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[aportinen]

Hello.

My name is Anne Portinen and I recently rescued a Eclectus for a bad situation. There is a small feed store in Northern Minnesota that bought out a Pet store's inventory that had gone under. Part of the inventory was 2 Eclectus parrots, 2 Amazon, ferrets, fish etc. The gentleman that bought everything has no parrot experience at all. The cages the birds are in are way too small, I would say the size of a cockatiel cage, not a parrott. I have been going there to check the birds for about 4 months. The birds have not been allowed out of the cages, not have they been cleaned, and are fed a straight seed diet. I have brought many printed articles on the soft diet Eclectus should have etc. I was finally able to talk the owner to sellling me the female Eclectus last week. I know he is in dire need of the money and was able to get her for $600.00. He said the previous pet store owner told him she was 7 years old. She does have a band and I am going to check into that. The male is still there, screaming away. I would have also taken him but his vocabulary is not very condusive for my 3 year old grand daughter to hear. I am not a angel my any means but he can make a truck driver blush. He did have someone take the male about a month ago but she is a known Meth user and I fear he may have been subject to the chemicals. I do not have any proof just my feelings.

The female is a very sweet bird. My daughter and I were the only ones who could get her to come out of her cage when we would visit. We would open the door and tell her to step up and she would want to cuddle and give kisses.

I have a couple of questions for all you Ekkie expets. Ruby's feathers are in OK shape and I have taken her for a couple of showers, once in and the others to watch. She does seem to sneeze alot that has me concerned. The feed store she was in burns wood for heat and I am wondering if this could be the cause of the sneezing?

I have also noticed she is not drinking any water. The water in her cage was always nasty and I would make him put clean water in when ever I was there. Any tips on getting her to drink more?

I have ordered a new cage for her and I always allowed my other parrots a couple of weeks with the new cage next to theirs to get use to it. Everything I have read says Ekkies are more sensative, do I push the cage or let her explore? (I was going to start feeding her on the play top of the new cage.)

I think in time when she settles, she is going to be a awesome bird. She will only take new foods from my hand and will not eat from her dish. I am surprised how willing she to take food from me in the short time I have had her. She has learned the door to her cage is open for her to come and go and she is settling in nicely. The only wierd thing I have seen so far is every night around 8:00, she will try to fly off her cage to where we are sitting. She does not want to be picked up she just walks back to her cage to do it again. She will fly off twice and then settle in for the night. (goofy bird)

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Anne