ECLECTUS PARROTS

ECLECTUS PARROTS differ in many ways from other parrots: in color, in behavior and in care. Since they are desirable as companion birds, we ensure new owners know the special needs and behavior of these birds before they get home. With proper encouragement and education, eclectus parrot owners can look forward to an enjoyable relationship with their new pet.

Eclectus parrots are appealing to customers as companion birds because of their dramatically dimorphic coloring. The head, neck, breast and belly feathers are very fine and hair like, fitting smoothly over the body. Feathers of the back, wing covers and tail are more like typical contour feathers. Overall, males are an iridescent green color, ranging from a bright lime green in the Vosmaeri and Solomon Island subspecies, to a darker emerald green in the Red-sided and Grand. Showing under the folded wing edge along the sides is a patch of bright red feathers, which extend up under the wings. Primary wing feathers are dark blue and black.

Female eclectus generally are red with breast colors varying according to subspecies. Vosmaeri females have lavender breasts and mantles. Grand females exhibit purple breasts while Red-sided and Solomon Island females have bright royal blue breasts with tiny blue feathers forming a ring around the eye. Vosmaeri females have a pure golden- yellow tail band about 1 inch in width. Red-sided and Solomon females have a red tail band, and Grand females exhibit a tiny edge of dusty orange on their tails. As in the males, primary wing feathers are dark blue.

Eclectus parrots are not noisy and they aren't destructive chewers. Most eclectus learn to speak well, love to interact with people and are able to form relationships with most family members. Since they are not aggressive birds, eclectus parrots generally won't bite unless very frightened or extremely provoked by poor handling.

In terms of handling and behavior, the Solomon Island eclectus is the most docile and forgiving of mistakes. This bird is the best to recommend to families with young children or to new bird owners. The Vosmaeri is the most sensitive and requires careful weaning and handling. The Red-sided eclectus, especially the females, require more patience as they have very strong emotions and may react negatively to something new or unexpected when they are young. Once they are through this period they are fine.

Eclectus parrots do not require daily handling to maintain their friendly relationships with people. They are quite sociable and enjoy sharing in the family activities, whether taking a shower or eating dinner.

Keep in mind that the quality of handling eclectus babies or young birds will have a profound effect on their gentleness and level of comfort with their new owners. Eclectus respond best to persuasion with conversation and respond negatively to being forced. Gentle handling should be stressed with new owners and store workers.

Weaning and Feeding

Eclectus parrots are not easy to hand-feed because they do not take their formula from the syringe in large amounts like amazons or macaws; they swallow it in smaller amounts and take longer to hand-feed. They do not like to be held tightly by the head during feeding, but tolerate a light touch when guiding the syringe into their beaks. Forceful handling causes resentment and an unwillingness to take formula. Also, after they begin to feather out, some may be less anxious to feed, although they still need a minimum of 10 percent of their body weight at each feeding.

Eclectus learn to recognize their hand-feeders and become reluctant to take formula from strangers. This is one reason it is not a good idea to send an unweaned eclectus home with a client. Tube feeding is not recommended, as eclectus have a very negative reaction to being forced. They are intelligent and aware of rough or insensitive handling. It is very important to talk to them during the handfeeding process; this makes them more receptive and relaxed.

Although eclectus parrots are well feathered at three months, they are not ready to wean. Depending on the subspecies, eclectus can take anywhere from three and a half months to four and a half months to wean. Solomon's wean the earliest and Vosmaeri take the longest.

During the weaning process, soft foods should be provided, such as defrosted corn and other vegetables, soaked commercial bird biscuits, commercial pellets and spray millet. Food should be provided in wide bowls, 6 to 8 inches across, with separate bowls for dry and moist foods. Table foods are fine as an extra to the daily diet but should not be used instead of the diet.

Eclectus parrots respond to people who talk to them and love to listen to people's voices.

When eclectus parrots go home with a new owner, we make it easy for the owner to provide their pets with a good diet on a routine basis. Preparing soft foods once a week in a batch and then bagging them and freezing them works well. Soft food selections should include frozen corn and other vegetables, cooked beans, cooked brown rice and sprouted seeds from a commercial mix that contains sunflower and safflower. The bags then can be defrosted and served in the morning, along with a dry mix of commercial pellets, spray millet and a few dry seeds.

Chopped fruits and greens should form a part of the daily diet. Vegetables, greens and sprouts are sources of natural vitamins and minerals. Eclectus are sensitive to man-made vitamins and seem to do better with vitamins from a natural source. The birds need about one cup of soft foods daily, along with one-quarter cup of pellets.

The best cages for eclectus parrots are at least 36 inches wide and 30 to 36 inches deep by 36 or more inches high. A wide variety of hanging toys made of softwood and hard plastic are greatly enjoyed by eclectus birds.

Preferred perches are of fir or soft pine. Manzanita perches should not be used unless the surface is roughed up to remove the slippery quality. Eclectus need soft perches on which to groom their beaks and keep them in shape.

With the right combination, you can promote healthy and enjoyable relationships between your family and this newfound friend.

Reprinted by Pretty Birds from Pet Product News by Laurella Desborough

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