Hello Everyone. I am a Proud Eclectus Owner with a Question

[Eggie]

My 4-yr old red sided has the sweetest voice, but I haven't had the pleasure of listening to him talk lately because all he wants to do is squawk. Other than the squawking he is sweet--no biting, grumpy behavior, etc. Actually something else happened that was not normal either...when I put him on his shower perch, he didn't even get under the flow of the shower head. Normally he loves showers!
Do you know what possibly could have triggered this abnormal behavior? He just recently went through a long and difficult molt that took about 2 months, but ended two weeks ago.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[marie83]

Welcome to the forums

Has the loud squawking coincided with the not wanting to bath or has it been going on some time.
Behaviour changes could be caused by pretty much anything but anything abnormal for your bird should be checked over by an avian vet first.

[Eric&Rebecca]

+1 for getting the avian vet check the slightest thing can be a sign of sickness/illness. Although don't panic too much!

Our tiel started his first molt and absolutely refused to bathe after that despite adoring a bath before that. I'm not sure why either... and the avian vet didn't seem to think it was anything. Perhaps offer a container with shallow water in and let him come to it voluntarily in his cage or perhaps mist him with a spray bottle (take care not to spray in the face) and do it from a height. I wouldn't do any of these until you have ruled out sickness/illness.

Be vigilient for other signs of illness

[Eggie]

Welcome to the forums

Has the loud squawking coincided with the not wanting to bath or has it been going on some time.
Behaviour changes could be caused by pretty much anything but anything abnormal for your bird should be checked over by an avian vet first.

Thanks for your reply; I appreciate all your comments. I actually took him to my vet after his molt and got a clean bill of health so I was surprised that the talking stopped and squawking started right after the vet visit. Dr. Stahl mentioned that he could be going through puberty, but I thought he did that last year at 3yrs old. Also, I gave him a shower today and he was back to loving it!

This is sort of the order of events that I am trying to puzzle together and made sense of:

I "left the nest" to go to school for 2 months and left the care of my ekkie to my husband (who is afraid of him, but did the best he could...no showers, just sprays)
When I got back from school my bird acted normal and I was really pleased. 2 weeks later, it was as if he had turned a corner (for the better) and started talking to me a few inches away (he usually talks when he's in his cage and we are in the area, but not usually while he's perched on my finger looking right at me.
Then THE MOLT...he became grumpy, snarling, and territorial during feeding time so I would only handle him to take him to his shower and to dry him off. He seemed fine...no hostile aggression towards me (biting, etc.).
Then he started drinking excessive amounts of water giving him watery stools (the last time he did this during a molt and the vet said it was behavioral/hormonal) so this time we decided to filled his water crock up 2-3 times a day with about the same amount of water.
I started using an avian UVB light on him during the day for a few hours that I would turn off when I got home after school (early evening). I read that increasing UVB lights may have triggered his molt, but I don't know for sure.
The long, difficult molt took a lot out of him so I took him to Dr. Stahl (the best!) for a check up and he did a full work-up on him, blood, gram stain, liver, white cells, etc., and Dr. Stahl said he was great--really healthy! But...
ever since I got him home from the vet he has stopped talking and squawks instead...not like "calling out to me" when I leave the room (he doesn't do that anymore)...but while I am holding him. He is really sweet other than that, but he has stopped talking to me and rarely gives me kisses (which he used to like to do all the time).
I am perplexed...I don't know what changed his behavior and I am a novice bird owner so I am afraid to "reward bad behavior" or perpetuate this stage somehow. I have been trying to ignore him when he squawks; I even bought ear plugs (which I need because he squawks when he's perched on my finger or on my lap in the towel after his shower.
I would appreciate any words of wisdom or suggestions from experienced flock members Thanks!

[marie83]

How long ago was the vet trip? Sounds like your Ekkie may be sulking somewhat, trust me birds sulk lol.

[Eggie]

Two weeks ago.

[marie83]

Give him a bit longer to get over it then unless he gets worse or you notice anything else.

[Eggie]

Yes, I think that is a good idea. I thnk he might be going through puberty. He has been regurgitating and fixated on one toy lately.