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CaringforyourEclectusParrot!

Eclectus Parrots originate from the Solomon Islands, Sumba,NewGuinea aswell as parts ofnorth-easternAustralia. They are beautiful birds that canmake fantastic pets. Themales arepredominantlygreenandthefemalesaremostlyred.ThereareafewdifferentsubspeciesofEclectusthatdifferinsizeandhavedifferentfeathercolourchanges.Theyhavealoudscreechandbehavioraltrainingisveryimportant.

Diet:Being from the tropics it is believedthat this species needs a lot of fruit andwhilefruitisanimportantpartoftheirdietit should not be their whole diet. Thereasonforthisisthatinthewildtheyoftenwill travel largedistanceseachday,whichmakes them burn off the extra caloriesassociatedwithahighfruitdiet.Incaptivity,theyaregenerallylimitedtoasmallerspacemeaningtheyoftendonotexerciseasmuch.Theyalsohavelessvarietyoffruitavailablethantheywouldinthewild.ThismeansthataveryhighfruitdietisofteninappropriateformostEclectusparrotsin captivity. It is important to note that every parrot is different and has differing dietaryrequirementsso foryourowntailoreddietaryplanpleasecontactus. Generalguidelines formostEclectusparrotscanbefoundbelow:

• 30-70%premiumcommercialparrotpelleteddiet• 20-40% vegetables (recommended vegetables include: capsicum, broccoli, chili, corn,

carrot, zucchini, squash, spinach, pumpkin, sweet potato, beans and peas), nativevegetationandsproutedseed.

• 20-40% fruits (i.e. melons, strawberries, banana, blue berries, grapes, peaches, pear,apple).Pleaseensurethatallstonefruitsandapplesarefreeoftheirseeds.

• 0-15%qualitycommercialseedmix.• 1-5%snacksfortrainingandastreats(unsaltednuts(i.e.macadamia,cashewandwalnut),

pasta,eggsandbrownrice.)

Housing:Weadviseagoodqualitypowdercoatedorstainlesssteelcageofanappropriatesize.Somepaintedcagescancontainleadelementswhichcanbetoxictoyourbirdsopleasetakecarewhenselectingyourcage.Cagesthathavebeengalvanizedwithazinccoatingcanalsocauseproblemssopleaseselectcarefully.Stainlesssteelorceramicbowlsaregenerallyrecommendedasthesematerialsarenotporousmakingcleaningeasierandmoreeffective.Plasticbowlscanbecomeporousafterawhileandcancauseproblemsifbacteriabuildupintheseareas.

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Perchesofvarioussizesareimportantforexerciseofthetoesandfeethealth.Theyalsohelptopromotethenaturalwearoftheirtoenails.Naturalperchesfromnativetreesareidealastheygenerallyvaryinsizeanyway.

Pleasedonotprovidestringorropetoysastheyoftenwillfrayovertimeandcancauseagastrointestinalobstructionifswallowed.

Ifyouarefeedingabalanceddiet,thencuttlefishandothersupplementsarenotneeded.

Environmentalenrichmentishighlyrecommendedandencouraged.Simplethingslikeutilizingcardboardtoiletrollstohidefoodcanprovidehoursofentertainmentformanybirds.

Itisimportantthatyourbirdgetsenoughsleepaslong-daylightexposurecanstimulateexcessivemoultingandincreasedreproductiveactivity.Werecommendyoukeeptothenaturaldaylength.Ifyourbirdiskeptinsideinawell-litarea,thenyoucancoverthecagewhenthesungoesdownandplacetheminadarkroomtoensurethattheirdaylengthisnottoolong.

Commondiseases:OneofthemostcommondiseasesthatweseeinEclectusparrotsisanupsetgastrointestinaltract.Theywilloftenpresentforregurgitation,vomitingordiarrhoea.Ifyouseeanyofthesesignswerecommendaconsultationastherearemanydifferentcausesandifleftuntreatedyouaremaybeputtingyourbird’slifeatrisk.

Upperrespiratorytractinfectionisoftencharacterizedbysneezingoroculardischargeandiscommoninyoungbirds.Onceagainitishighlyadvisedtobringtheminforanappointmentastherearearangeofdifferentcausesofupperrespiratorytractdisease.Chlamydiainfectioniscommoninyoungbirds,thisisaseriousdiseasethatcanbetransferredtootherbirdsANDhumans.

Eclectus parrots are generally very curious and sometimes get themselves into trouble withforeignobjects.Itisquitecommonforthemtoeatorchewonitemsthattheyshouldn’t(jewelry,plastictoys,ropetoys,electricalcordsetc.).Ifyouareconcernedthatyourbirdmayhaveeatenorchewedonsomethingthattheyshouldn’thave,thenpleasegetintouchwithus.

Reproductivediseasesandbehaviouralproblemsarealsoquitecommon.

Ifyouareatallconcernedaboutyourbirdpleasegetintouchwithus.

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Veterinarycare:Regularcheck-upsevery6-12monthsareimportant,asbirdsareverygoodathidinganyillnessesthattheyhave.Thesecheck-upsallowproblemstobedetectedearlybeforetheyworsen.

Microchippingisalsohighlyrecommendedaswesee many birds that escape each year.Microchippingallowsyourcontactdetails tobeeasily found if your bird is handed in to anyveterinaryclinicorgoodrescuefacility.Weuseaspecializedsmallmicrochip that is inserted intoyourbird’spectoralmuscle;thisisaquick,simpleprocedure that can be performed in aconsultationtimeslot.

If you have any further questions about yourEclectusparrotpleasedon’thesitate tocontactus.