just put my deposit down...

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on my new eclectus (tentatively named Optimus Prime) today. He was just the sweetest thing, and we really seemed to click right away. So sad I had to leave him behind!

Now the cage, toy, food and everything else shopping begins!

Anyone have any recommendations? I would love any input. After lots and lots of research, and meeting many many birds, he's the one for me! He will be my first bird, so feel free to let me have it with info! I have been reading any and everything I can find, but I know that it will be a completely new experience one he comes home.

Thanks so much!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Optimus prime, reminds me of when I went to BotCon lol that's very exiting your bringing home a eclectus, they are so pretty. here's my tips

Get the biggest cage you can afford and have space for.
Check out planet treasure toys, they are one of the few safe and natural toys.
Make sure you prepared to have a steady supply of fresh foods. Eclectus don't do well on pellets.
Find out what a chop mix is and make several months the worth to freeze.

 

[Kiwibird]

Congrats on your new addition! So long as you've done your due research and are prepared for the initial challenge, I'm sure you will find your parrot is the best friend you could ever have. Cooperbain has already given some great suggestions on cage and diet, so I'll try to add a couple things not already suggested and you may not have already thought of. First, if the cage is going on carpet, a large, cheap rug under the cage will be your best shot at preserving the floor below! When the rug gets too dirty/stained, which it will, you can throw it out and buy a new one (a lot better than replacing actual flooring). Second, parrot poop is going to become a part of your life, and you should know it's very easy to deal with. It can just be wiped off of hard surfaces (wood, tile, plastic ect...) with a damp cloth. If it gets on soft surfaces (upholstery, carpet, clothing ect...) don't try to clean it while it's wet, as that will make an unnecessary mess and potentially permenant stain. If you let it dry up, you can just pick it up no problem (use a tissue if your squeamish) and if it happens to leave a small stain, spot shot or a run through the wash gets out the rest. Last but not least, include your new bird in your daily activities (meals, showers, even housework) within a few days of bringing him/her home. Birds are flock animals, and the best way to make them a faithful companion is to include them. A t-perch is a great way to bring them from room to room, or even a travel-sized cage will allow him/her to be included in your "flocks" daily routines. Best of luck to you!

 

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I was thinking about getting a large plastic office mat to put under the cage, so it can just be easily wiped off. is this a good idea?

i am looking into chop mix riiiiight now! lol

thanks for all of the helpful advice.

 

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oh, and also. he has allergies. he comes with a health warranty and vet visit at the most reputable vet hospital in town. she said the vet will verify that its just an allergy issue. any tips on this? i cant seem to find much about birds with allergies, but she assured me that it wasnt a big issue and a couple drops of allergy drops into his eye every few days is all the vet calls for. any input?

 

[Kiwibird]

If you get a plastic mat, be sure you give it a few weeks to air out completely. The fumes on those kinds of mats are awful, and may very well be fatal to a bird if it is exposed.

Also, what do you mean by "allergies"? Does he have a food allergy or a respiratory allergy (like to dust and pollen)? I would be extremely cautious with any symptoms of respiratory problems. That suggests a possibility of a long term infection, and would definately require treatment by the vet. Don't not get the bird if he has a respiratory tract infection, it's easily treatable with an inexpensive short course of antibiotics, but be sure to get him to the vet ASAP after bringing home so it doesn't progress into something more serious. It also may be caused by overexposure to some kind of noxious fumes or other environmental factors in the petshop (plastic products that are not properly aired out, chemical disinfectants/cleaning products, heavy amounts of dander/dust from other animals in the pets shop ect...) If he does have some sort of actual allergy, that's a new one to me. I haven't ever heard of chronic allergies in birds before (but I guess it makes sense).

 

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Well, all of the birds in this shop are taken care of by one of the best avian vet's in town. all of the birds were very happy, and were well taken care of and clean. optimus had some balding around one of his eyes, as did one of the other eclectus there. she said that the birds have been tested for everything, and given a clean bill of health by the vet aside from allergies. apparently these birds were bred in Louisianna, and I am in Vegas so it is a very different climate. She fully backs all of her birds with a health guarantee, and the price of the bird includes a visit to the vet, so i am not overly concerned.

the bird did sneeze once while i held him...is that cause for extra concern?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

The bird tricks chop mix is really good, they have it in their blog. It's a great back up plan for when you short in time, the produce sucked that week, or to replace a meal. You can add different things too depending on your bird.

I wouldn't be too concerned about a single sneeze, just make sure the shop has a warranty between 2-7 days at least. When you take him to the vet if any has any problems the store should cover it. Oh I just saw that you said they do. I'm using my phone since I'm sick in bed and it kinda sucks comared to a computer lol

 

[Kiwibird]

Birds sneeze every so often (it's very cute!), and it's nothing to worry about. They sneeze about as often as you do, so you have an idea of how much is normal. If they are sneezing a lot, along with other symptoms of illness, (wheezing sound, lethargic, decreased appetite ect...) is when it's cause for concern. And even if the best avian vet in town has been treating this bird, I would still take the cautious route and have a different vet, whos not working with the store you're buying the bird from, can also give him a clean bill of health. That's just me though.

 

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he seemed generally happy and healthy aside from the slight balding patch there by his eye. he was very alert, and even told me hello. he didnt want to go back to his perch when it was time to go, he was perfectly content on my arm lol.

taking him to another vet is a very good idea. there are several avian vets here in town, so i will make sure i cover all of my bases. ill pick him up the day before my days off so i have plenty of time to tote him across town.

thanks for putting my mind at ease. i started to worry. lol.

ill probably go pick the mat up tomorrow so i can let it air out for the next couple weeks before hes ready to come home.

 

[Birdlover11]

If the person would give you a free health check up and health paper , that must be a man who really cares about the bird. Congrats on your new ekkie. They would sometimes clear their nostrils sometimes so it makes a cute " phew" sound. Sounds like he chose you instead ! Oh, and here's a link to a bird supplies website. They have really reasonable prices and their shipping is really fast. I am sure you will find something he likes here,


http://mysafebirdstore.com/

 

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thank you! i love shopping online. its so much easier! lol

the shop owner is actually a little elderly german lady. she cant be taller than 5 foot lol. she runs that shop like nobodys business. it was the cleanest shop i had been to by far, with the most happy, well adjusted birds. apparently most of her birds have been hand fed by her from 2+ weeks. a really good little shop.

 

[Peeker]

Congrats on your new Ekkie boy! I have Ekkies too and love them so I could be predjudiced but I think they are the best!

I've never heard of a bird with allergies before either but I'm sure there are plenty of things I've never heard off. Did they say the bald patch near his eye was from the allergies?

 

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she did. and she said that she uses the drops per the dr to help.

i am super excited the research is a little daunting, and i dont wanna screw anything up, but overall i think i am as prepared as anyone (that has never owned a bird) could be lol.

 

[moni.k]

Congrats on your new baby!!

Cage: I bought Nalani a huge macaw cage the dimensions were about: 40x34x72. She hated it, didn't even utilize half of the cage. So I ended up using it as a outside cage temporarily and bought another cage for indoors... dimensions: 32x22x60 which she absolutely LOVES. I think it makes her feel much more secure than the excessively huge macaw cage from before which I sold recently. She spends about 8 hours a day outside of her cage so getting a smaller cage ended up being a better choice for my situation. Something to consider before investing on a humongous cage and spending more than what you need to.

Toys: Variety and experimenting is key. There are a few ekkie owners that have had success with straws, plastic, paper and rope toys. I bought a whole variety of toys in the beginning: some paper, other wood and a couple plastic toys. I found that she prefers the shred-able kinds the most. But invest a few different kinds that offer a wide variety of materials to see what interest him the most and go from there. Invest in foraging toys!! Most are made from high grade plastic or acrylic and will last for years!! It offers hours of entertainment and was a major contributor in correcting Nalani's screaming behavior.

Perches: Don't stick with horizontal perches but look for ones that are in interesting shapes and sizes to help your ekkie with grip. Eclectus have a naturally weaker grip that other species of birds so encouraging their grip strength is super important.

Additional tips: Enjoy!! I definitely don't regret getting an Eclectus as a first bird. They are so sweet, adorable, beautiful and funny (in their own way). He will give you years of companionship and love, so enjoy your new baby!!

 

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Thanks for the cage advice. I planned on getting a nice manzanita perch, and her cage will only be used for bed and while I'm at work. I have a pretty good routine everyday, and hope to include him as much as possible. It seems like the cage the shop owner suggested is perfectly sized, and at a really good price. I figured I would be able to scout out a better deal online, but it doesn't seem like it. I think I'll end up going with that one. I'll have to double check the dimensions.

 

[Peeker]

Thanks for the cage advice. I planned on getting a nice manzanita perch, and her cage will only be used for bed and while I'm at work. I have a pretty good routine everyday, and hope to include him as much as possible. It seems like the cage the shop owner suggested is perfectly sized, and at a really good price. I figured I would be able to scout out a better deal online, but it doesn't seem like it. I think I'll end up going with that one. I'll have to double check the dimensions.

I love natural wood perches, but would suggest you avoid manzanita. It's smooth and that makes it a little harder for perching on. Eclectus parrots can be a little more awkward than other types of parrots. I prefer bottlebrush, dragonwood, cholla..

 

[RockysMom]

Congrads on your new Eckie I'am adopting a little girl Eckie , just waiting for her to get old enough and weaned so she can come home

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I agree with peeler, manzanita(and java) is very slippery. When parrots slip around a little they can fall and injure themselves, and also develop bumble foot. I love dragon wood, it has a foamy bark that parrots love to scrape off. Also grape wood is excellent, so much shape to it that it really helps keep the feet healthy.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Congrads on your new Eckie I'am adopting a little girl Eckie , just waiting for her to get old enough and weaned so she can come home

Awww! What an adorable baby