Romeo, what troubles thee?

[Tonners]

So, we got an Eclectus in early March- he's six years old, and had been with the same woman and her dogs for two years. We don't know anything about his previous owners. He bonded with my hubby during the last two hours of the ride home, after getting out of the cat carrier when hub's tried to give him some water. (I wasn't there.) He rode the whole way home on hubby's shoulder.. The first few weeks, he ran from my hand before stepping up, and preferred my husband, despite moving away from him also sometimes. He's adjusted fine- his eating is great, he hasn't pulled feathers, and after a few tries, he's enjoyed his last few baths- which we give him a few times a week, elsewise he gets grumpy. He talks alot more, if we don't take him with us to the next room, or we're out of his sight too long, and he follows us around.

The last two weeks now though, his behavior has changed. While loud noises (or the front door opening), especially ones he doesn't see or know the cause of, still bother him, he seems a bit more sensitive. There are two kinds of differences: the good and the ones that are making us uneasy. He doesn't run from me - actually steps up immediately now - and he'll hang out with me without running back to his cage. He acts interested in what I'm doing, and seems more at ease in general when I have him out, even when hubby is home.

The ones that are making us uneasy just doubled tonight, but I'll get to that. It started with him doing circles when he's out, even when we're both on the couch. He won't sit still. He constantly clambers over us both, and he hasn't had an accident on us since this "new" behavior started- and he had been making a mess on me almost every time I took him out, if I had him out for more than five minutes or so. He just acts like he can't settle down, or he's worried or something. We have tried putting him back in his cage, thinking maybe he wanted to be put away, and even when its just me, he refuses to go back in.. This is the same bird who used to lean so far toward his cage to get off my hand, I feared he'd fall, and his wings were clipped before he came to us!

Tonight, I let him walk around on the floor and climb around on me while I played some games. Later, I brought him out for a bit to hang on the couch with me. Both times, it went back to the same circles, the almost restless behavior- and then he did a funny neck-crick (I don't know if he was actually regurgitating or getting it out of his beak) and started dipping his head toward my hand in a very brisk manner, with his beak open, and made a food-mess with his "cud", whichever it was, repeatedly. He made me so nervous, I was afraid he was going to bite me, so (with trouble) I got him back in his cage.

His cage has a few openings on the top, so he can climb around as much as he pleases. He has no trouble using the bathroom in his cage, and he acts as he has since we got him when he's in it. We are very careful about his cage, toys, food, and when he's out. There is nothing in his reach that he can get to, and he can't climb from his cage to the ground without an attachment that's only there when we're in the room.

Can anyone clue us in? I'm seriously starting to worry about the guy, because he's been perfectly healthy. I'm sorry this is so long. We've been trying to research and find answers, but so far, nothing sounds like what he's doing. :\ [If it helps, he has the same cage the lady had (he's kind of a rehome), and we thought he might adjust easier if we didn't change his name.]

I almost forgot- He does fine when he's riding around on our shoulder and we're moving. When we sit down, he's already trying to get down so he can climb around. During either one, sometimes he does that tongue-rubbing-beak thing, which we've heard is a sign of nervousness/unease. He doesn't often poof to relieve tension though. He's been chewing on hubby's shirts for awhile, which is apparently an old habit, and just recently, he's chewed on mine.

 

[coltfire]

i could be wrong but it sounds hormonal. does he make a clucking sound.

 

[weco]

Yep, sounds normal to me too...actually, I think your new feathered friend has finally settled in & may have just decided to take you for its new mate, given the feeding attempts it's been making.....

Since it's mating season for many species, you probably should limit physical contact to head scritches...refrain from any back or body petting/rubs, those are usually reserved for mates during mating season.....

 

[pacoparrot]

Haha, all is fine with you're Romeo. Welcome to parrot adulthood. Echo my female is just coming into maturity now. It is okay for them to pace and circle. You've got to remember, it's natural for them to want to know what's going on everywhere. If they could fly it would be easier for them. As far as the regurgitating you should discourage this, but I doubt it will go away. When you see him starting to do that thing with their neck just distract him. The pooping is to be expected. You can usually prevent it by taking him to his cage every 10 minutes or so. Just be glad you're bird is doing as well as he is. Echo went through a phase after weaning where all she did is scream and bite. Thankfully training has worked that out. Have you considered clicker training?

 

[sodakat]

The pacing and circling will probably result in tail wagging/rubbing, i.e. masturbation. I've seen the exact thing in single males.

Each owner has to decide what type of behavior is acceptable to them. I prefer my birds not to consider me a mate because I think it is frustrating for both of us.

I ignore this type of behavior and encourage more active play with toys and chewables. I send my boy flying away who sometimes does this but this is not an option for you so you will have to find other ways to wear him out.

If you don't mind regurgitation and masturbation then let him do his thing. However, be prepared for the occasional nip if he is out with both of you in case he perceives one or the other as competition.

Some males will accept a stuffed toy as a mate or even a rolled up sock.

 

[drlisaort]

Yes, it sounds hormonal to me too based on my readings. Oliver is still a baby so I'm not "experienced" with a hormonal birdy! I'm curious, those of you with experience, at what age does this begin and at what age does it end and how long does each hormonal episode last??????? I'm bracing myself for the future with Oliver....

 

[sodakat]

Yes, it sounds hormonal to me too based on my readings. Oliver is still a baby so I'm not "experienced" with a hormonal birdy! I'm curious, those of you with experience, at what age does this begin and at what age does it end and how long does each hormonal episode last??????? I'm bracing myself for the future with Oliver....

By no means do all of them do this. It depends on the bird as an individual and also how it is handled.

Just keep in mind it is not a kitten that should be stroked.

If you watch a video of wild Eclectus you will see they rarely touch each other. Unlike some species who bend their head down for their mate to preen the back of their neck or top of their head, eclectus don't need help due to their feather structure.

Eclectus will mate year round.

 

[Jtbirds]

I agree with soda do not let him look at you as a sexual mate it is very frustrating for both ends and I'll let you know a story about a male eclectus and this is not to scare you but for you to realize something's...

We got a call recently about a donations of all this stuff as this man was euthanizing his male eclectus, the man has donated a beautiful java stand before and wants to donate much more to the rescue. The vice president has asked why he was euthanizing to ensure all donations would be ok to bring into the rescue even when sterilized the man then responded....

Ever since he was a baby and I've had him twenty years I've made it like me and him were mates ow in the bast two years all he does is scream for me and runs around masturbating on everything. He rolls up rugs and masturbates, on the back of the couch. His behavior has tent neurological and has turnt into a mess. The bird no longer lives a happy life, but one full of frustration and anger and has now bitten the man every day due to the frustration.

Consulting with a board certified vet he has been given the option of euthanizing which is what he plans to do. I had offered to try and help him keep his bird and work with him, but he just doesn't want to do it. So in this man realizing his faults he has now realizied that he must lose his pet I suppose.

Very sad story and once again this is why I don't ever suggest to allow your birds to perceive you like this.

 

[Tonners]

Thank you all for the responses!! In all honesty, I hadn't considered it hormones- I should've, considering I've had every pet possible, lol. My parents even bred horses and rats.

When we first got him, he wouldn't let us touch him at all, beside stepping up. He's bit my husband twice, but I'm too scared to really push an animal, and so far, I've been spared.. We learned pretty quickly that him looking like he was going to bite was really just him reaching up in an attempt to climb on our hand to get away from the hand (makes sense... lol), even when we'd get him to step up. I've actually been working with him using a couple techniques my mom used with the horses, mostly to tame, since some they got were ones that were never messed with... Like when he acts like he's going to bite or screams, we preoccupy him with work and ask him to climb a long ladder made by arms, lol. Now, we can touch his head, back, and I've been working with him with his wings. He's let my stepgrand mother and a few other people handle him, so we're making progress with him knowing we aren't going to hurt him. We always say the same phrases with stuff, and I've been saying "foot" when I touch his foot, etc. Even if he never repeats it, I at least want him to know what we mean and all that.. Before I open his door, I say, "Out, please? Out please!" lol.

Do your eekies rub their beaks on you? He's definitely regurgitating.. no tail dances though at least.. I'll take a lovey, horny bird over a scared or bitey bird, haha.

 

[Jtbirds]

yea beak rubbing is a normal behavior in most species our caique rubs his beak alll the time.. our male eclectus does rub his beak as well its a normal your my friend kind of behavior.