that for sure (and some nervous types might always be a bit suspicious).

 

[JoelV]

Well, I thought it would be a good idea if I chimed in with an update on little Loki.

He's a little over 6 months now, and I came close to sending him back to the breeder on a few occasions. Even went as far as packing him up in the cage, driving the 140km to the breeder's property, and handing him over, but I couldn't do it. Decided to persevere.

I'm glad I did.

I wound up going back to giving him hand feeds three times a day in addition to the most varied diet I could come up with. Had my earplugs in all waking hours. Just gritted my teeth with it.

Eventually he got more interested in his usual food, and would only take a few gulps of his liquid feed before losing interest. About a month after that the screaming stopped all of a sudden. He's now happy to sit quietly on my shoulder for hours on end.

He steals chunks of my toast en route to my mouth of a morning, and loves pilfering my muesli and yoghurt. After which he happily wipes his beak clean on my beard.

Of an evening he sits on my chest, tucks his head under my chin and purrs like a cat. His latest trick is sticking his head down my shirtfront and going to sleep.

He is somewhat agro or standoffish with my hands and fingers. It's like he's very at home with my face and shoulders, but the hands still spook him at times. Maybe this will pass.

All in all, despite nearly driving me off the deep end on a number of occasions, I love the little bugger

Thanks for all the support and advice from everyone here. I'll be a frequent visitor, and I'll try to upload some pics of my little buddy shortly.

 

[JoelV]

The offending ekkie. Loki.

Now I just have to work out why all the hammers in my workshop have gone missing...

 

[Anansi]

I'm so glad that everything worked out. And I'm glad that you persevered through it. That piercing scream that some ekkie babies have can be a trial, but the payoff once they grow out of it is so worth it!

 

[Taw5106]

Your hammers? You are sadly mistaking, those are Loki's hammers, lol! I'm glad to hear you pulled through. He's a beauty too.