. Eclectus parrot
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Burwood Pets & Birds
1415 Toorak Rd, Camberwell Vic. 3124 |
2 pairs of Adult
Eclectus
Parrots are in stock
Breeder birds. $2500 per pair
Phone (03) 9809 1212 |
- An Australian Parrot
- Also refer To: "Non Aust
Parrots / Eclectus - non Australian"
- Scientific Name: Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi
- Common Name/s:
ECLECTUS PARROT, AUSTRALIAN RED SIDED ECLECTUS PARROT.
- Sub Species in country / area of origin:
10 (Including overseas sub-species).
These birds are a sub-species of
Eclectus r. roratus
- Origin / Distribution:
Northern Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Also other
sub-species in New Guinea and other islands.
- Habitat In Wild: Tropical
rainforests of northern Cape York Peninsula, Australia.
- Status In Wild: Secure, subject to
preservation of suitable habitat.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Not common,
but numbers are increasing.
- Age To Sexual Maturity: 2 to
3 years. Some birds may be 4 years of age before breeding.
- Adult plumage: ?
- Best breeding years (estimate):
4 - 5 years onwards
- Lifespan (estimate): approx 25 or
more
years
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic.
Hens are more colourful than the cock birds. Due to the
plumage differences the sexes look like different species.
- Mutations: No
- Availability: Specialist breeders
and some bird dealers.
- Temperament: Can be noisy birds so
care should be taken to ensure neighbours are not annoyed.
Some pet birds can become good talkers. Hand raised birds can
make good affectionate pet / companion birds.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $1200
- Description Of Adults:
- Length: Approx. 370 - 400 mm (or approx 14.5
- 16 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx. 520 - 550 gms (or approx. 18.5 - 19.5 ozs)
The Eclectus roratus polychloros - Red sided Eclectus Parrot is
probable the most common of the Eclectus Parrots in Australia.
Aviary Notes:
Level Of Knowledge
Required: Beginner / Intermediate /
Advanced /
Specialist Breeders Only.
Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to " Government Laws " web page.
Housing Requirements:
Refer to " Housing Birds "
web page for general details on the housing of Australian Parrots or
read on for specific details for this parrot.
They are a large bird and prefer a large aviary and generally housed
one pair per aviary. Recommended aviary length is about 3.5to 4
up to about 6 metres. 1200mm wide recommended. Can be bred in suspended cages.
Non-toxic leafy branches can be placed in the aviary for the birds to chew up.
This will entertain the birds, help minimize boredom and give the birds
some beak exercise. Natural branches of various diameters, and placed at
various angles, can be used for perches. These
natural perches may be chewed by the birds and may need to be replaced
regularly. The birds may chew any flowers and fruiting
bodies on the branches.
With the numbers of Eclectus parrot increasing, the Eclectus parrot
is becoming more popular as a pet or companion bird. One bird will require a
strong cage of about 900mm x 900mm x 900mm (about 3ft x 3ft x 3ft).
A bird in one of these cages should be allowed out of the cage for regular
exercise.
Diet / Feeding:
Refer to " Feeding Birds "
web page for general details on the feeding of Australian Parrots or
read on for specific details for this parrot.
Basic seed is Small parrot mix or Budgie mix
with sunflower seed. A variety of fruits, nuts, green leafy
vegetables, and a variety of seasonally available vegetables are
essential in a balanced diet. Dried fruits such as raisins and
sultanas can be offered. Almonds are commonly used. Corn-on-the-cob is a parrot favourite. Sprouted
or soaked seeds, mung beans and peas if available. Seeding grasses will be eagerly devoured.
Fruits and vegetables should make up
more than 50% of the birds daily food intake. Seasonally available
fruits and vegetables as well as thawed frozen vegetables should be
offered to the birds each day. Vegetables to include green leafy
vegetables. Good quality dry dog food can be offered.
Commercial parrot pellets can form part
of a balanced diet.
Refer: A/A Vol 57 No 12 Dec 2003 Page 262 (Eclectus Diet - Dr. C. Walker
BVSc.). **
Nesting:
A basic overview only. Dimensions are typical / average and
can vary widely, influenced by the owner's preferences and the birds
preferences. Parent bird's preferences can also be influenced by
the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.
If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their
own choice. Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and
been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season.
Try and keep that one for their exclusive use. Once a pair has
chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed.
If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight,
ensure the log / nest box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the
minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.
All Australian parrots will breed in hollow logs.
- Nesting months:
May breed year round if conditions are suitable.
- Log / Nest-box:
- Length
/ depth 600 - 900 mm (or approx 24 - 36 inches)
- Log internal
diameter approx. 300 - 400 mm. (or approx. 12 - 16
inches)
- Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 300 - 350
mm square (or approx. 12 - 14 inches square)
- Diameter of
entrance
hole approx 75 - 80mm (or approx 3 - 3.5 inches)
- Inspection hole (square or round)
100 - 120mm
(or approx 4 - 5 inches)
- A removable top / lid can be a
useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
- Location and height
of log / nest-box = usually at the rear of the aviary under the
sheltered section.
- Angle of log or nest box = 45 degrees through to vertical.
- Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw
dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
- Who incubates the egg/s:
Hen / cock / both share.
Pairs may mate in the nest.
More details on
parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of
parrot nestbox/log photos
can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests"
and "parrot nestbox photos"
web pages. Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests"
and "parrot nestbox photos" in
the navigation bars.
Breeding:
Egg Colour White. Clutch/s
per year 2. Eggs per nest 2. Incubation approx.
26 - 28 days. Fledge approx. 10 - 12 weeks. Independent approx.
another ? weeks.
The hen is the dominant bird of the
pair. As the hen becomes sexually mature, she may exhibit a more
aggressive behaviour.
Eclectus will mate for life. They
engage in mutual preening.
Eclectus parrots are generally good breeders. Hens may
become aggressive and territorial to people during the breeding season.
The first clutch of eggs may be infertile but subsequent clutches are
usually fertile. Some first time parents fail to adequately feed
the first clutch and the babies may die. The next clutch the birds
hatch are usually well fed and get good survival rates. The birds
learn fast and hand rearing is generally un-necessary.
Young birds can be "paired up" at about
6 to 12 months of age. If you are lucky enough to have several young
birds, pair birds up that have shown an interest in one another. Pairing
up birds that show an interest in each other usually results in adult
pairs that have good reliable clutches of young. The birds placed in an
aviary of their own. When the hen has reached the age of about 24
months, a nest box can be placed in the aviary.
Purchasing two birds of breeding age
often does not prove to be quicker at getting babies. Some "adult"
pairs can take a long time to settle in and get down to a breeding
routine. This time delay could be 2 or 3 years. In some
situations the young birds may breed before a newly introduced "adult"
pair.
As with many other parrots, if space
allows, the young birds can be housed beside a breeding pair. The
successful adult breeding pair will educate the young birds on the
social and breeding skills they will need to learn to be a compatible
pair and successful parents.
Birds that are destined for the pet or
companion bird trade are often removed from the nest at about 3 weeks of
age and hand raised.
It is common practise to place a closed
metal ring on the young bird while it is in the nest.
Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not
be covered on this web site. It is too complex and diverse in nature to
be attempted here.
Health Issues:
Refer to "Avian Health Issues"
web page for information and references.
- Worming and parasite control and Quarantine
requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to
require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web
site. Refer "Avian Health Issues"
web page option.
- Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep
updating your knowledge and skills.
General References: Refer to references listed on "Book References"
web
page.
Specific References:
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