Specific Eckie Rehab Questions

[SilverSage]

Recently one of the local parrot clubs on Oahu was contacted by a woman with 20 birds ranging from a Scarlet Macaw to Lovebirds. Her health is failing, and with it the living conditions of her flock. She asked us to help her rehome most of her birds. Some of us went over to evaluate the flock and preform blood draws and vent swabs for disease and DNA testing at her request. She is having every bird examined by a vet as well. She isnt charging a rehoming fee, per se, but instead the new owners will pay for the testing and vet visit and pay for a new cage to show their financial ability and commitment to the birds she is releasing into their care. She loves them very very much, rescued some out of dire situations, and has had each of them for over 10 years. It is breaking her heart to let them go. That said, she has not done a lot of research, but has mostly followed what vets and other sources of "common" info have given her. This has been decent for most of the birds, but not for her male and female Eclectus, as their needs are so different.

She has asked me to take on the Eckies as soon as they see the vet and their test results are in. I dont have all the details on them yet, just that they were both tame until the female was brought in and they were caged together 10 years ago. They have been eating mostly pellets the whole time they have been with her, with fresh foods as treats. This is so much better than hearing they have been on seeds, but Eclectus do NOT do well on all pellet diets, and it shows. Thier owner simply believed all the vets, etc, who said "feed pellets!" and her whole flock is on them. Most of the birds look fine, but the Eckies look like rag dolls, esp. the male. Both are partially plucked, she less than he, and the owner believes the female is actually the one plucking the male. His belly is bald and the follicles are smooth, not bumpy like a plucked chicken except on the edges of the bald spot, it seems that the patch is being gradually widened and that the damage in the middle may already be permanent even if the plucking stops. I am not sure if they ever bathe or not. The environment is clean, but pretty barren, not many toys, etc, and since the Eckies are not safe to handle, they do not often make it out of their cage, if ever.

I have never owned an Eckie, but I have done a lot of reading and one of my closest friends has one whom I interact with often. I am aware of their special dietary needs, the incredible mess, etc, but I am VERY OPEN to advice from more experienced parronts, especially because I have never interacted with a female Eckie before, and I am aware that they can be a bit, shall we say, "challenging."

Ok, so here is the plan and some questions

First off, I plan to put them in separate cages as neither is currently safe to handle. Normally I would put them in different rooms so they cannot see one another, at least for a while. Is there any species specific reason they should be able to see on another? Ultimately the ideal situation would be for them to someday share a cage again, but that is more for convenience than any other reason and is not a High priority. at all.

They are in a bright sunny room, but the sunlight is filtered. I plan to get them out in the sun in a cage at least 2 hours a day 5 days a week; they need it. I have heard that Red Palm Oil is a good supplement to add to their food in addition to sunshine, but I am SO SKEPTICAL of the idea of adding anything to their food because they are Eckies. Anyone have any experience with this? What about Aloe Detox from Lily of the Desert? (If I am remembering correctly)

I would like to mist them with my garden hose while they are outside. I would like to do this every sunny day. I live in Hawaii, so that is most days. Anyone think this would be too often after so long without?


They are not clipped, , but I am not sure if they have any flight capability after so many years in a cage. Ultimately I want them flighted and harness trained - we will see how that goes...:54:

Are there any specific fresh foods you would recommend or avoid (other than toxic foods obviously) considering their current state?

They are both cage aggressive (surprise surprise), and I think my general plan is to open the door, and place the food dish where they can get to it by sticking their heads out the door, and gradually moving it further and further and getting them out of their cages and far enough away to not feel territorial. They were both hand raised and I dont think they have any extra fear of humans (no one has harmed them in the last 10 years, except the stress of the vent swab and blood draw on the female today). I am interested to see if either will step up on a perch. I sometimes use perches to move birds that I believe are very likely to bite me, because it removes my tension from the situation; if I know they cannot bite me, I am not nervous at all, so I do not project nerves, etc. Obviously I would OFFER the stick, not FORCE. And just general trust building from there, with lots of food bribes

Do you recommend blood work aside from these disease tests? I can see they need help, but I feel like blood work might just tell me "They need more sun and a radical diet change" which I already know, and due to certain recent circumstances, money IS an issue at the moment. I am tempted to wait for any extra blood work for a few months to see if there is anything in addition to the need for diet and sun. They WILL be getting gram stains on Sunday.

Any Eckie-Specific body language I should be aware of? I do NOT take this addition lightly, and am very open to any experience with Eckies that you may have, particularly regarding their health.

ALSO! Her name is Phoenix, his is Squacky. I would like to change his, if you have any suggestions I was told they are Vos, but I dont know enough to look at them in their condition and know what sub species they are.

Thanks! Sorry for the novel!

 

[Allee]

Dani, please don't apologize for sharing this wonderful story. I'm happy you are adopting the Ekkies and I know you aren't taking the decision lightly at all. I hope all the other birds also find good homes.

I'll leave it to our resident Ekkie experts to answer your questions. Just wanted to wish you and the Ekkies the very best. I look forward to hearing a lot more about this lucky couple.

 

[Doublete]

Just wishing you luck in your "project" as it seems it'll be tough.
I don't know anything about them though.

 

[EAI]

I think an Eclectus would be a great addition, and you have Ariel for a 24/7 support, right lol? Obviously, I have pretty much no knowledge on specifics but I hope that you can find the right info

So glad to hear her love for them though, it would be breaking my heart to see her part with all of her birds. I think it's a wonderful idea to rehome them for the price of the vet bills because essentially, that's what you would need to do anyways.

 

[Dopey]

I have very little experience. I've only had my female Ekkie since March and I got a male in May. They both are lovely. Both are mouthy birds. The male his bitten me a number of times and I don't see it coming. They have never been deep bites. When I hold her she makes the cutest sounds the whole time I'm holding her. He lunges at me when I'm putting the food and water in the cage but never makes contact with me. It's when I'm holding him that he has bit me. My female has a different sound for when she feels threatened. You learn the difference. The male...I've not notice that he has a different sound to let me know anything.

They get a cup each of chop every morning. I'm not sure how much of it they really eat because my walls are splattered and there is lot in the tray at the bottom of the cage. They get fruits, nuts, seeds, or pellets in the afternoon. The only reason I'm big on pellets with any of my birds is because if I get sick there is an option for a day or two. There isn't any fruit in my chop. They only get about an 8th of a fruit at the end of the day.

I don't think you will be sorry taking on the Ekkies. Congratulations!

 

[labell]

I would get them off the pellets there is so much info out there where the majority of eclectus have issues with pellets that imo it's lazy, and an invitation to problems to feed them. A good quality seed (small amounts) fed either dry or sprouted is a much better alternative.

While eclectus don't pair bond in the same way other birds do I don't know that I would sight separate this pair at first. If you would like to see how they are eating, if they are plucking themselves or were being plucked I would put them in their own cage but where they can see each other. The stress of a brand new home after so long will be enough to deal with right at first besides if you separate them I am fairly certain that the constant contact calls they will make to try to locate each other will drive you mad!

The frequent baths in your wonderful climate is a great idea, I am sure they will LOVE it! Even if they don't it will be good for them.

I am a big fan of slightly heating eclectus chop with either red palm oil or coconut oil both very healthy for them I actually use the coconut daily and the red palm about once a week.

I would get the disease testing done and get them on a good diet maybe six months down the line I would look at getting the blood panel depending on overall improvement at that point. Right now you know they are going to be deficient.

Eclectus females daydream, you have a while before you would need to worry about this but if you go to pick up or deal with one of the girls you want to make certain that she is actually aware that you are there. They tend to zone out.

Right now with foods I would ALWAYS include some dark leafy greens like dandelion and kale you also want to focus on some orange and red colored fruits and veggies such as peppers, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, carrots grated fine and mixed in, beets, butternut squash, pumpkin are all great choices.

I think I touched on all your questions, good luck and keep us posted

 

[labell]

One other thing if they are in fact Vos that is imo one of the most sensitive of all the subspecies. It would be wise I think to keep a food list/diary for them, keep it varied as Vos have a tendency to react when its too much of even a good food thing. They also seem to resort to plucking or barbering faster. I wouldn't put anything on them other than fresh water and fresh foods into them and then re-evaluate as they progress to better health.

 

[Taw5106]

From my adventure with Venus, definitely get them off the seed diet and move them to fresh foods. I got Venus in January 2015 from a pet store, she had a bald spot above her nose and she would go to anyone but after the sunset look out, no one can enter her cage haven, very cage aggressive. I took her to the vet after I first got her and all looked well but her breathing became labored. The vet felt it was due to lack of vitamin A, she is still seeing the vet for check ups to see how she is doing.

I found that with moving Venus off of a seed diet to be a challenge but slowly but surely she is converted. I found out that she loved corn so I started with fresh corn, worked in cooked brown rice, then added other items like shredded/grated carrot, finely chopped kale, bell pepper, red, green, yellow and orange. The vet recommended figs because this is a basic food from her origin, so I have dried figs that I chop up. She loves beans so I make 15 bean soup minus the flavor pack, also chick peas. One thing I noticed about Venus is she loves spoons and she loves cups, they mean food, but given that she is two and was handfed I know that's the association however I used that to my advantage. If she isn't eating, I can put food in a cup, with a spoon, sit down and she comes running and will eat whatever is in the cup. I also introduced baked sweet potato and she eats that, that is another high vitamin A food. On Sunday's I make scrambled eggs for Venus and Buddy. Buddy dives in and Venus picks but she does eat it.

For the cage aggressiveness, Venus gets very protective of her food bowl inside her cage so I put her food in via the food door or I show her the cup of food and put it on top of her cage. She'll climb out of her cage to the top to eat. I've found that she has one spot in her cage that is strictly her's, her sleeping perch. When she's on it, she basically is not in the mood to socialize. And only after the sun sets does she get testy. Right now she's trying to eat my laptop and is into everything around her. She will climb out of her cage and sit on top of her door waiting for me to come get her.

Land of Vos is the website I have been using mainly, Laura and Stephen have been amazing resources and I've learned most of what I know from them. When you said the male had plucking my first thought was the female did it, lol. I have read and Venus has confirmed that the females are bossy and dominant, little stinkers!

Thanks for going in and helping out with the birds, that is such a great thing to do.

 

[labell]

In addition to dark leafy greens and foods high in beta carotene that I already mentioned fruit is very important in the diet of eclectus. Flowers I believe also add tremendously to their over all health. Now maybe eclectus know they are parrot royalty but I found the more exotic fruits are what they go for. Dragon fruit, persimmon, mango, berries though these really must be organic, berries are highly sprayed if not organic. Mine never cared for citrus type fruits but you can try. Figs, persimmon and pomegranate are favorites with them.

Most people don't realize this or take note of it but a healthy eclectus will actually smell fruity and sweet when you get their bodies near your face. Something I am sure you won't be doing for a while but true nonetheless. It is not just their breath but their actual body that will smell like this. It is heavenly!

 

[Dopey]

I love their smell.

You have probably answered this before but I've forgotten. How much fruit should they get a day? Yesterday they each got 1/4 cup full.

 

[labell]

From my adventure with Venus, definitely get them off the seed diet and move them to fresh foods. I got Venus in January 2015 from a pet store, she had a bald spot above her nose and she would go to anyone but after the sunset look out, no one can enter her cage haven, very cage aggressive. I took her to the vet after I first got her and all looked well but her breathing became labored. The vet felt it was due to lack of vitamin A, she is still seeing the vet for check ups to see how she is doing.

I found that with moving Venus off of a seed diet to be a challenge but slowly but surely she is converted. I found out that she loved corn so I started with fresh corn, worked in cooked brown rice, then added other items like shredded/grated carrot, finely chopped kale, bell pepper, red, green, yellow and orange. The vet recommended figs because this is a basic food from her origin, so I have dried figs that I chop up. She loves beans so I make 15 bean soup minus the flavor pack, also chick peas. One thing I noticed about Venus is she loves spoons and she loves cups, they mean food, but given that she is two and was handfed I know that's the association however I used that to my advantage. If she isn't eating, I can put food in a cup, with a spoon, sit down and she comes running and will eat whatever is in the cup. I also introduced baked sweet potato and she eats that, that is another high vitamin A food. On Sunday's I make scrambled eggs for Venus and Buddy. Buddy dives in and Venus picks but she does eat it.

For the cage aggressiveness, Venus gets very protective of her food bowl inside her cage so I put her food in via the food door or I show her the cup of food and put it on top of her cage. She'll climb out of her cage to the top to eat. I've found that she has one spot in her cage that is strictly her's, her sleeping perch. When she's on it, she basically is not in the mood to socialize. And only after the sun sets does she get testy. Right now she's trying to eat my laptop and is into everything around her. She will climb out of her cage and sit on top of her door waiting for me to come get her.

Land of Vos is the website I have been using mainly, Laura and Stephen have been amazing resources and I've learned most of what I know from them. When you said the male had plucking my first thought was the female did it, lol. I have read and Venus has confirmed that the females are bossy and dominant, little stinkers!

Thanks for going in and helping out with the birds, that is such a great thing to do.

Unfortunately Land Of Vos is no longer available after years of maintaining the site she decided to take it down.
I would caution you to feed Venus more in the way of fruits and veggies she maybe getting a little too much protein between the beans and the eggs. Eggs should only be offered with the cleaned crushed shell about once or twice a month, only more if she is laying eggs. If you haven't started sprouting I would encourage you to sprout the beans instead they then become a power house of LIVING nutrient rich food.

 

[labell]

I love their smell.

You have probably answered this before but I've forgotten. How much fruit should they get a day? Yesterday they each got 1/4 cup full.

The chop changes frequently concerning the freezable base but fruit should be at least 3 to 4 different things at each feeding. So for example mango freezes well so many times that will be added to the base but daily I would cut up figs, cantaloupe, strawberries and add that one day then apples, papaya and fresh dates the next. Blueberries, watermelon and fresh basil is a wonderful combination. Really yummy for humans as well.

 

[Dopey]

Neither of mine were crazy about blueberries but papaya they love...but that took about four servings before they really got into it.

They are really messy eaters but they look so cute with all of that stuff hanging off of their beaks. Also, my Ekkies prefer their chop finer than my other parrots do.

Labell - do you have a chop recipe on this site that you use for your Ekkies? I have one that I'm using (includes beans, oats, hemp seed, and lots of veggies) but I get the feeling it's not what you would suggest.

 

[labell]

Neither of mine were crazy about blueberries but papaya they love...but that took about four servings before they really got into it.

They are really messy eaters but they look so cute with all of that stuff hanging off of their beaks. Also, my Ekkies prefer their chop finer than my other parrots do.

Labell - do you have a chop recipe on this site that you use for your Ekkies? I have one that I'm using (includes beans, oats, hemp seed, and lots of veggies) but I get the feeling it's not what you would suggest.

Chop changes here frequently so I really don't have a set recipe. I have planned on writing up good combinations and sharing them here I just haven't gotten around to it, I will though at some point. The finer chop is preferred by most eclectus since they don't often hold their food in their feet like other parrots they just dive their faces in.

 

[Dopey]

Neither of mine were crazy about blueberries but papaya they love...but that took about four servings before they really got into it.

They are really messy eaters but they look so cute with all of that stuff hanging off of their beaks. Also, my Ekkies prefer their chop finer than my other parrots do.

Labell - do you have a chop recipe on this site that you use for your Ekkies? I have one that I'm using (includes beans, oats, hemp seed, and lots of veggies) but I get the feeling it's not what you would suggest.

Chop changes here frequently so I really don't have a set recipe. I have planned on writing up good combinations and sharing them here I just haven't gotten around to it, I will though at some point.

I found the one where you said Making Chop...wine helps!

 

[SilverSage]

Today my heart broke. I learned that the male bird is 15 and the woman hand raised him herself because he was splayed legged and the breeder was going to cull him. She is SUCH a sweet, loving woman and she cares deeply about her birds, but she has never looked much into their needs for some reason. Anyway, I texted her today from the pet store, asking what kind of toys they like. I had noticed there were not any in the cage, but her health has been bad and she is rehoming because she knows they are not getting what they need. She responded that she didn't know if they would like toys at all, but that I could try if I wanted... I reared up there in the store; my poor babies have not had toys in 10 years, Squacky has never been given a toy in his 15 year life...

Thanks for the input everone! I am going to set up an area for them to be side by side, in smaller cages than I would like, but I want the cages to fit through my front door for sunshine

 

[Taw5106]

Toys... Venus loves to shred. I keep shredable toys close to her and allow her to chew on paper items when she is with me. I recently saw a foraging toy on Pinterest I haven't tried but plan to. A bell pepper with hole cut it in and treats put inside it. Hang it for the birds to investigate. That could be a good start.

 

[SilverSage]

Definitely will try it! I'm dying to get them home! Usually I would be so furious over their situation, but instead I'm just sad and determined. I know their current owner would sob for weeks if she understood what she has been doing, she is amazingly loving and protective of her birds. I truly don't understand how this happened.

 

[amjokai]

They will be in your fantastic hands and I will be with you every step of the way bestie! We've got this.

 

[SilverSage]

Confirmation! They see the vet Sunday Morning at 10am, and they come home with me right after!