New Eclectus is mean to Green cheek!!

[Alex'sMum]

Hello all,

Im brand new to these forums and was hoping somebody (anybody, Im desparate!!) could give me some advice as to how I can get our new eclectus (male) to be nice to our existing bird (the green cheek also male). We have had the green cheek (Alex) for 8 months and only brought our 3 month old eclectus (Maxwell) home 2 weeks ago. Alex was quite annoyed at the new addition and attacked him a bit for the first day or two. It didnt take long for Maxwell to realise he was heaps bigger than Alex and now poor Alex gets bunted of his perch (and he isnt a good flyer so just splatts on the floor) and pecked every five minutes. I really dont know what to do!!! Poor Alex feels evicted from his own home and has been taking it out on us biting us frequently! Maxwell is great with us (though still getting used to us) but is so nasty to Alex, I fear Alex will get badly hurt. Alex also no longer goes anywhere near Maxwell and doesnt provoke or invite the trouble.

Sorry my first posting is so long but need help!!!! If anyone has tips regarding how to enable them to be amicable I would be most grateful (hopefully It isnt too late!!).
:( :(

[dlaura]

First off did you quarantine the new bird away from Alex for 30 days after bringing it home, take it to the vet for a "well bird" check-up. Birds hide illnesses very well and usually by the time they start to show anything they have been ill for a while. It is always wise to quarantine any new bird you bring home if you already have birds.

Do these birds have separate cages? I don't blame Alex for not going anywhere near the new bird. We disipline our birds the same way you would a child -- if they fight they are given a time out in their cage. If just one bird goes after the other then that one goes away for 5 to 10 minutes. Should they both snap at each other they both go away. Our GC & Goffins learned very quickly. However, they are never allowed out near each other if we aren't right there to supervise. One quick snap of the goffins beak could severely injure the GCC. GCC are a big bird in a little bird's body and seem to have no fear - so it is good that Alex is at least staying clear of Maxwell. If you allow them out on a playstand/perch and Maxwell knocks Alex down you pick him up and say NO in a firm voice and return only Maxwell to the cage. They are very intelligent creatures and will learn very, very quickly if you are consistent.

Good Luck and be sure and give us an update.

[Alex'sMum]

Thanks so much for that advice. Yes, Maxwell was quarantined but not at our place (he was hand reared by an elderly lady on his own away from other birds). Both the boys share a cage (its a mansion so they can get thier own space) but they spend much of the day in the hub of our home on a multi tiered stand. Maxwell has 'taken' the top level which was always Alexs 'place' and Alex clearly has realised he's too little to argue with that!!
I do look directly at Maxwell and say NO! when he goes for Alex and he just stares back then often repeats the behaviour soon after. Maxwell is only 3 months old so I assumed he was too young to understand. I will definately try placing Maxwell in his cage for 5-10 mins each time he does nasty things and hopefully condition a more socially acceptable behaviour.
I feel so helpless to see Alex shaking and hiding between the rungs of the ladder when Maxwell is on a rampage that this also affects my bonding with Maxwell. My hubby often takes Maxwell away for 'quite time' on his lap when he gets narky but this will just reward him for poor behaviour wont it? So much for hubbys info (somebody told him a male eclectus would 'mother' a GCC)!!
Thanks again for the info...naively I hadnt imagined that our boys wouldnt get along but now I feel as though I can do something.

[Alex'sMum]

Oh....thought Id better add, they sometimes do exist together peacefully on the same tier of the stand but it usually doesnt last long.:(

[dlaura]

You are welcome for the previous advice. Now I want to strongly advise you that these two should have their own separate cages. Poor Alex needs to have some place that is his very, very own. I have heard of people leaving two keets which seem to get along fine and upon returning home have found one has killed the other. Birds need their own space also I sincerely hope you get Alex a cage of his own, even if the other is big. They still need their own private space! Please for the safety of both your pets.

[Squawksx3]

Many birds do not get along and theres nothing you can do to make them be friends. They are not confined to a cage in the wild and have the means to escape threatening situations. Please separate them as dlaura stated. Many birds that have been confined in cages together that dont get along have been killed, legs bitten off, etc. If you continue to keep them caged together your green cheek could end up seriously hurt or worse. You need to protect the green cheek and separate the two... please. Disciplining and trying to teach them to get along will not work with birds and people need to respect that.

I have an Umbrella cockatoo and Moluccan cockatoo. They adore each other and get along great outside of their cages... BUT ... if you put the two in the same cage.. the Umbrella will aggresively go after the Moluccan. They need their own space and to feel safe and secure... or you could also have behavior, plucking and/or self mutilation issues as a result to birds having to live in stressful situations. Good luck.

[dlaura]

I agree with squawksx3 -- I was referring to disipline as far as having them out at the same time. NOT sharing the same cage -- this is where they go for safety and security (as squawksx3 said) -- you can't be/feel safe if you are in the same enclosed area as the "bully" so to speak. Please heed our words before it is too late. Your green cheek is obviously frightened if he is shaking visably in front of you -- what happens when you are not home one day if a fight should break out inside the cage. I know our green cheek will tolerate something for so long and then he turns into the hulk and let me tell you his bites hurt!!!!!! BADLY You will not have one severely injured bird -- you will have two injured birds because the GC will not sit back and be attacked. I say this out of concern for both your birds and don't want to see you go thru something that could have been prevented.

[krazy4birds]

Hi There Alex's Mum! Welcome to Petlovers and congratulations on your new Electous! They are awesome birds and my daughter's dream bird. She is married and away from home and has other birds but she is saving every free penny she can for her "dream bird".

I must comment on your arrangements with the Electous and your GCC. I have a GCC, Louie and they are, as Diane said....big birds in a little body and fear NOTHING! hahahahaha.........Please, please,please if not done already....put them is seperate cages. This is not a choice but a MUST. If you don't, I guarantee you that your Green Cheek will end up maimed or killed. I have a Timneh Grey, 2 Quakers, Parrakeet, Zebra Finch, Moustached 'Keet and there is not one bird that I would house with Louie(my GCC) They are just not mean't to be with others in confinement. They have tempers, and aggression to anybody or anything that is in their "space"
Trust me, we are not trying to be mean or trying to make you feel bad. It is in everybodies best interest. We are glad you are a member of Petlovers and hope you stay!!!!! PLEASE......keep us updated!

['too crazy]

Hi Alex's Mum, welcome to the board. Add me to the list of people saying these birds should be separted ASAP. Alex doesn't stand a chance against an Eclectus and I'm sure he's not feeling safe even in his own home. I hope you don't think we're all ganging up on you, just trying to give helpful advice.

[Alex'sMum]

Hi everyone,

No, I dont feel ganged-up on or anything like that! I havn't been on the internet for a few days so are just reading some of the more recent comments now. I have convinced my hubby to give Alex back his old cage and already Alex seems happier so Im glad for your good advice. Unfortunately, the man who sold hubby Maxwell (the Eclectus) told him that an eclectus would 'mother' a GCC and they would be a perfect pairing. I told my hubby that for AUD $1400 people will tell you anything!! Anyhow, Maxwell is already becoming part of the household and Im developing a bit of a soft spot for him too (though I cant imagine that it will be anything like how I feel about Alex which probably sounds mean). This is a big learning curve for us and I wouldnt want anything bad to happen to either of the birds who are much more like loved ones than birds! So thank you all for the info, I respect your collective experience and have taken note of all thats been suggested. It sure helps having people who know thier stuff to depend on!!
Looking forward to visiting more often,
Cheers, Mona

['too crazy]

I'm glad to hear your separating them. I can't believe someone would tell you an Eclectus would mother a GCC knowing there was a possibility the Eclectus could kill the GCC. Eclectus's are beautiful birds and I am sure you'll just love him. I'm glad you joined our forum here and we look forward to hearing about both your babies. :)

[dlaura]

Thanks for the update Mona and thanks so much for heeding our advice for both your birds sake. Birds do really have a way of getting under our skin and into our hearts in such a special way. Nothing wrong with having a soft spot for Maxwell too (cat helping me type here). I know just where you are coming from because we had our GCC first and then eventually got three more birds and though I love all my birds - I have a soft spot for our GCC, Einstein.

Please visit often and feel free to ask any other questions that pop up and we'll do our best to help you out. Glad you joined us here.

[krazy4birds]

Oh what wonderfull news! I am so happy to hear the birds are back in their respective cages and safe now. I was so afraid something bad would happen before you got them switched back!

I am also glad to hear that you do not think we were being over bearing about it, we weren't trying to sound mean..we were just scared to death!!!! Keep us updated and God Bless!

[dlaura]

Hi,
I just wondered how things were going now that both birds are in their own cages. Hope to hear from you. Thanks, Diane