We are thinking of getting an Eclectus. We were told to get a male as females can be hormonal. We were wondering if anyone has any information on males vs. females and any other useful information on these birds.

Thanks!

Hahaha, the classic "Males vs.Females". Oh how I love explaining this, lol!. This is my opinion, which is based on my experiances as well as the information I've gathered. I'm partial to females, by I try to keep the playing field even

We never got a 'baby' eclectus. We started with a male who was about 11 months old. Still pretty much a baby. We named him Zazu. All things were fine up until he was about 13 months old. We started seeing subtle changes in his personality. He'd always been pretty quiet. Now he was more vocal-not talking, but vocalizing. Then, things continued to get worse. He didn't like women, or at least not ones with feminine voices like mine and my mum's. He would come out, sit on our hand them WHAM attack us out of no where. He had his sweet moments, but just about everytime we got him out, he would bite us out of no where. I have a couple scars, mainly on my fingers.

Now, for a female story:
If you've ever heard the term "Hamburger hands" or better yet seen it in person, you will realize the damage a bird can do. I was attempting to get a 1 1/2 yo to step up. Bad idea. She tore my hands up, with every bite, I bled. I have a scar (rather large) from my visit with her as well.

The reason why I wrote this is to show you that you can't go based on what someone has told you. Both males and females are capable of doing great damage, but people seem to make a bigger deal out of the females, perhaps its because they have the excuse of being hormonal and males have no excuse except bad bahavior.

For a while, I was partial to males until I got to experiance the love of an adult female. This really changed my perspective. From about 2 years to four (depending on the bird) they will go through their adolesence. They get hormonal; they scream, they bite, they hate you. But usually, in the end, you get a very sweet bird back.

After much deliberation, I though we'd be smart to go with a female. What do you know, a couple weeks after this decision, we are given Lucy. I seem to recommend adults as 'first ekkies' because you can already see their personalities. With babies, you tend to see the same, sweet, cuddle, playful, and adorable. A friend of mine also ended up getting an adult female. She has another female that she has has since a weanling, and told me that getting an adult was rewarding in many more ways than just it being 'easier'. I'm not trying to sway your decision against males, but if you want a female, consider spending time with both sexes, adults and young. In the end you will make the right decision. There are hundreds of birds out there, ekkies just happen to be very special

Yes but raddaughter you've only had your Ekkie for a couple of months. She has a long life ahead lol. The reason a hormonal hen is famously different is their level of commitment to one person and that they can go into plucking and egg laying which jeopardizes their lives.

Both can and will experience hormonal highs and lows and need to be worked through it the exact same ways. There is no difference in how you "treat" it. Following a strict daylight schedule, lowering the protein and vitamin e, not stroking beaks backs feet or butts, no hiding in dark spots or nesting behind pillows, rotating the cage around the house, changing out all the stuff inside. This should only occur in the spring if at all and will pass by the end of summer. However a bond to one person can continue all year long. Which is the same for alot of parrots not just Eclectus.

IMO if you are concerned or not feeling prepared then don't get the one you have concerns about. There are so many birds needing good homes. Sometimes the smaller ones are easier to "take" during these cyclic times. And alot of them don't have a reputation for the drama. Like conures, caiques, pionus....not that they don't go through it but they are easier to take and you don't hear the same level of "complaints". Also remember there is a big adjustment when they come home and the "real" bird you saw at the store won't usually be that way till they get settled in can be one to more months of just feeling secure again.
T

True. However, I have only has Lucy for a couple months. However, I had my male for over a year. Not much, but I've spent time with over two doxen other ekkies of multiple occasions.

The point I was trying to make was that both will be hormonal. However, get the one you really have your heart set on, not the one that everyone tells you to get. Both males and females make great companions, and I have never regret getting a female, even though it's only been a couple months