Dominique, if you believe she will be happier there do what you have to do. Some birds it seems will pluck/barber and have attitude their whole life and it never gets figured out.
You've done a wonderful job with Lucy. You still are. Seems to me Lucy's well being is what you have in mind. For what its worth I support you fully.

Thanks everyone! Its hard, especially considering that I LOVE eclectus more than ANYTHING! They are the ultimate- at least for me. Not to say I love my other two any less, its just eclectus are so intriging for me. I was really upset the other day; I mean, I had a male and though I realize that was a mistake in the first place to buy a ird that we knew nothing about, I still feel bad. And then Lucy...

I respect everyone here, ut for those of you with a love, time, and knowledge to take a bird with 'baggage', I commend you. IMO, bird people go through the most drama and, well, crap, than any other pet owner. Not only do we have to ensure the perfect diet, perfect cage, the emotions, but we almost feel as if the bird should therefore be 'perfect'. But sometimes, they pluck, or barb, or scream. I've found myself longing to (and I don't want to sound hypocrytical or selfish) find a bird that don't have the issues that Lucy is presently dealing with. I really and truely, no matter how much I learn, can't give her everything. She needs someone with the space to let her fly and for her to live like I see her wanting to live. I just hope you all understand what I'm saying...

And Leigh is right- just today I find a baby female eclectus (just under a year, still has her baby beak) with everything for a reasonable adoption fee. I just have to step away, and say no to my addiction

Just focus on your education, and have time to be young Dom. Stay focused, and you will be ok. And in time, you will be able to make a better long term decision. But Ill tell you the same thing I would tell a young person considering having a child, cause this is almost the same. TRAVEL, enjoy life, see the world with open eyes. Dont take on anything that will slow you down or ground you. The decisions you make now will stay with you for life! But you're a smart girl, I know you know this. Whenever you think of another bird, just go kiss and hug the 2 you have. They need you!

It's very hard to keep a parrot the way it's supposed to be kept. You did the right thing. I had to rehome a female eclectus myself and I don't usually rehome birds. Elsa hated and feared other birds (lots of ekkies are like that) so she could not be kept in the birdroom (she attacked other birds). She only wanted to be with my husband all the time (she didn't even like me much, she just tolerated me when he wasn't around) and we just couldn't give her that so I found her a good home with a family where she is the only bird, just as she likes it. She has the run or a large, open plan, ranch house and she has perches in every room, including the bathroom and she is very happy there.

I hope it works out for Lucy at her new home but you might want to reserve the right to take her back because maybe an aviary environment is not the right place for her. Ekkies tend to want to be with people and not with other ekkies and much less with any other type of bird and, with her history of aggression, I would not be surprised if she goes for the other birds. Males are more easy going and learn to tolerate other birds (I have one and although he doesn't ever interact with the other birds and tends to fuzz about any of them near him, he certainly doesn't hate them like Elsa did) but females are the dominant gender and tend to get their point accross with aggression.

I think it was very responsible of you! I'm not sure that I could have done it. But you are right for finding here a place that she will hopefully be happy in. To put aside your own feelings and place your birds well fare first is something that a lot of people don't even consider. So many people think they are the center of their world. but when it comes to our animals they are the ones that make our world what it is. And it is hard to let that go.