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Thanks Wynette! I've always had Congo greys, and they have been a passion of mine for many years - until Kiwi and Lucy came along!!!! LOL! I still have 6 greys (one of which I got as a hand raised baby in 1993), and I still ADORE them, but Kiwi and Lucy give them a run for their money!!! I find it hard to photograph Kiwi close up tho - the flash reflects off his hair-like feathers and makes him look all washed out... Doesn't happen so much with Lucy tho.
As for the varied diet - it has to do with how long food sits in the system, IIRC. The longer it sits in the system = digestive upset/fermentation, fiber makes things "move" faster (fruit & veggies = fiber), that sorta thing... I *think*. But don't quote me - its been years...
On companions for parrots: In MY experience, I've found that parrots (not necessarily just eclectus) that have a cage companion can lose their pet quality to a certain degree, sometimes completely. So I feel that you really are taking a chance when you "get your bird a buddy" so he/she "won't be alone". I mean, they have *each other*, so theoretically, they really won't need YOU for anything, right? SOME/MOST of the time, that is, because there ARE exceptions to every rule. IMO, if you want a GUARANTEED sweet cuddly pet, keep a single bird and handle him/her often (and other people should hold him/her too, so that it doesn't bond to one person and will be nice to everybody in the household). But realistically speaking, we can't handle/be with our companion parrots 24/7, so we have to provide things for a single bird that will occupy and stimulate their mind, so that they can stay busy and not get bored while they're in their cage alone - some ways to "substitute" for a lack of a companion are hanging toys, foot toys, interesting food, keeping the television/radio on, keep cages in high traffic areas of the house, etc... Otherwise, a cage bound, fearful parrot with destructive behaviors (like feather plucking) can be the result.
Now, I'm not an eclectus expert or anything, as I only have experience with this one pair. But thru research and speaking with other breeders, I've learned that generally, eclectus pairs LOVE each other when they're breeding, and don't care much for humans during that time. In fact, I hear that females usually turn into red headed pit bulls when they're on a nest and males become their green body guards. I'm told that when not in a breeding situation, eclectus males and females usually don't like each other, and housing them separately is advisable.
My pair is the exception to the rule, apparently. They were both tame single pets when I got them, and both loved people - Kiwi had this habit of regurgitating food to me (which I find pretty gross, but its a sign of "love"), and Lucy's favorite thing in the world was to snuggle up in the sleeve of my robe while I watched TV in the evening. I housed them separately for 6 months while in quaratine, with the intention of housing them separately on a permanent basis. Well, after 6 months and having too many cages to clean, I decided to introduce them to each other on a play gym - it was INSTANT LOVE. They lived together peacefully for quite some time before I discovered Lucy digging and Kiwi feeding her (signs of willingness to breed). So I gave them a box. Lucy went in and laid 2 white eggs almost immediately, and Kiwi tended to her every need. But I soon found that she would let me pick her up OFF HER EGGS, would let me examine the eggs, and would allow me to love on and cuddle her, same as always!!! Kiwi, on the other hand, would get alittle miffed if I disturbed her - nothing serious, just some loud shrieks and a stern "HEY! What do you think you're doing???" (amazing how they use the appropriate words at the appropriate times). So, I'd put Lucy back, and she'd happily sit back on her nest.
But I also discovered that while Kiwi fed and tended to Lucy, he insisted on trying to breed with her head. Now, I don't care WHO ya are, that just AIN'T gonna work!!! LMAO! So, none of Lucy's eggs have been fertile to date. I'm still hopeful that he'll get it right one day!
This behavior is the envy of all my parrot friends. They find it absolutely amazing that I can house my pair together when they're NOT breeding, and that I can handle them when they are. Apparently this just isn't the way its supposed to work with eclectus!
Hope this helps!!!
