Eclectus parrots are very special birds, and while each of these birds have common traits and habits, each bird is unique in his or her own way just as people are. There has been a great deal of research done concerning human personalities, but very little concerning the personality of Eclectus parrots. There are, however, numerous factors that determine the personality of these birds.

Take, for instance, socialization. If a chick is handled a great deal by his breeder, he will most likely be very social. However, if he is largely ignored, and only given the absolute minimal attention, he will most likely have pretty serious behavior problems that make him undesirable as a pet. He may be mean tempered, and his upbringing, so to speak, plays a role in that mean temper.

As you can see, for the most part an Eclectus parrot’s personality is determined by his surroundings, and the people in those surroundings just a child’s personality is formed and developed. Therefore, if you want a sweet, loveable bird, you must be sweet and loveable to the bird.

It is vastly important that you have a clear understanding of your Eclectus parrots personality. If there ever comes a time when your parrot doesn’t feel well, or all is not right in his world, his personality will be the first change that you notice. A social bird may become a bit withdrawn. A loveable bird may become aggressive.

Also understand that Eclectus parrots become accustomed to things, and expect it all of the time. For example, if you spend an exorbitant amount of time with him the first few weeks that he is in your home, but then cut back the amount of time that you spend with him, he will most likely act out.

Overall, your Eclectus parrot will give you a serene feeling. His calm demeanor will make you calm. He can also be very funny at times, and as much as you enjoy his antics, he will enjoy making you laugh. He will perform tricks for you, in an effort to please you and you must let him know that you are indeed pleased.

When you teach your Eclectus parrot to talk and sing, you will find that he has even more personality. He will happily chatter, with the most pleasant voice, and when he sings for you, you will find yourself enthralled.

Aside from his verbal skills, and his overall pleasing attitude, you will also find that your parrot is highly interested in everything that you do. It is important that you allow him to watch, and when it is safe, to even help. This is part of his socialization, and his personality. Some Eclectus parrots are more curious than others, and some simply want to investigate anything and everything, while others just want to see, but not investigate too closely.

Regardless, you can be sure that your Eclectus parrot is unlike any other bird of his breed. He has his own personality, and that personality is, for the most part, determined by you.

By Lance Winslow

Many bird lovers find themselves closer to birds than many people, indeed birds are our friends and they seem to be intrigued by humans for the most part. Many people have birds as pets and find them to be quite content to be our companions.

One author; Dale Sheldrake has written several books, which discuss how birds and people can communicate at times via brain waves or something other than verbal communication. His verified studies and research even show the ability of birds to communicate over many miles of separation. Yet how can this be? People cannot do that?

Well actually it appears people can. For instance have you ever heard your phone ring and just knew who it was or had been thinking about someone and suddenly they call? How do they do that anyway? Well, it turns out this is perfectly normal and although it does not happen so often in long-lost tribes they describe this ability as common and they use it to communicate. Very interesting.

And did you know that sometimes wild birds over 60 miles away and totally out of range will fly to a dead animal carcass which has been left right after the very first birds of their same species find it and land and start eating? How do they know? How do people communicate like this? My only question is how much abilities do we share with our feathered friends? Consider this in 2006.

Article Source: Lance Winslow

By Sunil Tanna

Birds have been found to be quite intelligent, and are able to communicate their needs and wants through their body language. If you study your bird’s body language, you will better be able to respond to your bird’s needs.

- If you remember you childhood, you may recall that when you were afraid that you have done something wrong that would be punished, you would try to hide or be invisible. Birds also behave like that. When a bird is afraid, it will try its best to remain unnoticed. Its eyes would be unblinking, and it would be staring straight ahead. Its wings would be kept as close as possible to the body, and the bird will stand unmoving.

- When your bird is excited, you are sure to notice. The bird will be moving as many parts of itself that it can, its head will be bobbing up and down, and it will be screeching at the top of its lungs.

-If only superficially observed, anger may easily be mistaken for excitement; however you can tell the difference by carefully observing your bird. An angry bird will be standing in an attack position, it will be puffed up and leaning forward. An angry bird will typically be weaving from left to right, and be just as noisy as an excited bird.

It is important to know what your pet bird is feeling at a particular time so that you will be able to react appropriately, and avoid getting bitten.

Article Source: http://Sunil Tanna

Just as small children need toys, your Eclectus parrot will require various toys throughout his life. You can’t view these toys as simple entertainment for your bird, however. Instead, you must view the toys that you provide as educational, and as an outlet for needed physical exercise.

Your Eclectus parrot absolutely must have perches to rest on. These should be available both in and out of his aviary. Provide more than one perch inside the aviary, at varying levels. These are not necessarily crucial to exercise, but they are important for his comfort and well being.

After you have your perches, make sure that you include a calcium block in the cage. These hang, and generally act as toys, while providing needed calcium for your Eclectus parrot. With these two types of items included, you are ready for the really fun stuff.

Eclectus parrots love shiny things, as well as reflective items. A favorite toy will be a metal link chain. These chains are sold in pet stores, and typically have some type of attractive toy fastened to the end. Your Eclectus will spend hours climbing up and down the chain, in a vertical fashion, to play with that toy. Hang this item from the very center of the aviary, where he can’t touch the sides of the enclosure.

Plain rope is also enjoyed, and you can purchase rope swings and such as well. Buy quality rope, as picked and frayed rope can present entanglement dangers to your Eclectus parrot.

A block of wood is highly recommended. Most of the parrot’s toys will be hard and indestructible, but it is important for him to be able to destroy something, and a simple block of wood suits him perfectly. You can also purchase toys that are designed for shredding by parrots in most pet stores. Also include real branches from fruit trees in the aviary. These will be used for perching and climbing, and will also be ‘chewed.’

You know how beautiful your Eclectus parrot is, and he will enjoy seeing himself in the mirror as well. Every aviary cage needs a mirror so that your beautiful bird can admire himself. Also, include toys that make pleasant noises. Remember that your Eclectus parrot won’t enjoy loud, obnoxious noises, but he will thoroughly love gentle, pleasing noises, such as bells and wind chimes.

The important thing is to make sure that your Eclectus parrot has plenty to keep him busy and active. He also needs to remain interested. Remember that he has a short attention span, and therefore, one or two toys probably won’t keep him from getting bored. Finally, make it a point to rearrange the toys in his cage often, just to raise his interest. Some owners actually have two or three different sets of toys. They put one set in the aviary, and put the other two sets away. After a week or two, they rotate the toys, putting a fresh set in, and again, putting the other two away.

By Manuel Rose

Understanding basic parrot behavior will make it easier for you to interact with your bird.
Here are some of the most common bird behaviors that I would like to share with you.

Beak Cleaning.

Just as you brush your teeth after every meal, your bird must clean its beak too.

You’ll see your parrot wiping its beak on the perch or bars of his cage after eating.

Beak Grinding.

Before your bird’s bedtime, you may hear strange grinding noises coming from your parrot.

This is the sound of a contented bird, and is nothing to be alarmed about.

Stretching.

Just like us, your bird needs to stretch from time to time.

You may notice your bird stretching its wings when you approach him.

That’s his way of greeting you.

Catnaps.

It’s normal for your parrot to take a few naps during the day.

Hissing Or Attacking.

Birds are territorial creatures and will defend their environment if they feel threatened.

Sometimes a change in your appearance will make the bird think that you are a stranger.

Preening Each Other.

This is a sign of affection.

Birds will preen (groom) each other or you.

If your bird preens your hair or mustache, consider it an honor.

Screaming.

If your parrot feels neglected, she will scream loudly in an attempt to get your attention.

Once your bird starts screaming, it can be a hard habit to break.

Night Frights.

Some birds are prone to night frights, (I know My Cockatiel Is).

These “night frights” occur when there is a loud noise in the middle of the night that will end up startling a bird into a thrashing frenzy.

If this happens to your bird, leave a night light on near its cage.

If You Find This Article Helpful, Please Link To It!

This article only touches the highlights of living with a parrot.

For much more detailed information, pick up a copy of our new DVD “Parrots-The How-To’s Of Caring, Understanding, And Training” available at www.knowyourparrot.com/

About The Author

Manuel Rose has researched and owned parrots since childhood.

He spent years reading several books and speaking to many avian veterinarians.

Manuel currently owns 3 parrots, his favorite a 13-year-old Blue and Gold macaw named Samantha, which he weaned as a baby.

Article Source:Manuel Rose

Eclectus parrots are very special birds, and to many owners, they are often like small children. They definitely each have their own personalities, but they also have two growing stages that can be quite trying. These growing stages are similar to a human child’s terrible twos and puberty. Here is a breakdown of both of these growing stages.

The Terrible Twos The terrible twos for Eclectus parrots occurs between the ages of three and five months. It is during this time that they are generally naughty and into everything. They will essentially test the boundaries set by the breeder, the owner, or their actual parent. It is during this time that the young Eclectus parrot needs to learn who is boss (you).

It is very vital to your bird’s future behavior that you do not tolerate his bad behavior during the terrible twos. For example, you must make him do what it is that you want him to do, instead of allowing him to do what he wants to do during training sessions. This does not mean, however, that he should be punished. Essentially, you need to show him that you are dominant. During this period, experts advise that you should not let the bird sit on your shoulder, as this puts him above your eye level, which in his world means that he is dominant.

Puberty When your Eclectus parrot is about nine months old, he will start going through what is essentially puberty. Just as human teenagers have raging emotions, these birds also have raging emotions, and they look for a way to deal with them. This stage, unfortunately, can last until the bird is about two or three years old.

Of the two growing stages, this one is often the hardest for the owner to deal with, because it lasts the longest. The good news is that unless your Eclectus parrot has been demonstrating poor behavior before this period, he will grow out of it, just as most teenagers do. During this time, you may notice extreme mood swings, screaming that takes place more often, shadow boxing, and even masturbation. It is also during this time, of course, that the Eclectus parrot will start showing obvious interest in the opposite sex.

The key to getting through both of these trying times is patience just as though you were dealing with a human child. However, discipline really isn’t suggested, since the Eclectus parrot won’t understand it. Instead, encourage more appropriate behavior, and understand that your beloved bird will outgrow these awkward stages, and he will become the bird that you’ve grown to love once again.

Those who are interested in owning birds usually consider an Eclectus parrot. This is especially true if they want a bird that is truly social with human beings. Because Eclectus parrots are often hand fed, or hand reared, starting before their eyes even open, these birds learn to not only depend on humans for their care, they have a true social interest in those humans as well.

However, not all Eclectus parrots are social. Some can be downright mean when confronted by human beings, or at the very least, not very well behaved. What happens to these birds to make them anti-social, and how can you be sure that the Eclectus parrot that you adopt will enjoy socialization with you?

First, let’s look at why some Eclectus parrots, which are known for their socialization, may become less than social. This usually happens because they are not handled enough as chicks. An Eclectus parrot may be handled enough by the breeder, but then not handled enough by the people who adopt him, and this can lead to socialization problems as well. In some instances, a bird may become anti-social if he is not fed properly. So, as you can see, the cause of most social problems are not the fault of the bird, or a bad personality, but the fault of the people responsible for his love and care.

With that said, it is essential that you choose your breeder carefully. You want to select a breeder who really cares a great deal about the birds. A hand feeder is best, and you need to find out how much the chicks are handled throughout the day while they are with the breeder.

Once the chick comes to your home, you absolutely must continue having a great deal of contact with him. You should touch him all over, while he is young, so that he becomes accustomed to your touch. You should also talk to him constantly. Use a clam, serene voice when doing so.

It is absolutely vital that you not keep your Eclectus parrot caged all the time. He needs to be let out of his cage for at the very least an hour a day, and preferably for longer periods of time. Some owners allow their birds to roam free all day, as long as they are home to supervise, only returning the bird to his cage at bedtime, or when they must leave the house. This freedom that he experiences is actually a part of his socialization.

Finally, realize that there is no point where it is okay to stop giving your Eclectus parrot so much time and attention. This is time and attention that he will require for his entire life just as you require time and attention from your human loved ones for your own well-being. If you continue to love and socialize with your Eclectus parrot, he will be well adjusted, and obviously quite social. In fact, you may find that he becomes your best friend, and your closest confidant.

By Michael Russell

Fact: not all birds like each other. So if having just one feathered friend in your house isn’t enough for you then please keep that in mind before going out and stocking up on a few of these as pets.

The sad truth is, most bird owners dream that they can buy any kind of bird, group them all together in one little cage and have a wonderful utopia where everyone gets along. Even though many birds are easy to get along with, there are some that are very territorial, possessive, jealous, aggressive and just flat out nasty towards other birds. This makes populating your bird cage with several specious a potentially explosive situation. Often times, birds of the same species can learn to get along, even in a confined space. But it is potentially dangerous to place two birds of different species in a cage together. You’re practically invited a steal cage death match.

Having said that, there are many birds of different species that live harmoniously together all over the world, even in the wild. But this is the exception rather than the rule. Even birds of the same species don’t get along just like not all humans get along.

Before attempting to introduce your bird to a cage mate you should take a realistic look at your bird and evaluate him. Is he docile? Does he get along well with you? Or is he a biter and nasty? If your bird already has a rotten disposition, chances are that if you bring home a friend he is going to be road kill before the night is over. Birds of the same type of temperament usually get along together. For example, a bird who is naturally curious will get along very well with another bird who is naturally curious. They will probably spend most of the time getting to know each other. This usually leads to a harmonious relationship.

It would be easy to say that there is a general rule of thumb when it comes to what birds will get along with what birds. The experts say that if a bird can get along with a species so different from itself, such as us humans, then theoretically they should be able to get along with another bird, even if it is of another species. The truth is, sometimes they will get along and sometimes they won’t. The only hard and fast rule is this. If one of the birds is much smaller than the other, make sure the smaller bird is the one who came first. Also make sure the new roommate is a younger bird so it won’t try to eat the smaller bird right away. This will give the two time to get to know each other and possibly form a bond. Baby birds in general have an easier time adapting to another bird. Trying to get two full grown birds of different species to get along is just looking for trouble, especially if one is much larger than the other.

Make sure you monitor the situation. If it appears there is going to be trouble don’t wait for the worst to happen. Remove the newer bird from the cage. You don’t want to remove the original bird because it is used to its surroundings and you’re only going to upset it.

Bottom line is this. When attempting to integrate two birds together do so with caution. Just like with people, not all birds, even of the same species, get along.

Article Source: Michael Russell

By Jon O’bergh

Researchers who study birds know that the quality of the birdsong is a good indicator of fitness. Evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk, writing in the entertaining Riddled With Life: Friendly Worms, Ladybug Sex, and the Parasites That Make Us Who We Are, describes how disease and parasites drive the evolution of showy colors, structures and behavior. She and a colleague theorized that female birds use these features to select males who are more parasite-free, and thus species with more parasites should have evolved flashier colors and songs to distinguish the fittest males.

Indeed, their research showed that brighter bird species had more parasites, as did those that sang more musically complex songs. In another study, researchers discovered that the type of immunity exerted an influence on birdsong: the number of song bouts was higher in birds with better cell-mediated immunity (general immunity that aids wound healing) and the length of the bouts greater in birds with better humoral (i.e., antibody) immunity.

In addition to the role of birdsong in the mating ritual, many birds have unique songs that they sing under special circumstances: flight, aggression, dawn, nightfall. Recently, while walking in a park at dusk, I heard emanating from one dense tree an almost deafening cacophony like a hundred teenagers on the phone. As I passed close to the avian highrise, the twittering abruptly stopped: “Shh! My parents are listening.” Once I’d passed underneath, it started up again. Some researchers theorize that these peak activities at dusk and dawn occur because acoustic factors make these the best times for sound transmission over distance.

Birds use calls to warn other birds of predators. Domestic chickens have distinct alarm calls for aerial and ground predators, a practice observed in some mammalian species as well. Individual birds also seem to be able to identify each other through their calls: mothers and chicks, mates, members of a flock.

Many birds engage in duet calls, where the male’s call is answered antiphonally by the female in a call and response, but the significance of this is unclear. Some birds, such as starlings and mockingbirds, creatively incorporate arbitrary musical bits learned during the individual’s lifetime. In many species, although the basic song is the same for all members of the species, young birds learn some details of their songs from their fathers, which get passed down through generations.

Composers have long been interested in representing birdsong in music. One of the earliest surviving pieces is the 13th century “Sumer is icumen in,” which imitates the cuckoo. Beethoven and Mahler each imitated birdsong in a symphony, as did Bartok in the third piano concerto. Birdsong features prominently in the music of 20th century composer Olivier Messiaen. Jazz clarinetist David Rothenberg has written an informative book, Why Birds Sing: A Journey Into the Mystery of Bird Song, and recorded a CD of music based on the sounds of birds.

Article Source: Jon O’bergh