Eclectus Concern

[tamaran2]

have a male. He is about 4 to 5 months old. I have 2 concerns.
One he has a toe on is right foot that doesn't go backwards like it should it goes forward in a ackward way. He perches with it fine but it is always forward not backwards like it should be. Should I be concerned with this? Will it cause him problems in the future as he gets older?
My Second concern is his LACK of anything.
Other than him wanting to eat 24/7, he does nothing else. He just stays in the same spot and doesn't move, no screaming, no playing, just staying! Weird because I have tried to socialize him and nothing. All he wants to do is eat! I didn't think any bird could out eat my Blue Front but this bird has proved me wrong. But the thing that gets me is he doesn't move around. He wants to be picked up, he puts he foot up at the up command, so I have gotten "somewhere" with him but that is it.

One more concern, do they not use their feet to eat or hold food with? All my other parrots do, why doesn't he?

Any help or advise?

[Vankarhi]

Hello and welcome. firstly your boy is such a baby at only about 5 months old (now as i am writing this). My female red sided did not start to use her foot to pick things up until she was around 7 months old. It was very exciting just like watching my human babies do something for the first time. I have read people say that ekkies do not use their feet to pick things up and to eat with, but mine does and I have read of few others that do too. Mine uses her foot like a hand to hold things while she chews on it. I am assuming that at his age you have not had him for very long. Be patient, he is probably sussing you and everybody else out. Once he feels comfortable in his new home I am sure he will want to play and climb around. Ekkies are said to be the pigs of the bird world..............and my girl surely does love her food too.

About his toe, I cannot answer that, but if he is getting around ok and it is not bothering him then I would not worry about it. It is probably something he has had since he was hatched.

good luck and congratulations on your little green boy Pics would be nice to I love to look at other peoples birds.

[jimpierce7]

I had noticed the same thing with my baby. She is a little over 3 months old and one toe tends to go forward more often then not. The breeder made a coment that it is akin to a lack of coordination and will stop as she matures.