@Laura729, no worries about delays! I haven't been online as much because of work and stuff with the rescue.
I was thinking the same thing with her cholesterol, I will ask my vet though and get her opinion. Someone else I know has recommended sprinkling a quarter teaspoon of organic raw wheat germ on her food every other day for the folic acid content; ever hear of this? I've tried searching the forum and the internet but only came across people feeding it to breeding canaries. She did get a little bit of a treat tonight with some sprouted sunflower seeds mixed into her chow, but thus far no sunflower seeds since she was with her former owners.
I am thinking the posture is a hormonal/sexual response. She does it mostly for my girlfriend when she enters the room or steps up on her, and it is quite deliberate. She also did it for me this evening as I was lightly touching her neck/upper back. And considering it is hormone season, I am thinking its more likely a hormonal behavior. I know that Ekkies don't like scritches or to be touched like other parrots due to their unique feathers, but so far she seems alright with a light touch to her neck and head area. Mostly I am trying to get her more comfortable with my hands but will only do as much as she is comfortable with, and of course stop if she exhibits hormonal behavior associated with it.
I haven't been able to place my AO order unfortunately. Every time I try to check out I get an error message, I will keep trying though.
As for the potential wing flipping, I have maybe seen her do it once or twice since my last post. Tonight actually was the first time I saw her move her wing like that in a while, and I think she was just re-positioning. I'm keeping my eye out for it though. Thankfully I haven't noticed any obvious signs of feather chewing or plucking either. There have been a few down feathers on the cage paper and pieces of feathers, but I think those have fallen out because of the condition of some of hers being so poor. She is growing a bunch of new feathers on her chest and under her wing and I am hoping she lets those come through okay.
That's sad that your female Eclectus came from a smoking home : (. I hope she ended up okay in spite of it. Gillian is still making her noises in her Elmo voice, but she has started using a lot more variety in the tone/inflection of her "ohh's". And, she makes this cute little clucking sound, kinda like a chicken. So, funny story associated with that. Someone I know on Facebook has a female Eclectus and posted a picture of her on their lap with the caption going something like: "my cute little chicken follows me wherever I go." Someone commented and asked her what kind of chicken is that, and said she has never seen one like that before. Haha! So I went up to Gillian and asked what kind of chicken are you, and I kid you not she made the cluck cluck cluck sound for the first time, three times in a row. I was howling laughing! So now every time she has made it I say to her chicken, haha. But I have a feeling that she is going to surprise us one day and say a phrase or two. It almost seems like she is just getting comfortable vocalizing again, and that she wants to say something but might still be a little shy.
This definitely seems to be the "road less traveled" on AA. I'm more than happy to post updates on Gilly Bean though, and hope to continue this thread. I will take more pictures of her soon, too! Plus I know I will have more questions I need your advice on
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I was thinking the same thing with her cholesterol, I will ask my vet though and get her opinion. Someone else I know has recommended sprinkling a quarter teaspoon of organic raw wheat germ on her food every other day for the folic acid content; ever hear of this? I've tried searching the forum and the internet but only came across people feeding it to breeding canaries. She did get a little bit of a treat tonight with some sprouted sunflower seeds mixed into her chow, but thus far no sunflower seeds since she was with her former owners.
I am thinking the posture is a hormonal/sexual response. She does it mostly for my girlfriend when she enters the room or steps up on her, and it is quite deliberate. She also did it for me this evening as I was lightly touching her neck/upper back. And considering it is hormone season, I am thinking its more likely a hormonal behavior. I know that Ekkies don't like scritches or to be touched like other parrots due to their unique feathers, but so far she seems alright with a light touch to her neck and head area. Mostly I am trying to get her more comfortable with my hands but will only do as much as she is comfortable with, and of course stop if she exhibits hormonal behavior associated with it.
I haven't been able to place my AO order unfortunately. Every time I try to check out I get an error message, I will keep trying though.
As for the potential wing flipping, I have maybe seen her do it once or twice since my last post. Tonight actually was the first time I saw her move her wing like that in a while, and I think she was just re-positioning. I'm keeping my eye out for it though. Thankfully I haven't noticed any obvious signs of feather chewing or plucking either. There have been a few down feathers on the cage paper and pieces of feathers, but I think those have fallen out because of the condition of some of hers being so poor. She is growing a bunch of new feathers on her chest and under her wing and I am hoping she lets those come through okay.
That's sad that your female Eclectus came from a smoking home : (. I hope she ended up okay in spite of it. Gillian is still making her noises in her Elmo voice, but she has started using a lot more variety in the tone/inflection of her "ohh's". And, she makes this cute little clucking sound, kinda like a chicken. So, funny story associated with that. Someone I know on Facebook has a female Eclectus and posted a picture of her on their lap with the caption going something like: "my cute little chicken follows me wherever I go." Someone commented and asked her what kind of chicken is that, and said she has never seen one like that before. Haha! So I went up to Gillian and asked what kind of chicken are you, and I kid you not she made the cluck cluck cluck sound for the first time, three times in a row. I was howling laughing! So now every time she has made it I say to her chicken, haha. But I have a feeling that she is going to surprise us one day and say a phrase or two. It almost seems like she is just getting comfortable vocalizing again, and that she wants to say something but might still be a little shy.
This definitely seems to be the "road less traveled" on AA. I'm more than happy to post updates on Gilly Bean though, and hope to continue this thread. I will take more pictures of her soon, too! Plus I know I will have more questions I need your advice on
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