Frustrated Eclectus Mom (and dad)

[3Parrots]

Hi!

I need help with my Ekkie, Lucy. She is 4yrs old and has started screaming all day long. Some background: we have 3 parrots total, Lucy, an African Grey, and a White Bellied Caique. We split our time between two homes, at one the birds live in an upstairs bedroom with playtime in our family room on boings. At the 2nd home their cages are permanently in the family room and they enjoy outside time on top and around their cages (wings are clipped on all three). Lucy does not speak save for the rare 'Hello' here and there. In the three years we've owned her she's had her share of screams, but not to the extent that has been happening recently. For the past month she has been screaming two or three times in a row pretty much every 10 minutes. It's to the point where we 'banish' her to a separate bedroom in order to get some relief. She has a clean bill of health, a good diet, quality time with both of us (although she prefers my husband), toys and paper to chew on...so I need to know what other avenues to explore. I certainly don't want to give her away, but she's starting to make me nutty...

Thank you in advance!

[jolly_rodgers]

My thoughts are hormonal birdy. Four years is probably sexually mature. My male ekkie has taken a strong liking to his swing as his partner, so spring IS here. Just my thoughts. I have limited bird experience. Darlene in FL

[Sashagirl]

I want to say the same thing it could be hormonal too.But I am having the same problem my eclectus are under a year and I am owned by 3 eclectus and 14 other birds.The eclectus were all in my bedroom but I had to seperate due the screaming.Now only the girls are in my bedroom.The male is in the sitting room outside our bedroom.I know you said it has had a check up.
Maybe it's just spoiled and needs more time with you.Only two of my eclectus scream.I try spending more time with them and when they scream I tell them no in a soft voice.

[jolly_rodgers]

Replying in soft voice is good answer, because yelling at a bird gets you nowhere quick! I hope you find a solution!

[Cindy215]

There are alot of Eclectus posts about this right now. The first thing is to give a dark peaceful (no noise, computers, tvs, people) sleep following what's going on outside (12 hours day and night right now) including dusk and dawn.An overstimulated or sleep deprived bird is cranky.

Also clean bill of health meaning how long ago and what tests? Ekkie diets are very impacting and especially pellets. Also calcium deficiency can cause hyperactivity.

They are screaming for a reason and rehoming them isn't a good solution, imo, it's just passing the problem around and breaking the heart of the birds. I would try and figure out what they are trying to say and ask for. And sorry, I think it's sad to "banish" a bird for trying to communicate something whether it's to a hallway or a bedroom. Try and put yourself in the bird's place it's not their fault you have other birds who you like better or whatever...

Here's another thread just this week, too.
http://birdboard.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39851

Are you saying she is sitting OUT of the cage perfectly happy and screams for no reason every 10 minutes or are you saying she's locked up and screaming? If she's screaming to get out how long is she out every day? It could be a simple thing like enrichment, boredom, being lonely, etc....

[Cindy215]

Two good resources for Eclectus are Laurella Desborough (google her) and Land of Vos. I particularly like Laurella as she posts frequently on another board I'm on and is very knowledgeable, thorough, current and compassionate.