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I own two ekkies, one male and one female. The both over preen to one extent or the other. I believe that their problem is hormonal as they have seen the vet to rule out other issues. Any thoughts on what would be a good cage arrangement for them. Should I totally separate them for awhile? presently they go into the same cage during the day but at night they are in separate cages but still can see each other.

Thanks
Darryl

I just saw your post after mine...but I am wondering what age your Ekkies are? Mine is 4.5 and I really do wonder if this isn't a hormone thing. As I said, his diet and environment is great. He seems very happy. I'd sure like to know if his hormones are the contributing factor. Maybe we can share info and come up with some parallels. My guy snaps his feathers and leaves the down. So he isn't to the skin. How about yours? Do they take out the whole feather? What age are yours?? It's frustating isn't it! Thanks.

Hi, I fit many Ekkies and they do very well. www.thesockbuddy.com

see my xmas post

Suzanne

First of all Eclectus species (all of them) are entirely different when diagnosing so called "plucking issues"

Diet is the main concern, lack of fruit as the principle ingredient, and the addition of seeds in a parrot mix not intended for Eclectus precisely. they have a longer digestive tract so everything going into an Eclectus should be "special" either for an Eclectus or Lori.

Next is the high humidity ambient room standard for Eclectus as opposed to any other species.

Followed by (correctly stated above by another poster) frequent baths/showers.

Do not apply these "hormonal" standards to an Eckie, they are very stable and do not act like many other parrots with behavioral issues. An Eckie when hemispherically balanced and with proper nutrition shows very little "brooder tendencies." They are considered in the aviculture world as one of the best mother/father combinations anywhere.

And as for the use of these so called "socks" I will have to challenge this one. I might classify that as making dresses for dogs. And a suggestion to take this form of advertising to the proper forum.

Dutch

Hi Dutch! So great to have found you on this forum! Can you please tell us what fruits are best for ekkies and what nuts and seeds are specific to this species. I have 2 rescues that are pluckers that came from a very unhealthy background. I am endeavoring to provide them with optimal health and diet. Thanks!

First of all its good to know that Eclectus live and die for FOOD!

They love to eat and will therefor devour anything you put in front of them and enjoy it while doing so.

I raise three types of Eclectus; RS, SI and Grand. All three do well on the Prettybird Eclectus pellets. I also use the Lory Nectar mixed up and available next to their water bottle. As mentioned above their digestive system is longer than most parrots (who can eliminate quickly for flight) so care should be made in order to provide fresh fruits and less seed when possible.

Knowing this is hard, if you have ever seen an Eclectus eat sunflower seed then you have truly witness love... they are in heaven when eating them, rolling it around beak and taking their time with each luscious seed. They will not toss or throw them because they savor each and every one. BUT........ it is bad for them to include more than what would fit in a thimble each day. So feed this cautiously and just give as a treat when you are present and try and teach something new while they are enjoying this delicacy.

Fresh fruit found indigenously to the south pacific islands grown organically is the goal here for their fresh food intake every day. I peel and remove the seeds chop up and keep in the refrigerator and feed about 1/3 cup per bird per day. I found a fresh squeezed lemon slice over the bowl while preparing keeps the fruit longer in storage.

Try the above with lots of showers (plucking in an Eclectus usually means not enough showers or exposure to water) they love warm showers! And come back and tell us how they are doing?

Dutch

Well my ekkie is not doing so well. I have super hyper busy with lots of not so great stuff, and now this, which makes me so sad. I woke up to a dizzy male ekkie 3 days ago that was not perching well. He was walking clumsily on the sides of his claws and falling down. I took him to the avian vet right away. His white blood count is high so he was put on anti-biotics. He seemed to be getting better (more vocal, walking a little straighter, flying). This morning I found vomit in the bottom of his cage. He was extremely lethargic and puffed up. Back to the vet. He is spending the night, being tube fed, meds, more tests, sigh! He threw up again at the vets. He threw up part of his tube feeding today too. The vet gave me a couple of freebies b/c they are rescues so that was very nice.

Just when my green guy was warming up to the morning shower (putting his head in the spray for a drink). He is my favorite bird - he is so cool. He is an awesome flyer. He talks to me in Hmm Hmm talk all day long. He gave me such a sad hmm one day when I cut my finger. I tamed him so we have a really special connection. I want to say thanks to Dutch for all of your advice. I followed all of it. They have been on a super healthy diet. I have spent some much time with them getting them lots of Vitamin D everyday - I am SO disappointed this is happening now. They came from a super crummy environment and I am by no means an animal activist but it really makes me angry the way these guys were treated. I guess I should have expected something like this, but it is still such a horrible thing to endure for both of us. I just can't get any peace of mind right now. ~Page

3Kids4Fids wrote:Well my ekkie is not doing so well. I have super hyper busy with lots of not so great stuff, and now this, which makes me so sad. I woke up to a dizzy male ekkie 3 days ago that was not perching well. He was walking clumsily on the sides of his claws and falling down. I took him to the avian vet right away. His white blood count is high so he was put on anti-biotics. He seemed to be getting better (more vocal, walking a little straighter, flying). This morning I found vomit in the bottom of his cage. He was extremely lethargic and puffed up. Back to the vet. He is spending the night, being tube fed, meds, more tests, sigh! He threw up again at the vets. He threw up part of his tube feeding today too. The vet gave me a couple of freebies b/c they are rescues so that was very nice.

Just when my green guy was warming up to the morning shower (putting his head in the spray for a drink). He is my favorite bird - he is so cool. He is an awesome flyer. He talks to me in Hmm Hmm talk all day long. He gave me such a sad hmm one day when I cut my finger. I tamed him so we have a really special connection. I want to say thanks to Dutch for all of your advice. I followed all of it. They have been on a super healthy diet. I have spent some much time with them getting them lots of Vitamin D everyday - I am SO disappointed this is happening now. They came from a super crummy environment and I am by no means an animal activist but it really makes me angry the way these guys were treated. I guess I should have expected something like this, but it is still such a horrible thing to endure for both of us. I just can't get any peace of mind right now. ~Page

How is your Ekkie doing today? What do you mean specifically when you say your avian vet is a rescue? Wondering what type of "freebies" an avian vet would give, if you don't mind saying?

How are you supplying them with Vitamin D? In what form? Is your bird getting daily direct natural sunlight, not thru window glass?

Please post the doses of the meeds your avian vet prescribes, good to double check and even triple check doses as sometimes vets prescribe an incorrect dose which could be fatal to your bird. Is he also being given an anti-fungal? If not, why not.

Please do not mind all the questions, just trying to help but in order to do so, more specific information needs to be provided.

PurpleHeart wrote:"…………Fresh fruit found indigenously to the south pacific islands grown organically is the goal here for their fresh food intake every day. I peel and remove the seeds chop up and keep in the refrigerator and feed about 1/3 cup per bird per day. I found a fresh squeezed lemon slice over the bowl while preparing keeps the fruit longer in storage."………………….

Dutch

Could you please list what fruits you are specifically talking about. Thanks.

Two quick things here.....

1) Always follow your licensed practicing Veterinarian's medical advice to the letter. He/She will always be your best resource when confronted by a disease or accident. All that I will ever attempt to provide here is what is the norm in feeding and stabilizing their habitat. When a prescription is given it is always the best case to follow that procedure. We can not properly diagnose a situation over the internet, doing so (or attempting to do so) is pure quackery. From the sounds of it, blood samples and a proper examination, is what was accomplished here. You are going a good job! Two further resources for species specific problems may be accomplished by your Vet and asking for a referral to Dr.'s Michael (at Prettybird International) or Scott McDonald (Nationally recognized) both are very good avian consultants to your (Local) Vet and I have referred them to local Vet's with positive results in the past.

2) Have faith in your little green guy coming back around! These are very hearty birds and have weathered the storm for centuries so far and baring some unexplained problem, he will again be the center of your life! In addition to the treatment you are receiving I would suggest sprinkling in (over the fresh fruit) some of this as a supplement ( I don't normally use supplements in my aviary for Eclectus but when I do I use this) Ultimate- http://prettybird.com.ashopcart.com/cat ... =76&shop=1

Order the Ultimate and have it shipped direct. I ask for the smaller "sampler version" and explain to the customer service rep of your situation. It will be at your door step in a few short days. None of its ingredients will interfere with the Rx given by the Doctor.

And lastly to answer some of the other posters questions:

Anti-Fungals are not required with an enclosed water bottle, removal of open water sources, and swapping out the fresh food after an appropriate time interval (however I feel your little guy ate everything you put down... LOL)

Seasonal FRESH fruit that is available at your local store is what I was trying to get at, grown organically like Kiwi and Mango are what I use, occasionally more exotic fruit from the South Pacific become available (do your homework here) because this forum is worldwide, and I am in Michigan, I can not hardly post exactly what is available in your local store.

Thanks for the concern. I just posted what was going on here b/c Chuck had asked me to keep everyone updated on them. I did have blood work done. I am waiting on blood tests for Polyoma. He is getting 1.5 mil of Baytril. My birds get lots of Vitamin D from daily walks and also time on our front deck that is really protected and about 10 degrees warmer than the regular outside temp. I have an extra cage out their for them to hang out in/on. They get fresh fruits and veggies from the farmer's market. One vendor there has a huge variety of organic greens (collard, dandelion, japanese spinach, bok choy, sorrel, arugula...) I buy a variety from him every week. They get this mashed into a sweet potato or squash along with ekkie pellets. They also get a bowl of fruit - Teddy's favorites are blood oranges, oranges, papaya, apples and pomegranates when in season. They also get some scrambled egg with washed egg shell, beans or a bit of chicken leg a few times a week.

Teddy spent the night in the hospital. The vet said he looks brighter today, but is not on the mend yet. He is still vomiting. He is picking at some seeds, but they are tube feeding him b/c other than a few seeds he has not been eating on his own. They do not recommend seeds in the diet, but since he is sick he is getting "treats". I decided to put him in the hospital b/c if he is not fed he will not be able to recover.

The freebies were a free feeding yesterday while he was there to get an x-ray. They also did de-worming?/de-miting b/c they came from such bad conditions (a hoarding situation with birds and cats, followed by a stint in the pound) - I did see a little tiny bug on my arm one day while holding one of them outside.

Teddy is a very unique bird. He has very soft eyes. He is an incredibly muscular and strong bird b/c he was an aviary bird. He loved to ride around on my shoulder and use me as a launching pad to fly to different perches/cage. Even though he is clipped, he's a very precise and elegant flyer and crows boastfully when he lands. The vets and staff comment on how sweet he is every time I talk to them on the phone. It is so hard to believe he was that cowering biting beast in the corner of the cage. I have spent so much time with him and Lulu - I am so bummed about this. I really, really hope he pulls through. It is very quiet around her without him.

Oops - rescue means he came from a bird rescue. He was one of 17 eclectus and 50 birds in a hoarding situation with a houseful of cats. He eventually made his way to an avian rescue shelter. He had been an aviary bird and never been handled unless it was to be toweled and groomed. I tamed him so we have a really special bond (I didn't mean to, but by taming him I broke his bond with his female ekkie friend even though she was already tame).

He is not doing any better. He is still at the vet hospital in an incubator getting his meds by injection and his food via tube. Since he has been able to get some good sleep (not struggling to perch) and nutrition there, I am hoping to see some improvement tomorrow. However, if the vomiting continues, things will not be good. He is showing strong signs of porventricular dilatation, unfortunately.

I'm so sorry to hear about that Page, PDD is not something taken lightly and could result in total devastation in your aviary. My thoughts and prayers go out to you at this time.

Dutch

Dutch,thank you so much for your prayers! The kids at school are praying too and my friends and SIL too. I prayed for him all night the first night he went into the hospital and felt quite defeated. But when I woke up the next day I felt the Lord say it was going to be OK. We don't always know what that means though - you'll make it through the problem OR He will deliver from the problem.

Praise God - Teddy is doing better! He has been getting 2 different anti-biotics, chelation therapy and tube feeding. He ate by himself for the first time today. He is much more alert and has not thrown up over the past 36 hours. That is really good news. We plan on picking him on Saturday.


The Vet said the diet I am giving him is excellent. His aunt was an ekkie breeder and he treated her flock so he knows a lot about ekkies. What a blessing that is b/c I do believe they are a little more need specific than other parrots. God bless you, Page