Hi Ctai,  Boy do I hate answering anything when the subject contains the word "expert".
I'm no expert but I do have a 5 year old Vos female.  If you had asked this question about hormonal biting ekkies two months ago, I'd have said that my Diana is the sweetest bird who ever lived and has never bitten anyone, ever.  But, you waited til today and she's a stark raving hormonal maniac who tries to kill me.  She has just become hormonal in the last two months (or so) and is so cranky it's hard to believe she's the same bird. I have to medicate her two or three times daily and the morning dose is easy--she's sweet, but the p.m. doses are an all out battle. She sways, dilates and pins her eyes, and strikes.  Tonight's meds will be given with her wrapped in a towel. I will win this battle!!
Now, after that awful description of her,  I would take her again over any other bird I have ever met. She talks well, she hums when I laugh, she crows like a rooster, and her voice is like a sweet little 4 or 5 year old girl. She calls my dogs and asks "What are you doing" and whistles parts of many songs. I could go on for hours about this precious bird.  But, she's gonna try to kill me again tonight so I will be ready for it.
I think you need to know that with any hookbill bird you will eventually get bitten.  I do have one who has never bitten me, a wild caught female pionus who is over 14 years old---but someday she will bite me--they all do.
I can hardly wait to read responses from our other ekkie owners.
Annie

Hi, ctai!

 

I belong an a SI ekkie, Tiara, who is 17 months old.  Overall the SI's seem to be more easy going than the Vos or Red Sided.  TLT (The Lady Tiara as she is affectionately known) is a real sweetheart.  I have had her home since she was 5 months, and visited with her from 3 weeks through weaning.  My experience with her has been super...she is not a cuddler like my ringnecks (who are supposed to be nippy, but are the opposite!) But she loves to do things with me, even hang out and watch TV and share an evening snack.  And yes, sometimes she gets a little "moody" but it only lasts an hour or so.  She can usually be conned into a better mood...but we all have our "off" times, don't we?  She has nipped me, but it was a respectable nip...it was my fault for pushing too hard when we were playing, and she was through playing and warned me enough was enough...I didn't listen very well!  But you know, I would rather have been nipped by her than my sweet little Misty (Dutch Blue LB) who I lost in February.  She will always be with me in the 3 inch scars I have on both hands.  She hurt worse than anything and was a real bulldog...would not let go and just shredded one hand badly.

Tiara is not a talker, she only says about 10 words.  But when she whistles a tune, it's like an angel. She is very intelligent and learns new tricks easily.  She is funny in that she can talk like a sweet little girl when she says, "Oh, No!" and like a really gruff guy when she says her name.  She also calls herself Ti-a-ra-ra...haven't the faintest idea where she got that one!

Her breeders had a red-sided pair of ekkies that TLT was around from day one.  I comparison, I would take an SI over any other ekkie. 

I tease my friend Sue that TLT loves her more than me...everytime Sue visits, Tiara makes goo-goo eyes at her and kisses her constantly.  She doesn't display that much affection to me, but perhaps because Sue had an SI just like Tiara, she handles her a bit differently than I do.  I am so glad I have her....

But my opinion is SI over Vos...but I'm a little prejusticed!

Haha   Lil Bit your Misty sounds just like my Peeko in her first half a year with me!  She used to leave all sorts of scars on my hands too and also chomped down and hung on with all her might when I tried to wring my finger from her beak...  I guess that's why I'm a little wary of big birds with bigger and stronger beaks potentially going through the same motions.  You know - if a little beak can cause so much damage I can just imagine a big beak ripping a chunk of flesh right off of my finger, or worse, smashing my bone or breaking my entire finger off... yikes!  Maybe it'd be good to hear from those experienced with Ecletus bites (yeah I know bites are fairly unavoidable with hookbills) how bad the damage gets...

 

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience!  I appreciate it and look forward to hearing from even more Ecletus-owned humans

Hi Ctai, here I am again!!, I must have gotten very lucky because at 4 years old I still have not had to go thru the hormonal thing with Olivia, I have been bitten a couple of times by her BUT it was always something else that caused it and not her just being nasty, the last time I was bitten was just over a year ago and the reason I got bit was cuz hubby sprayed me with a spray bottle and it startled Olivia and I got nailed on the bottom lip but since then nothing, I will say again the my Vos is the sweetest and smartest bird that I have, her voice is sooo sweet, like Lilbit said, it is the voice of a little girl, my friend calles livvies voice "seductive", I do have to point out tho that she absolutly hates my hubby, there is no reason for it, he has never been mean to her but she detests him, and has scarred her beak in efforts to get to him thru the bars of her cage, but with me she is a Doll ...nuff said!!! Ollie

 

We have Vos female at home and she is an absolute doll with most people.  She is not crazy about strange men, but most women can handle her.  "Roxanne" is bossy around the other birds (we have a CAG and a red lored zon), but this girl loves people.  She does not talk, only mumbles, gives kisses and loves to be petted and hugged.  I have not seen the wide swings in behavior that others say is quite common with this bird.  Roxanne is a little over 2 years old, so maybe the hormones have not kicked in yet.  Out of all the birds, she is the easiest to mess with and is much less moody than my grey, who is a male, but has PMS on a regular basis.

 

Whatever you decide to get, I think that handling every day is really important, as is a routine that the bird comes to expect.

 

Good luck

 

 

 

 

Wow!  Thanks for all the great info and stories!  I'm most likely going back to the local exotic bird shop to look at the little girl again tomorrow.  The vos female in the shop that I'm looking at is not yet fully weaned so she's still got some time at the shop.  I'm trying to go there and spend time with her every weekend to get to know her a little better.  So far she's really calm and reserved - startles if I put my hand behind her where she can't see it.  So I'm going slow   Her weaned older sister doesn't care for me much - tried to bite (might have been because I was standing next to her food container... little piggy!) - but the little one has been a doll so far if a little nervous when she can't see my hand.  They also have a male from the same parents but the people who work there told me that the male is more aggressive than his sisters even when they were just babies.

 

Has anyone had an Eclectus with a lovebird at the same time before?  I wonder if they'll fight.  My lovebird isn't very aggressive to other birds but she is very curious.  She'll speed over and poke her little beak into anything.  Does anyone have any experience with having an Ecletus with a little bird?  How do they behave - will they try to fight?  Of course, if I get the Ecletus she won't be in the same cage as my lovebird, but it'd be nice to let them out and play together.  My lovebird is presently flighted (she's only let out when it's safe and always supervised when she's out.  Plus there is no way for her to accidentally fly out in my apartment as we have netting on the balconies and the door leads to an enclosed, indoor hallway), the Ecletus is clipped and will continue to be clipped as I don't dare allow a bigger bird flight for possible aggression issues. 

Never make the mistake of believing that an eclectus can or will play with a smaller bird. My eclectus will and has bitten the leg off of a tiel that flew onto her cage. The lovebird will be in danger of it's LIFE if allowed withing beak range. Sorry to be so blunt but I made a fatal mistake. Naynay

Hey there!

 

Yes, I had Tiara and Misty at the same time.  I could never have them out at the same time...Misty had to be out on her own because she was very aggressive.  Lovebirds typically seem to be great big bird personalities in tiny bodies. In fact, I have heard them described as "Amazons" in a tiny body! Misty got along with no one.  I could put any of the other little ones with my bunny on my bed and they will play, but beautiful little Misty would aggressively attack anything smaller than a full grown giraffe!  My personal experience was keep Misty away from any of the other little ones in the house.  Also, she remained clipped because once those flight feathers came in she became super agressive.  My vet tech who used to clip her wings used to call it an "attitude adjustment" and that was exactly what it was...flights came off, and personality became sweet again!

Lil Bit, you said that Misty would attack any of the little birds.  Have you ever had Tiara out with Misty before?  My Peeko (also a Dutch Blue female) has never attacked another bird, but she does have the personality of a great big bird and will pursue any other bird... or dog for that matter of fact... but she was never mean to them; she would go right up to their faces and chirp loudly at them but she has never bit any of them - she just wanted to be close to get a better look I think.  The only time I've ever seen her shy with another bird is with other lovebirds - then she hides next to my neck... isn't that funny? 

 

Thanks for the good advice Naynay!  I will definitely be careful not to let them get at each other as I know Peeko will fly over to any bird's cage if she is able to - she always does and usually freaks other birds out when she does.

Ctai, just a couple more things, Make sure that your future Ekkie is well socialized, that is almost rule #1!!! also one other thing, Ekkies Must have soft food daily!! their beaks are really designed for fruit, they eat lots of that in the wild and you just wait!!! it might be a good idea to put something between the cage and the wall by their soft food dish cuz Ekkies get a food beard when they eat then they shake their heads and food goes a flyin!!! they are just soo cool!! Ollie

Hey, ctai....

 

Yes, I took both out from their cages and had Misty on one side of me on the couch and Tiara on the arm of the couch with me in between.  Misty made a bee-line for Tiara, and Tiara remained stock still...but I grabbed Misty and put her back again on the other side.  After the second dash for Tiara, I returned Misty to her cage.  I did not want to lose her by one snap of Tiara's beak, nor did I want to find out what would happen if Misty got too close to Tiara.  I felt it was safer for both that they remain apart.  Misty was my smallest, but the most aggressive. 

Hello Ctai,  Wow I am no expert however any bird will bite.  If you are looking for a larger bird and you know that they all bite, then an eckie could be a good choice.  They are wonderful loving birds as long as you never pet them in the wrong direction of the feathers, leave them alone when they are tired, show up with food when they are hungry ( this is always) , and dont touch their fav. toys, bowl, or pin feathers. They reach there maturity about 3 years old and you are in for a hormonal battle at that time.  All birds get this way when they reach maturity.  Smaller birds are easier to handle at this time because the bite hurts less.  My Grand Female is wonderful with children and I take her to outreaches where she works with handi caped children and elderly people.  I wouldnt trade her for any other kind of bird. She is way quieter then my Cockatiel and had a wonderful soft voice.  She can talk as good as if not better then most Greys I have met. Also Eckies are not dusty like Cockatoos.  Hope I helped a little

Suebee

I`m far from an expert but I just brought home a 31/2 month old female red sided and she is very attached to me, she can be a bit nippy but when I say ouch ouch ouch she usually lets go. She is 1 of the best things to happen to me, I love her to pieces... She is sooo sweet, she gives me kisses all the time and she is starting to say some words, her voice is high pitched and it sounds sooo cute. The more you put into the relationship with your new ekkie no matter what it may be (SI, Vos or Redside) the more you`ll get out of it meaning a happy healthy  and loving ekkie. Before I took her home she was in a nursey and I`d go to see her 6 days aweek and spend alot of time with her feeding and talking and handeling her, she will allow me to do anything with her, even cuddle her and pet her head so the more you work with her the more she will bond with you and love and trust you. Good luck!!!! PS. She has never bitten me to the point of leaving any kind of mark.