Ruby and Rocky need cupids help!

[MCaniks]

Calling on all my fellow experienced Ecky Mothers and Fathers!!

I'm in need of some advice from you please....

My husband purchased my baby Rocky 4 Months agoold with the assumption he was weaned and healthy, upon bringing him home I knew immediately that he was forced weaned and as a result under nourished. I could see it in him immediately because he was suppose to be roughly 6 Months old but was very underweight, dull in colour and lifeless. I made the decision to get him back on formula and keep him in his own cage so I can slowly introduce him to my girl ruby.

Ruby is 14 Months and a handful, she has a passionate hate for everyone but me and she doesn't seem to like Rocky at all, in fact she has no interest in him whatsoever. I've tried having them play with toys together in a new environment and only giving her treats when she plays nice with him but it's like she waits for me to turn my back to take a swipe at him, oh my she is a smarty.

Rocky is still to young to fight back or beat his chest right now but I'd like to eventually have them in the same aviary, so they can be companions so my question is how is the best way to do this, what do you experienced folk suggest?

I have them both next to oneanother in big cages at the moment in order for them to get to know eachother in private but should I maybe move him out of sight all together and reintroduce them later down the track?

Any suggestions or ideas will be appreciated.

 

[labell]

If you are looking to at some point keep them in the same cage or aviary then I would keep them where they can see each other but not where they will be interacting a lot until your boy is much older.

The best way is to have the male be a year or more older than the female but since this isn't the case you have to give Rocky plenty of time to catch up to Ruby maturity wise.

If she is a Solomon then at 14 months she is very near or will be headed into sexual maturity soon and Rocky is no where near and due to his rough start in life it may take him even slightly longer to reach those mile marks. So just let them see each other without pressure on him to be as mature as she is and without her being a bully to him (plenty of time for her to boss him around later ).

Added...If they are one of the larger sub-species or a mix you will be waiting longer for full maturity. Solomons are the smallest and fastest to hit sexual maturity but it is still typically a year or two after going through sexual maturity that they really want to set up house and play parents. Another thought I would like to throw out there is really think if you want to breed....are you experienced, is there a market, are you prepared to keep babies if they don't sell, take back if they don't work out? Possibly lose the pet quality in both Rocky and Ruby. All things to take into consideration. You can have a pair and not set them up to breed, it isn't a must with eclectus as they are not pair bonded birds.

 

[MCaniks]

Thanks so much for responding Labell, I think I'll take your advice and have them close and wait for him be completely ready. Although the market here in Melbourne is red hot for Eckys my intention isn't to breed but if it ends up happening I have great support from the breeder I purchased Ruby from, he is wonderful and helped me every step of the way when I had no idea what I was in for!

I'm also moving to our new property in a few months and my other half has been kind enough to volunteer to build their new aviary (he doesn't know yet) so I'm hoping the new environment will help ruby see it as an opportunity to reinvent herself as a women.

Thanks for responding.