Eclectus Parrots

Today we would like to share with you some photos of the very gorgeous and very spoilt Jellybean. Jelly is of course a Parrot Haven Eclectus and has his human slaves wrapped around his gorgeous wings.

Jellybean cheering on the local baseball team - check out the Pack-O-Bird Jelly is sitting on, a must for any parrot slave.

He has his own massive outdoor flight, endless supply of toys, treats and even his own webcam set up 24 hours a day so you can watch all his antics. Jellybean is a Cletus and Peggy-Sue baby and just like all Cletus kids he is full of confidence, very outgoing and a serious little snuggle bug !

Sharing fresh native branches with his brother Rocky
King Jellybean in his gorgeous outdoor flight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here at Parrot Haven we pride ourselves on raising the most confident, healthy and happy companion Eclectus possible.

We have been breeding Eclectus for over a decade and have carefully chosen our eccy pairs for their personality and temperament which is passed on to their babies. We take great pride and care in matching each of our babies with their perfect owners getting to know our clients before we choose their perfect feathered kid.

Romping through the flowers 

Take a look at our forum to see more photos of our Parrot Haven babies and learn what it is like to share your lives with these amazing parrots.

 

Eclectus Parrot Breeder with Best Reputation

Well its time to share with you some of the gorgeous photos we have of our babies in there new homes. We have literally thousands of pictures of our kids posted by their devoted and proud owners on our forum but here is a little bit of an insight into what its like to be owned by a Parrot Haven Eclectus !

 

Meet gorgeous Tilly who is absolutely adored by her Mum Amanda and her Dad Josh.

 

Josh with sweet Tilly. A perfect example of a Parrot Haven Eclectus baby

 

More snuggle time with Mumma
Snuggle time with Mumma Amanda

Here at Parrot Haven we pride ourselves on raising the most confident, healthy and happy companion Eclectus possible. We have been breeding Eclectus for over a decade and have carefully chosen our eccy pairs for their personality and temperament which is passed on to their babies. We take great pride and care in matching each of our babies with their perfect owners getting to know our clients before we choose their perfect feathered kid.

Take a look at our forum to see more photos of our Parrot Haven babies and learn what it is like to share your lives with these amazing parrots.

 

Eclectus Parrot Diets – Do you know what your breeder feeds their breeding parrots?

When choosing a baby Eckie, it is imperative to ask about the health and diet of the parent birds.

The following  is a small excerpt from our book: The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots. This chapter explains the importance of choosing a top quality breeder and the   questions to ask when buying your companion Eclectus.

What diet are the parent birds fed?

Parent birds must be fed a top quality diet. The health of the parent birds directly influences the health of their babies. Feeding Eckies a diet lacking in calcium, protein, vitamins and minerals, will produce weak babies prone to illness.

Ensure that you purchase your baby from a breeder who feeds their breeding Eckies a variety of fruit, vegetables, proteins and legumes. Request a photo of their daily diet and photos of the parent birds. Their condition will help you gauge whether they are in good condition and excellent health. Look for shiny plumage, bright eyes, shiny black beaks on the hens, and bright orange beaks on the males.

book-cover

Available now

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Heavy metal poisoning in parrots

 

Heavy Metal Poisoning

Heavy Metal Poisoning is a silent killer, over the years I have received many calls from people whose parrot has mysteriously passed away leaving the owner (and sometimes even the vet) baffled. Upon questioning the owner about their parrots symptoms, I have discovered that their baby actually died from heavy metal poisoning.

One owner had recently purchased a new toy for their parrot, believing that the toys sold at pet stores are safe, they didn’t give it a second thought when hanging it in their parrots cage. That night their beloved male eccy passed away shocking and devastating the owners when they went to get him out of his cage in morning.

Usually what happens is our ever inquisitive parrots investigated their new toy, chewing and exploring them only to accidentally ingest a small particle of heavy metal. It only takes the smallest flake of metal to cause serious issues with our birds and unless medical advice is sought immediately, the consequences can be devastating.

Sadly, so many people have no idea that the toys they hang in their parrots cage have the potential to poison them fatally. Bells, metal housings surrounding some toys, metal parts, chains and even cage latches can all be made from heavy metal and when chewed can kill our parrots in a matter of hours.

Be wary of rope toys, the rope can be chewed by our kids exposing the metal underneath and this can rust or oxidise if exposed to the elements. The particles from this can make their way onto the rope or be chewed directly off the metal potentially leading to heavy metal poisoning.

The following metals are the killers:

  • Brass
  • Zinc
  • Copper
  • Lead
  • Aluminum
  • Rust from oxidised metals

Heavy Metal Poisoning must always be taken very seriously. It only takes the smallest amount of metal to poison your parrot, symptoms may occur quickly and if left untreated, death is assured.

The main symptoms of Heavy Metal Poisoning or H.M.P are:

  • Abnormal Droppings – bright green or blood colour
  • Lethargy
  • Shallow respiration – their tail will bob up and down with each breath
  • Regurgitation
  • Weakness
  • Falling of perch
  • Dizziness, unable to stand up, can’t walk, stand or fly
  • Diarrhoea
  • Sudden feather picking, irritated behaviour
  • Fluffing up their feathers to retain body heat.
  • Head tilting abnormally
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased defecating

If your bird starts exhibiting any of the above symptoms, you need to get it to a vet as quickly as possible. It’s not worth waiting to “see how everything goes” as many birds die needlessly because their owners were hesitant to take their baby to the vet.

Playing it safe

We can help keep our kids heavy metal free by adding the following chelating agents to their diet:

  • Cilantro (fresh)
  • Coriander (fresh)
  • Chinese Parsley (fresh)
  • Brazil nuts
  • Pumpkin seeds or Pipitas – helps remove zinc and magnesium
  • Sunflower seeds – not too many

Adding these foods on a regular basis can help flush out any toxins that may have built up in our kids systems and it also helps to keep their liver and kidneys in tip top shape.

Prevention is the key, as caring parrot slaves we need to religiously check our birds environment and our own home for any signs of dangerous metals that may harm our precious kids. Heavy metal poisoning kills yet is so easily preventable, be pro active, double check everything and in doing so you are saving yourself from the potential loss of your precious parrot.

Choosing your Eclectus Parrot

Choosing your breeder

The first few months of a baby’s life are crucial. As an aviculturist, it is my responsibility to provide our kids with the best start to life, so they can grow up to become confident, healthy, functioning members of their human flock.

Aviculture is an exciting, yet stressful profession. It takes an immense amount of work to raise a well-socialized companion parrot. We spend countless hours with our babies, preparing them for life with their human flock. We teach them to step-up, step-down and basic harness training. We introduce them to their humanized world, build their confidence with noisy gadgets such as the vacuum cleaner, hair dryers and blenders, and take them on exciting car rides. Parrot Haven kids leave home feeling confident and self-assured. They know they are loved and demand nothing but the best.

No two breeders are the same

Every aviculturist raises their babies differently. Their feeding techniques may be similar, yet the environment they are raised in will differ. If you are buying a companion Eclectus, choose a breeder who spends a lot of time with their babies. This helps shape and mold their personality. We advise people to choose a breeder they identify with, someone they feel comfortable talking to. Your baby will be in their care 24-hours a day for three months. The home environment is going to affect their developing personality, and you need to know your baby is raised in a manner you are happy with. You want them to come from a home where they receive individual attention, are fed top quality formula and treated as a beloved member of the family.

Parrot Haven babies were always in high demand. We have turned away many potential clients due to the length of our waiting list. Our Eckie hens are now retired and we no longer breed. People express their disappointment, and want to know if we can recommend someone else who raises their babies the way we do. Many times we have people wanting our Eckies from outside the country, and we are unable to recommend anyone. So we provide them with a list of questions that we would ask breeders.

As future Eckie owners, it is a good idea to ask your potential breeder a number of questions. The following will help ensure that you are buying from someone who cares about their feathered kids, and raises them to the best of their ability.

Here are a few questions to ask a potential breeder:

  • Do you provide follow up service for the baby and if so, for how long?
  • How has the baby been fed?
  • What formula do you use?
  • What sort of personality does the baby have?
  • What sort of environment has the baby grown up in?
  • What diet are the parent birds fed?
  • Are you able to visit or view photos of the breeder’s setup?
  • At what age was the baby weaned?
  • Could you please tell me about the parent bird’s temperament?
  • Have the parent birds ever suffered from any disease or illness?

These are a few sample questions we provide in our book:  The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots.

Always try to be respectful of the breeder’s time, as no doubt they live busy lives with birds to care for and babies to feed. Have your questions ready. If they do not wish to answer some of the questions,  ask yourself why this is so.

I hope that this has been of help and I wish you the best of luck in finding both the perfect baby and the best breeder possible and remember, never settle for second best. The parrots upbringing, parentage, breeders experience and knowledge will all determine the quality of the bird you choose as a potential life long companion.

 

Eclectus Parrot Book

Available now

View on the iBookstore

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