Author: Kirsten Badham

Recall training

Recall training is one of the most important techniques to master. It allows you peace of mind in knowing that if your parrot escapes, you can recall them safely, with as little stress as possible.

Never be complacent

I have spoken with many owners over the years that believed their parrot would return to them due to the bond they share. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Eckies are at their most confident in their home environment. This is their safe haven. Your Eckie may fly to you by choice in the home, but they are doing so in a stress free and familiar environment. Regardless of how strong your bond is, or how much your Eckie trusts you, you need to recall train. Eckies are essentially wild animals. Their instincts are heavily ingrained and if they find themselves in a crisis situation, instinct will take over. Terror and stress will lead some to fly as fast and far as possible, while others will perch in the tallest tree they can find.

A brief overview of recall training

1. Place your Eckie on their training stand.
2. Use your “step up” cue to ask your Eckie to step onto your arm to take the treat. Reward immediately both verbally and with the treat. If your Eckie is hesitant to step up, then this may take some time. Be patient. They will soon learn that stepping up earns them a tasty treat.
3. Remember to reward even the smallest step or movement forward.
4. Once your Eckie is stepping up confidently, move back very slightly and have them walk to your arm. Use the recall cue you have chosen, for example “fly to me.”  As soon as they are on your arm, praise and reward. Move back so there is distance between you and the stand and repeat the cue. Increase the distance gradually when you feel they are ready to progress.
5. Repeat the above process until your Eckie has to fly to you. Increase the distance they must fly gradually. Place your Eckie in high and low positions so they become accustomed to flying both up and down to you.

This is a small excerpt from our book: The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots. This chapter provides step by step instructions on how to recall train your Eclectus. Our technique has been used by many Eclectus owners and it works!

Information included in this chapter:

• How to recall train using steps by step instructions
• Recall on cue
• Teach your Eckie to search for you
• Flying up into the tree is the easy part
• Recall training a clipped Eclectus
• Peace of mind

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Time to bust the myth!

It is a common misconception that you need to hand-raise your baby bird in order to form a strong bond. This is a myth and there is no credence to the belief whatsoever.

Let’s think about this logically

In the wild Eclectus parrots form bonds with their parents until it’s time to leave the nest. Once fledged, they integrate into a flock, which consists of their siblings or unpaired adult birds, and they stay with them until they find a mate of their own. Forming an extremely strong bond with their parents would set them back developmentally, emotionally and even physically. It’s not natural for a baby bird to never leave home and the same applies to our hand-raised parrots. I often find my own babies pulling away from me emotionally when they begin to fledge, as if instinct is telling them to do so.

From a breeders perspective

We spend countless hours with our baby Eckies. It takes approximately 12 weeks to raise each parrot from neonate to weaned bird, and in some cases even longer. During this time, I watch them go through different developmental stages. As young babies they are completely trusting and dependent on me, but this gradually changes as they grow older. They soon discover a desire for independence. I liken this to a teenager preparing to leave home. Once the babies learn to eat by themselves they are no longer reliant on us for their feeds every day. I become less important to them and they turn to me less and less for nurturance.

Aviculture is a profession. As breeders we devote ourselves to researching every aspect of avian life. These are the people you want raising your companion parrot. Aviculturists have experience in recognizing potential problems before they arise and can counter them easily with no stress to the baby. They know how to raise a happy, healthy, large baby who is physically and emotionally ready to begin their life as a companion parrot.

Companion parrots have no say in the path their life takes. I’m sure they would prefer to stay with an experienced breeder until they are old enough to venture out into the real world. Please, save yourself the stress and potential heartache. Let the experts raise your baby. You will be doing both yourself and the parrot a big favor.

 Available now

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Phoenix quite possibly is the most luckiest Eclectus Parrot alive!

She has the most devoted parents who adore her, showering her with love and attention, her Daddy runs his successful business from home so Phoenix spends the majority of her days on Dad’s shoulder overseeing his work. Her life is one of pure happiness!

She also has the most amazing vocabulary and repitior, speaking in context as well as being able to sing songs even at times creating her own little tunes as her Daddy plays to her on the piano.

Mommy is equally devoted, having built Phoenix her own basket ball hoop they spend hours together playing basketball and the sight of Phoenix shooting a hoop is simply hilarious.

Her favourite game is to play peek a boo, where she will run over to her Mom and Dad, exclaim “Boo”! in her little voice thick with her american accent and then laugh as her parent say “Oh, you scared me”! Then the roles are reversed!

Funnier still is Phoenix will roar like a lion, crow like a rooster, make a monkey noise, meow like their cat, the list goes on and we are lucky enough for these devoted owners to share their beautiful girl not only with us, but also with the world.

Within the next few weeks, clips of Phoenix roaring and meowing are going to be on our Utube site and it is well worth viewing believe me. I nearly fell off my chair at the sound of an Eccy roaring like a lion and she sounds so realistic too!

So once again we are dispelling myths, yes, Eclectus Hens do make wonderful pets but the golden rule applies as with anything – You only get out what you put in – and with Phoenix, you can see the love, devotion and adoration her wonderful parents have for this most special little girl. She is a true role model for all Eccy hens and her parents  are what we wish every parrot owner could be!!