I'm getting an Eclectus parrot.

[Simba]

Hi Nathan,
Is it you or your Dad who's getting the Eclectus ? If it's at your Dads and he's looking after it then surely it's going to bond with him and not you.

[Nathan Morleyy]

Tuthlessjaws,
My dad has never kept Eclectus parrots before so it's new to him to what I was trying to say was that he has bred King parrots, princess parrots ,red wings , eastern rosella, port lincon parrots , mallee ring-necks, blue bonnets , superb parrots and Burk parrots. Tuthlessjaws I am asking because eclectus parrots are very different from other Australian parrots. Tuthlessjaws I got the money from when a guy stole and vandalized my scooter so the police made him pay me $800 dollars so that's how I can buy my eclectus parrot.

Thanks Nathan

[Nathan Morleyy]

Simba,
It will be my eclectus parrot I am paying for it. But my perents are divorced so I will be away for halfe the week so in that time my dad will look after him/her.


Thanks Nathan

[Misso]

hi Nathan, what will happen if it bonds with your father and not you? since it will be staying at your fathers place?

[Nathan Morleyy]

Misso,
I hope it will bond with me I researched on it and it sed that they will bond with the whole family weather that is true of not I do not know.

Thanks Nathan

[Nrg800]

Nathan, if you're in the same situation that I am in (by being in year 9), you would have experienced how much more homework you get every year, compared to the last, we're in but year 9, it get's much worse than what we have now... Most people in Year 12 that I know spend at least 5 hours a day on homework. I've seen many people loose their hobby completely during the last two years of the school life... Add this to you spending half the time at your mum's house, and all the after school activities I assume you do, and seriously think whether you can give this bird the attention and stimulation and enrichment it needs and deserves! You say that when you can't amuse it, your dad will, but from what you've said, I assume he works office hours (9-6, or something like that), and the bird will have to be by itself for, like 10 hours a day, other than weekends. If the house of yours that I've seen is the one you plan to keep it in, you share the house with another family. Seriously make sure that they are perfectly fine with the noise that they will experience, because it will call when there is no-one around. Don't just warn them there may be noise, but actually make them understand completely how loud and piercing these birds can be. There's nothing worse for a bird keeper than a neighbour that is fed up with your birds!

Also, this is a 30 year investment, you can't just buy it without being willing to commit to 30 years of entertaining it every day! It's not fair on the bird! They are one of the smartest birds! They understand what's going on. If they don't get their way, they will be LOUD!

There are also behavioural issues that stem from Hand-raised birds, screaming and biting if they're not happy, and feather plucking if they're bored.

Please don't take this next point lightly! It comes strait from an experience avian vet: Eclectus Parrots are "very likely to bond to one member of the family & that can result in problems with aggression against other family members." and by the sound of it, that will be your dad...

You're bird will need a very large cage, if you plan on spending more than a few hours away from it, regularly.

Diet is also very important for these birds! They CANNOT live on Pellets, and attempting to do so can be very detrimental to their health. They need at least an 80% Natural Food diet! Which means lots of fruit!

They also need 10-12 hours of sleep a night! And if you get home from school, tend to your other birds, do homework, and after-school activities, can you give the parrot the attention it deserves every day?

I'm not trying to convince you out of this purchase, but be SURE that you can give this bird all it needs for the rest of it's life. be SURE you won't get bored of it after a few years and then neglect it. Be SURE that you won't choose a girl or friends over your bird! It's hard! But the bird deserves no less!

If I were you, honestly, I would wait untill you've finished school and can devote more time to the bird. In year 12, School will take up 11 or 12 hours of your day! You also will be sleeping for at least 6 hours, and the bird itself needs 10 hours of sleep, which is basically from Sunset to sunrise. You'll have little more than the morning to play with this bird while you're at school! And in winter (I assume, with your dad working) that will be about all the attention it gets untill the next morning.

If you still want a more exotic bird now! I would suggest you get a hand-reared King Parrot or something, it's quieter it's diet isn't as specialised, if you can devote an aviary to it while no-ones around, it shouldn't be bored much.

I really want a Hand-reared Long-billed Corella, but I'm not even going to think about it untill I finish school...

PLEASE take this at heart and PLEASE be CERTAIN that this bird will get all it needs and deserves!

~Nathan

[toothlessjaws]

well said NRG800 - and since it comes from another kid - i think it illustrates perfectly that nathan morely's problems are more to do with his attitude than his age.

[Nathan Morleyy]

Nathan,
The other family if my uncle so he won’t complain about noise.
Nathan,
If I was to change my mind to a different hand raised Exotic parrot what would some suitable species be. (No cockatiels or budgies or anything like that)
Tuthlessjaws.
What do you mean by Nathan Morley’s problems why do you think I have problems?.


Thanks Nathan

[jusdeb]

Well its all been said .
Thank you NRG for a teenagers take on the situation , you obviously have a good head on your shoulders youngin .

Nathan you have been given the best advise , from the best ( wasnt meaning myself). The general opinion is that this is not a good idea and the bird is the one who will suffer .

Can I ask why your Dad sold the Alexandrine ? You see to me this is what I'm talking about , hand reared birds being sold after they bond with their human .

Of course you will do what you want to do ... if you buy the bird then this post has been a total waste of time and effort ..if you choose not to then I will give you a pat on the back for using your common sense.

[Nathan Morleyy]

Deb,
So what type of hand raised parrot do you think that I should get?.
My father had to sell my alexandrian parrot becuase when my perents got devorced there was lots of strees and so we had to sell the parrot .

Thanks Nathan