Handfeeding Eclectus Parrots

Four subspecies of eclectus parrots are commonly available in the U.S.: Grand or Eclectus roratus roratus originating from Ceram and Buru, Redsided or Eclectus roratus po(ychloros originating from New Guinea, vosmaeri or Eclectus roratus vosmaeri originating from the larger northern and central Moluccan Islands, and Solomon Island or Eclectus roratus solomonen..-;is originating from the Solomon Islands. Each of these subspecies originates from a distinct island or group of islands or New Guinea, separated by many miles of ocean. Although all eclectus parrots display many common characteristics, each subspecies also displays distinct developmental and behavioral characteristics, indicating aspects unique to their subspecies. Eclectus males are basically green and females are basically red. The three common methods of raising parrots are the following: 1) parent rearing from day one to weaning; 2) han drearing from day one(or close to day one); and 3) handrearing from two to three weeks of age. Over the past 10 years we have employed all three methods of rdising eclectus parrots. Parent Rearing Edectus Parrots This method produces a youngster that is completely familiar with being fed and reared by a parent and thus has the knowledge and first hand experience to be a highly qualified candidate for successful pairing with a mate, making a nest, producing fertile eggs and successfully rearing youngsters. Handfeeding From Day One Many parrots are handfed from day one in order to produce a young parrot  that desires human companionship. Handfeeding from day one may be a necessity if the nesting hen refuses to feed the chick or if the hen's mate refuses to feed her. This may be no fault of the hen or her mate but may be the fault of the bird breeder who has not provided the pair with the correct cage set up or the correct diet for rearing youngsters. Occasionally a hen who normally feeds from day one has a health problem which requires the eggs or chicks to be removed from the nest, necessitating handfeeding from day one, or close to day one. Eclectus Chicks Are Different Eclectus parrot chicks are very unlike Amazons, greys, macaws and cockatoos: they do not have any down and seldom have more than one clutch mate. Therefore, a brooder temperature that works well for Amazons and greys may stress and chill an eclectus chick A cold chick cannot properly digest formula and grow, but generally dies within five to seven days with food in the crop. Many breeders who have extensive experience and success in raising other species follow the same procedures that produces fine Amazon and grey chicks but which do not work for eclectus. The three critical areas foreclectus chicks are as follows: 1) brooder temperature and set up, 2) correct formula and formula temperature, 3) proper handfeeding procedures.