Adopting an Eclectus parrot is a huge commitment, for various reasons. You may think that you want one of these fantastic birds already, but have you seriously thought things through? Read the following information to determine whether you are truly ready for this huge commitment or not. 

The first thing that one must consider is the life span of the Eclectus parrot. These gorgeous birds live to be between the ages of thirty and fifty years old. That is a very long time, and you must be prepared to care for your bird for that length of time. If you are already older, you must have someone lined up to take over the care of the bird once you’ve passed away. This is vitally important. You don’t want your Eclectus parrot abandoned should you die before he does. Like marriage, this could be a lifelong commitment on your part.

You must also consider your own living situation. Will you possibly be moving during your bird’s life? If so, will your bird be able to go with you to a new rental home or apartment? Are you prepared to pay pet deposits? How much space do you have available for a bird in your home? Eclectus parrots do require a great deal of space. They need room for their cage, but they also need a little room to fly around inside of the home.

Furthermore, is the space that you have suitable? Are you able to keep the windows in the home closed, in order to prevent your Eclectus parrot from flying away – or from keeping his natural predators (such as cats) from entering the home?

Consider the amount of time that you have available as well. Eclectus parrots require time outside of their cage daily. This is not only essential for proper exercise, but also for their overall well-being, as well as socialization. These are very social birds, and they do require time and attention from you. Since the bird will be out of his cage each day, are you prepared to potty train him, so that he doesn’t ruin an entire house full of furniture and carpet?

Also note that Eclectus parrots are seldom loyal to just one family member. Instead, they truly become a part of the family, and show interest in all members of the household – and they expect care and attention from all members as well. Is your entire family on-board with adopting and caring for an Eclectus parrot?

Finally, consider the natural behavior of the Eclectus parrot. While the Eclectus is the quietest species, this doesn’t mean that he is dead silent. Furthermore, he will learn to talk, and he will want to talk often. Are you ready for the constant natural sounds that he will make? What about your other family members and neighbors who live close by?

Naturally, you must also consider the lifelong expense of these birds. He will need toys, food, a cage, and veterinarian care. The expenses can really add up fast – especially if he gets sick. Can you afford these expenses?

If you have considered all of these factors, and you still feel like you are ready to adopt an Eclectus parrot, you are ready to start searching for a breeder – and ultimately, the perfect Eclectus parrot for you.

Once you’ve made the decision to adopt an Eclectus parrot, you need to find a breeder (or parrot rescue shelter where the personalities of all the iparrots are well known). You could purchase your Eclectus parrot at a pet store, but this is generally not advised. The healthiest and happiest birds come from private, experienced breeders. Here is a list of questions you should ask breeders. 

Do you breed your pairs year-round? If a breeder breeds their females back to back, this doesn’t produce the healthiest of chicks. Consider another breeder, as this one has little regard for the health of these beautiful birds.

How many years have you been breeding Eclectus parrots? Obviously, the more experience the breeder has, the better off you and the baby are.

Do you breed more than one species? The best breeders typically only breed one species, although there are a few good breeders that breed subspecies of Eclectus parrots as well. This gives you more choices when you select your chick.

Do you wean your chicks before you send them home with their new owners? This is an important question, and most good breeders will not allow babies to leave them until they are fully weaned.

Are your chicks hand fed? The chicks that are hand fed, or hand reared, make the best pets, because they are highly socialized.

Do you only sell the chicks that were bred and hatched at your aviary, or do you broker babies? You don’t generally want to work with someone who brokers these birds. You want your chick to come from the place where it was born and bred. This is referred to as a closed aviary.

Are your chicks hatched in an incubator, or in the nest? Typically, the best chicks are hatched in the nest, with their mother. Bonding is very important.

How long do your chicks remain with their parents after they have hatched? Ideally, they will spend ten days to two weeks with their parents before they are taken away for hand feeding. If you can find a breeder that leaves the chicks with their parents for three weeks, this is even better.

Will I be able to see the parent birds when I select my chick? Seeing the parents is always a good idea. If the breeder breeds and hatches their chicks at the same location, and they aren’t brokers, this shouldn’t be a problem.

How much time is spent with your chicks each day? You want a chick that has spent a great deal of time with humans each day. This will give you a more social chick.

You may have additional questions that you want to ask as well. Make a list of questions, and ask them on the phone, and follow up with a visit in person to inspect the aviary. Choosing the right breeder is the first step to adopting the right Eclectus parrot.

Your Eclectus parrot may be able to talk, but he most likely won’t be able to indicate whether or not he feels well. Therefore, you need to know the signs of a healthy bird, so that you can recognize the signs of a bird that isn’t feeling well. 

A healthy Eclectus parrot is active, sociable, and alert. If your Eclectus parrot does not appear to be able to focus, or his eyes appear half closed, he probably isn’t feeling well. If he becomes aggressive to touch, he may be in pain. If he seems listless, this also indicates a problem, and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

A healthy Eclectus parrot has a dry nose and big bright eyes. If your parrot develops a moist or runny nose, he probably needs the care of a veterinarian. His eyes should be big and bright, but not watery or runny.

A healthy Eclectus parrot eats and drinks well. Pay attention to your Eclectus parrot. He should have a very healthy appetite. It is wise to remember that an Eclectus parrot is prone to becoming overweight, simply because he enjoys eating. Therefore, if he isn’t eating, there is a problem.

A healthy Eclectus parrot has a clean and dry vent. The vent is located under the tail feathers. This area should be both clean and dry, and if it isn’t, this may be an indication of diarrhea, or another serious problem, and you need to consult a veterinarian.

A healthy Eclectus parrot grooms himself, and has smooth feathers. Overall, your parrot should have a smooth appearance. Grooming is very important to these birds, and if your Eclectus parrot appears to be disheveled, this is an indication of a problem. You may also notice that he is feather plucking, meaning that he is pulling his own feathers out. Even if the parrot is grooming himself, his feathers may not have a healthy look to them, and again, you should consult with a veterinarian.

A healthy Eclectus parrot has legs, feet, and a beak that are in good physical shape. You should check daily for dry and cracked feet, legs, and beaks. Also, make sure that you clip your bird’s nails regularly, as this makes life much easier for him and for you.

You should note that most health problems that an Eclectus parrot develops stems from a diet that isn’t sufficient. Often, a change in the diet to include all of the nutrients and minerals that the bird needs is all that is needed to correct the health problem.

This does not mean, however, that you shouldn’t take your Eclectus parrot to the veterinarian, for a proper diagnosis. If you fail to do this, you could be cutting the life of your beloved feathered friend short. Again, know what the signs of a healthy bird are, so that you can easily and quickly notice if there is a potential health problem.

If you are planning to adopt an Eclectus parrot, you need to have an avian veterinarian lined up before you do so. An avian veterinarian is a veterinarian trained and experienced at caring for birds. Some avian vets specialize in certain birds, and others will care for all breeds.

Unfortunately, a veterinarian can refer to himself as an avian veterinarian, but that doesn’t mean that he is a certified avian veterinarian. Certification can only be obtained through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Just four years ago, in 2004, there were only 102 certified avian veterinarians around the world. Certification requires six years of a large amount of avian practice, as well as a series of examinations.

This doesn’t mean that a non-certified veterinarian cannot care for your Eclectus parrot. You should, however, seek out a veterinarian who is in the process of becoming certified, if at all possible. Since there are so few veterinarians worldwide who have accomplished certification, instead, you should seek out a veterinarian who is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. This organization has more than 3000 members worldwide, and these are veterinarians who are working towards certification. You can contact the AAV to get a listing of the members in your area. You can also ask your breeder for recommendations.

Once you have a list of veterinarians to choose from, you should set up a consultation appointment with each one. Most will charge you their regular office visit rate for this visit, but finding the right veterinarian makes the cost well worth the expense. You should ask these veterinarians the following questions:

How much experience do you have with Eclectus parrots?
How much avian experience do you have overall?
Do you have any birds as pets yourself?
How much do your services cost?
What are your regular hours? Do you have after hour emergency care?
How often do you recommend that I bring my bird in for a check up?
Are you a member of the AAV? Where did you receive your training?
Do you make house calls?

With the answers to these questions from each veterinarian that you contact, you should easily be able to make a choice. Write the questions down for each veterinarian, and write down his or her answers so that you can compare them later.

Just because one veterinarian stood out among the others in the initial consultation, you need to pay close attention during the first visit your Eclectus parrot has with the chosen vet. Do you approve of the way that he handles the bird? Does he show genuine interest and concern? Is he rushed? Are the atmosphere and/or the veterinarian causing the bird stress? The chances are that if you liked the veterinarian during the initial consultation, he will do fine with your new bird – just make sure that you have a veterinarian lined up for your birds care.

Building your own birdhouse can be fun. You can get exactly what you want and design it to your specifications. There are plenty of plans you can get to make this process work out for you. Look for birdhouse plans that offer you step by step instructions. Some are for beginners and others are for more advanced skill levels. Make sure you get the birdhouse plans that will be the best for you to work with.

Many home improvement stores offer books with birdhouse plans in them. You can flip though them to see what is offered. These books are often affordable and they have plenty of plans to choose from. If you will be making plenty of birdhouses for your own use or to sell this could be the best route to take. This will keep the cost of the plans low and give you plenty of variety to choose from as well.

You can also find birdhouse plans online. You can look at the various pictures and then choose what you want to make. In most instances you will get a download link to access the birdhouse plans as soon as you pay for it. This means you don’t have to wait for it to be mailed to you. Just save the plans to your computer and print out a copy to work from as well.

Making birdhouses may be a hobby you enjoy or a way for you to make money. You can easily sell them online or at craft shows. Having excellent plans to work from will ensure you have great looking birdhouses to sell. If you have creative ideas for birdhouses, you can sell your own plans to others as well. You will be surprised at how many people go online each day to search for birdhouse plans.

You won’t be disappointed with the wide selection of them offered either. Birdhouse plans are extremely affordable so you can buy them and use them over and over again. It is less expensive to make a birdhouse on your own than to buy one. You can also be very proud of your work and display it in your yard.

If you ask Eclectus parrot owners if their birds are more special than other species, almost all of them will tell you that the Eclectus parrot is the most special bird in the world. In fact, this is the most popular choice of aviary pet in the entire world, and it isn’t any wonder.

First, these are incredibly beautiful birds, but this is not necessarily what sets them apart. They are, however, the most vibrantly colored of all parrots. But these birds are also highly social. They really like humans, and become true companions, while most other species never actually ‘warm up’ to human contact. Eclectus parrots, however, are really tuned into our moods and feelings, once they know and trust us. They actually develop a bond with their humans.

The Eclectus parrot has amazing talking abilities. In fact, it is believed that they have the clearest speech patterns, and that they are capable of learning the most varied vocabulary of all other talking birds. These birds say words, phrases, sing, and even make sound effects. These birds have been known to imitate running water, microwaves, doorbells, telephones, sneezing sounds, and even to sing opera. They can even laugh. This unique talking ability of the Eclectus parrot seems to give them more personality than other species. Furthermore, the males have masculine voices, and the females have feminine voices.

Eclectus parrots are also highly intelligent. They can easily be trained to follow commands, and they can even be potty trained, so to speak. The limitations as to what they can be trained to do or say is dependant on what their owners teach them, and how often they work with them.

The Eclectus parrot is considered to be one of the neatest parrots, and in spite of his talking abilities, one of the least noisy birds. These birds don’t toss their food about like others do. There won’t be a lot of squawking and screaming with an Eclectus parrot, unless he isn’t handled enough and he develops behavioral problems.

The Eclectus parrots don’t produce feather dust, which is a welcome relief to bird lovers who have allergies. These birds have an oil gland, instead of a dust gland, and you might consider them to be hypoallergenic birds. Eclectus parrots are really very interested in their humans, and will watch their movements closely. They want to know what you are doing.

If you asked an Eclectus owner what they loved the most about their bird, they would probably ask you what there was to not love. The fact is that this is the most loveable, docile bird that one can have. They become the most loyal of pets, and before long, you could consider your Eclectus parrot to be your best friend in the whole world.

Not everyone has a yard where they can place a birdfeeder. Yet this doesn’t mean they have to miss out on being able to do so. There are plenty of lightweight ones that you can apply right to your window. They are held in place with the use of powerful suction cups. They are very affordable and you can get them from most retail stores. Even people that live in apartments and college dorms can benefit from the use of this type of birdfeeder.

Make sure you hang them properly though so they won’t fall off the windows. You should look for those that have a tube or way to protect the birdseeds that are inside of it. This way they won’t all blow away if the wind should kick up. You want the drop down kind that will automatically refill the feeding dishes as the birds consume what is down there in them.

Some people just enjoy the ability to watch the birds enjoying the food while they observe from indoors. They may like to eat breakfast while the birds enjoy theirs outside of the kitchen window. Some people place them in their bedroom so they can wake up to the sound of the birds.

Even though window birdfeeders are smaller and more compact, there is still plenty of selection out there to choose from. Some of them are long vertically while others are long horizontally. Look at the different models so you can buy one you really like. Since you will see it each time you look out your window you want to make sure you will be happy with it.

Many children want to have a pet but they are plenty of work. You may live someplace where pets aren’t allowed. You may just feel that you don’t have the time or energy to properly care for them. The next best option though is to allow them to have outdoor pets in these birds. They can help you set up a window birdfeeder and then enjoy all of the birds that come to feed there.

Have some fun looking at the various types of window birdfeeders out there. You will be impressed with all that is offered to you. Window birdfeeders are a good way to offer the birds plenty of food in times when it is scarce too. They will remember the source and return again and again for it.

Just as you must know the signs of a healthy Eclectus parrot, you must also know what to look for that may signify illness. You also need to know when a situation warrants care from a trained veterinarian. Here are some common signs of illness in Eclectus parrots.

Diarrhea –

If your Eclectus parrot is suffering from diarrhea, there could be numerous causes. The first thing to do is to stop all fruits. The second thing to do is to ensure that your bird is getting enough water, so that he doesn’t become dehydrated. Next, figure out the cause. It could be as simple as a recent change in his diet, or as serious as a parasite problem. You should consult your veterinarian.

Feather Plucking –

Feather plucking means that the bird is literally plucking his own feathers out of his body. This is most often caused by boredom, but could also be caused by a problem with his diet, or an actual illness. This is often remedied by paying more attention to the bird, providing him with new toys, giving him more room to move around, and things of this nature. If the behavior doesn’t stop, consult a veterinarian.

Polyoma Virus –

The Polyoma Virus is deadly for Eclectus parrots. It is wise to have your bird vaccinated as early as possible against this fatal disease. Signs of Polyoma Virus include loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy; however one of the worst signs is sudden death. This means that your bird could die from this dreadful disease before he shows any other symptoms.

Psittacine Beak and Feather –

This can be a serious disease if it is not treated as soon as possible. Symptoms of PBF include strange feather colors, loss of feathers, and deformities of the beak. See your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Other serious signs of illness

Indications of parrot sickness include sitting on the floor of the aviary, plucked feathers, soiled feathers, feathers in disarray, swollen beak, coughing, wheezing, runny stools, discolored stool, hobbling on one foot, discharge from the eyes, runny nose, red eyes, swollen eyes, and lack of appetite.

When in doubt, go to the veterinarian.

Don’t take chances with your precious Eclectus parrots life. Some illness can literally take your birds life in the amount of time it takes you to decide to make an appointment with your veterinarian. When things don’t look right, immediately make that appointment. Let the veterinarian know what is going on, so he can determine whether the bird should be brought right into the office or if it can wait.

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Birds are lovely creatures to have around your home. They offer beautiful sounds and they are quite colorful. Many people encourage them to be around their home by placing birdhouses and birdfeeders in their yards. This way they can come rest and get some food. During the winter when they are flying south food can become scarce. Offering birdfeeders though means you can help them to get enough food to make the journey safely.

For those that have outdoor pets such as dogs and cats, birds can become a nuisance. They may go to eat from their food dishes and drink from their water supply. This should be a concern as they will often leave excrements behind in that area. As a result your family pets could end up sick. Do your best to keep birds away from their food by offering a birdfeeder.

It can be great fun to go shopping for birdhouses and birdfeeders too. You will find thousands of different ones to choose from. Some are large and some are small but they are gorgeous. You can choose a simple one or something more elaborate. Some even look like miniature cabins for a more rustic look.

It is very simple to hang up birdhouses and birdfeeders in your yard. You may want to do so where you can see the birds coming and going from the windows in your home. Some models of birdfeeders even sit right on the window so you may want one of those options as well.

If you have the time and ambition, you can even build your own birdhouses and birdfeeders. You can get kits for them at your local home improvement store. The entire family can take part in building and painting them. You can also buy just the plans and then get all of the supplies you need to build a more complicated birdhouse or birdfeeder.

Birds are very important to our environment and making sure they have a place to be safe and plenty to eat is a way we can help them. Both birdhouses and birdfeeders are very affordable and you can make them a unique addition to your home landscaping. Enjoy the early morning songs of the birds and observe their habits as they are attracted to what you have to offer them.

Building a birdhouse is a great way to do something for a family project. Groups such as the Boy Scouts can make them as well. These kits come with everything you need to complete the entire project. You won’t have to go out and buy anything to complete it. They are very affordable and you will find many different types of them offered both in stores and online.

You will find that various birdhouse kits are also designed for the right skill level. If you have younger children you need to look for those that are for beginners. These often include pre-cut wood so all they need to do is screw the pieces into the holes. Still it is great fun for them and exposure to working with their hands on such projects.

Make sure you help your younger children with the project. They can do as much of it as possible but supervision is a good idea. Help them to keep track of small pieces too so they aren’t missing anything when they are putting the birdhouse together. Smaller children can choke if they put these pieces in their mouths so be on the watch for that as well.

For older children or adults with more advanced skills there are more difficult birdhouse kits to put together. They are more complicated but you will still have access to everything you need. Many schools have work working classes and making a birdhouse from a kit is one of the first projects they will work on.

Make sure you look for a quality birdhouse kit to work with though. Some of the discount stores offer them but they are hard to work with. The holes don’t line up and the pieces don’t fit well. These types of birdhouse kits aren’t going to look good when you are done. You will be very disappointed with the results you come up with.

A quality birdhouse kit will be priced depending on the maker and the types of materials that it contains. Do some comparison shopping so you can find a great birdhouse kit to work with. You may have a particular style in mind that you wish to complete. You may also have limitations on your talent, but no one is going to know that when they look at your birdhouse in the finished form.