A 4 1/2 month old ekkie is a baby--you couldn't have had it more than a few weeks?? My guess would be you somewhat spoiled it just when you brought it home? But at this age it is very trainable--I wouldn't worry about a behaviourist for the bird because it is training not bad behaviour  at this age. First you and housemate have to learn to ignore the screaming and praise the quiet times--leave the bird in its cage or on a stand and don't pick up everytime you are near it--acknowledge it and talk to it--give it scritches but don't necessarily hold or carry around with you.  Teach it an acceptable contact call--a whistle or a word that it can make and you will answer with. Its really just checking on its flock--you and housemate-excited to see you and looking for you when you are not there.  I have been criticized before for suggesting ear plugs--but during the training process they might come in handy.      Katz

At 4 1/2 months, this little guy is barely weaned.  I know they wean out at different times, but my little eclectus didn't wean out until he was 6 months and some change.  Do you think that maybe he's regressed back to his baby stage and is hungry?  You said that he only screeches when he sees you, have you tried giving him a treat, or something to eat then?  Does he make any special moves when he's around you that he doesn't do when he's quiet?  I know it's super easy to spoil them, I've got the world's most rotten spoiled sun conure as proof of that.  But it sure sounds like you've got a hungry baby boy to me.

 

 

From: <NOBR>Katzxten</NOBR>

Sent: 3/6/2005 2:54 PM

Nancy has a very good point--I am assuming it was weaned for a couple weeks before you brought it home but they do regress--and baby ekkies are always hungry-even after weaning! Our babies like warm soft foods like Beak Appetit with veggies mixed in etc. To comfort you may try spoon feeding something like that--I get baby ekkies when they are down to one syringe feeding a day and thats is usually around 10-12 weeks. The one feeding can last a week or two but when they are ready they don't tend to beg as toos and greys do. They just beak into any soft food around. And ekkies do need lots of fruits and veggies and other soft stuff. --PLUS NO peanuts or sunflower seeds!!! The reason I didn't assume it was hunger was it seems to be centered around your comings and goings--and they do get attached to certain people!  And I stick by don't spoil the bird-- Katz

My first thought when I read this was hunger, too. My female ekkie wasn't completely weaned til she was almost a year old. Partly because we both enjoyed the handfeeding time but she simply didn't seem ready til then. We were down to only one feeding at bedtime for the last couple of months.

She's 8 years old now and I think she would still accept handfeeding if I would try it.

BTW, if you will give your ekkie one spoonful of food daily (after this current problem has been solved), it will be so easy to medicate him if the need ever arises. Diana was critically ill for over a year and I gave her meds 4 times a day without a fight. She still gets one dose daily without any trouble at all.

Annie

thanks too all for your reply.

most likly he is either absolutly spoiled or it still desireing baby food

tomarrow morning i will attempt to hand feed him again, and keep the evening social interaction the same and see if that alters his behavior, or satisfies his need.

 

 

again thanx