Hi kkr, I have both, a female ekkie and a male grey. The grey, Murphy, came to me at age 9 months and didn't speak a word for a couple of years. Now he says a few things but never complete sentences, only short phrases.

Diana ekkie also speaks phrases but not in context. Actually, I may have caused her to speak like she does due to handfeeding and using a sing-song voice to teach her phrases. She has a very sweet clear little girl voice but Murphy has a deep raspy voice, kinda like mine. I doubt that you would even understand what Murphy is saying.

 

There is never a guarantee that any bird will speak at all, but many learn to talk really well. We have members here whose greys carry on conversations like a human.  Those are the birds who are with their humans for most of every day, talking and visiting. They tell the bird exactly what they are doing at all times. I only talk to mine when I am in the room with them and I don't carry them throughout the house as I move around. It probably makes a huge difference in the amount of talking each bird does.

 

My own preference is for the ekkie. Mine has been so sweet until she went into her hormone cycle, at which time she really went nuts biting me. I had to back off handling her for a long time, but now she's back to my sweet girl. I expect this to cycle every year, so I know what to expect next time. I was so shocked the first time because she had never even nipped me, or anyone else, before.

 

I feel sure you will get responses from several other members. Folks are busy but usually drop in later in the day. Be sure to watch for other responses.

Annie

 

I would also recommend the ekkie-just because of the personalities of the two birds. Ekkies are more independent and tolerate being alone a little better.

The talking-you will never get a guarantee and being gone 10 hours a day will make it hard to teach-they make tapes but I haven't heard any interesting birds talk because of them. But being gone that much you may never hear the bird--most talk when the owner is just out of sight anyway-so for 10 hours a day you could have a terrific talker who clams up when you get home..

Katz

I can't really tell you if an ekkie or grey is a good choice for you since I never owned an ekkie.  But after owning a grey for 16 yrs I have an opinion on Greys.  If talking is your main thing you want from a bird I feel like Annie says you have to put alot of time into talking to them.  My Grey was in my living room always.  She was right in the center of our life.  Talking was what she did most of her time!  As long as someone was always talking to her through the day she was happy!  I never did any formal talk lessons but we talked to her constantly and like Annie said showed her things so she knew what they were.  She could identify objects and talked like she knew what she was saying. But all this came from in my opinion being like one of my kids.  There are many people that have greys that do not talk or only limited but they don't mind they love their birds the same.  But you said that talking was the main thing for you.  You may be disapointed!

 

Personally I would want to see the bird I am buying to see if it is the right match for me.  I think the biggest mistake in a first bird owner is to expect to much.  There are so many variables in owning a bird. 

 

I just bought a baby grey in Dec and it wasn't the first grey I saw either.  But when I walked in and saw her I knew she was the one.  I looked at 3 greys before her and if I listened to my hubby we would have just bought one of those.  I didn't have a connection even after seeing them over and over.

 

I personally think Greys have to be mentally stimulated alot.  They seem to out think you!  For me they are the perfect bird. 

 

I hope someone else tells you about ekkies because they interest me also.  When I bought my grey there was a female ekkie there.  She was beautiful but she didn't connect with me.  She was shy.  But fortunately someone came in and she fell in love with them.

 

I hope after learning about just bird ownership (nothing like any other pet you will ever have) you will find the perfect bird for you!  I love hearing about everyones toos but I don't think they would be for me.  I think since I am home all the time I would spoil it and make it nuerotic. 

 

Indy (good luck in your decision)

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for your thoughts!  I think the eclectus is the one for me. . . no one yet has told me an eclectus is a bad idea, but some people have expressed some drawbacks to the greys.  Now. . . I just have to find the right eclectus.  I'm a sucker for a baby that is unwanted or is struggling with one thing or another. . . this 7 mo old baby that has already had one home pulls on my heart strings. . . but I want to know that he likes me as well.

 

Should I be concerned that he is missing feathers behind his head?  They tell me he's "rubbing". . . but whatever he's doing, he's missing feathers on the back of his neck, right below his head.  Any thoughts on that?

Where is the bird? Pet shop? Ask them for a health guarantee, then take him straight to an avian vet and see what the vet thinks. They shouldn't have a featherless area. My Diana is totally naked but hers, we think, is habit from plucking for years following two very serious illnesses. I have tried many remedies and nothing has helped her for about 7 years. I would definitely want to know what a vet says before committing to the bird.

I wonder what he is rubbing on and if he itches or is a nervous wreck over something that happened in the first home. Poor little guy. Could even be due to being in a shop after the quiet, safe life in a home.

Will be very interested in whatever you find out.

Annie

These are the only 2 kinds of parrots i've been in contact with, so this is my input.

 

My cousin has both.......her grey is down right mean (her fault) and loud as hell......her eclectus is quiet, but also mean (again, her fault).  BUT, her mom also has an ekkie that is the SWEETEST thing ever.  He is sooooooooo calm (i actually did not know a bird could be that way after Max and my cousin's) and quiet, doesn't talk very much at all.  He makes more very soft sounds than actual words.......and when he does, it's so quiet that everyone says "what was that?  did you hear him?".  Poor her when we brought Max there for 2 days LOL.

 

Now....my Max.....he's just wonderful .  I read somewhere to liken them to a 2 year old, with the mentality of a 4 year old.  SO RIGHT.  If you don't pay him the attention, he begs for it, if you still don't, he holds a grudge for a couple DAYS!  If you are gone a lot for a few days in a row.......he lets you know he isn't happy...he will misbehave in the way a bird does.  I think they are smart enough that you have to actually watch the way YOU act around him....because, just like a child, if you start something (like giving him a treat to stop misbehaving/screaming) guess what's going to happen?  I'm not sure all birds are this way?  You'd have to ask someone.  i had a lot of pets and none are as attentive as this bird. 

 

I do not think that anything about him is a 'drawback'.......they are completly different birds with different needs.........it's YOUR expectations that need to lead you to the bird you are drawn to .  I have 3 kids (ages 6 and under) so i'm in the midst of it, and actually enjoy having another (since we aren't having anymore human babies ;)