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.

Eclectus birds are very unique, and highly desired. If you've had such a bird for sometime, you might consider breeding. But before you jump right into the breeding game, there are numerous things that you must know.

First and foremost, breeding is very serious business. It is important that you are breeding these Eclectus parrots because you are passionate about them. Breeding just for the money, or unplanned breeding, is never a good thing. Most breeders have been Eclectus owners for numerous years, and typically have several birds.

Ideally, over time, a female and male will actually show an interest in each other. When this happens, you have a pair. Note that if there is no real interest in each other, they won't mate. They will simply ignore each other, or at best tolerate each others existence. Once you are sure that you want to breed your pair, you must provide them with a nesting box. These boxes are available in pet stores, or from online sources. These boxes should hang inside the aviary or cage.

For the best results, the pair should be given privacy. Noise and movement around them may distract them from the business of mating. Give them as much privacy as possible, including privacy from other birds in the aviary. Otherwise, you will likely have unfertilized eggs.

When the hen lays the eggs in the nest, she will essentially kick the male out of the nesting box, and not allow him back in until the eggs have hatched. She will spend the next 28 days sitting on her eggs, but she may not actually start sitting until the day after the eggs have been laid.

Note that nothing is needed from you during this time, other than the proper environment for mating and egg sitting. It is important that the room stay as calm and quiet as possible. You don't want your hen to be startled and trample the eggs. The real work doesn't begin for you until after the chicks have hatched. Even then, their mother will tend to them for the first ten days to three weeks.

The longer you leave the chicks with their mother - up to three weeks - the healthier and happier they will be. However, it is important that you know your pair well. First, the male won't be able to feed the female fast enough for her to feed her babies. It's a fulltime job. The male will supply the female with as much food as he can, but he will not feed the babies. The female may not know how to feed her babies if she was never fed by her own mother. Make sure the chicks are getting food, and if not, start hand feeding them right away.

By the time they are three weeks old, however, you must remove them from the nest, and separate them from their mother. At this point, they will be hand fed. This gives them the human socialization that they require, and makes them highly desirable creatures. It is important that you handle them as much as possible each day, without hurting them.

If you love your new Eclectus parrot, you will definitely want to clip his wings. Ideally, his wings will be clipped by the breeder, before he goes home with you, but only after he has been flying daily for at least a month. Without learning how to fly well, his development will be hindered.

With that said, make sure that the breeder clips his wings before he goes home with you. If possible, ask to be present when this is done, so you can see it done. Don't assume, however, that this is something that you will do yourself the first several times it needs it. Instead, make sure you are present when it is done each time, and that the person doing it is instructing you as to how it should be done.

Finally, before you take on the task of wing clipping solo, do it with someone who is experienced with wing clipping standing next to you, just to be sure that you do now in fact know what you are doing, and you aren't going to make any mistakes. Note that if your bird's wings are not clipped, he will be able to get to those hard for you to reach places in your home, and you also have the potential for losing your bird, in the event that he manages to get outside.

An Eclectus parrot needs his wings clipped about once every six months. New feathers will continue to grow, and those feathers will reach the point where he is able to fly high again. It is vital that you never clip just one wing. This puts the bird off balance. It is also vital that you not cut the wings too short, or in the wrong shape, as this also affects his balance. When a bird is unbalanced, this typically ends with injury to the bird, when he tries to fly.

In terms of flight feathers, your Eclectus parrot has a primary set of flight feathers and a secondary set of flight feathers. Regardless of trimming, your bird will be able to fly - he just won't be able to go very high or very far before he needs to land. If those primary feathers are cut too short, he won't be able to control his landing, and he will hit the floor hard. Therefore, those primaries must be cut short enough to keep him from going to high, but not so short that he can't control his landing. At the same time, you don't want to leave too much feather either. Again, this enables him to fly higher, for longer distances.

You may think that you don't need to clip your Eclectus parrots wings, because he will never be in danger of getting out of the house. What you may not realize, however, is that there are many dangers inside your home for an unclipped bird. He can fly into ceiling fans, open toilets, uncovered pots, windows, and mirrors.

A regular pet groomer generally is not qualified to clip wings. If you can't do it yourself, ask your breeder to recommend someone. If nothing else, ask the breeder if you can pay them to do it for you when it needs to be done. If you do learn how to clip your Eclectus parrots wings yourself, make sure that you have the proper tools for the job. You need sharp scissors with blunt ends, and these scissors should never be used for any other task.

Just as the Eclectus parrot is a breed of parrots as a whole, there are numerous different breeds of the Eclectus parrot, known as subspecies. These subspecies are identified by their colors, marking, and their size. There are currently ten different subspecies of the Eclectus parrot.

These subspecies include the Eclectus Roratus Roratus, the Eclectus Roratus Vasmaeri, the Eclectus Roratus Westermani, the Eclectus Roratus Cornelia, the Eclectus Roratus Riedeli, the Eclectus Roratus polychloros, the Eclectus Roratus Biak, the Eclectus Roratus Aruensis, the Eclectus Roratus Macgillivrayi, and the Eclectus Roratus Solomonensis.

Each of these subspecies comes from different geographic locations. For example, the Eclectus Roratus Roratus, known as the Grand Eclectus, comes from Southern Moluccas. The Eclectus Roratus Vosmaeri comes from both northern and central Moluccas. The Eclectus Roratus Westermani comes from breeders, and is basically a sample specimen. You can think of him as a mixed breed.

When the subspecies are written or spoken, instead of spelling or saying Eclectic Roratus, the general reference is just E.R. Therefore; the E.R. Cornelia comes from Sumba and Lesser Sumba Islands. The E.R Riedeli comes from Tanimbar Island. The E.R Polychloros, known as the Red-Sided Eclectus, comes from New Guinea and Indonesia. The E.R Biak got his name because he came from the Biak Islands. The E.R. Aruensis comes from the Aru Islands. The E.R. Macgillivrayi comes from the Cape York Peninsula in Australia, and the E.R. Solomonensis comes from Admiralty Island, Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands.

Again, the coloring plays a big role, not only in the different subspecies, but also in telling the difference between males and females. Experts agree that the Eclectus parrot species, as a whole, is the most color dimorphic bird in the entire world. As base colors, all female Eclectus parrots are a bright red, while the males are green. It is the difference in the color patterns, and color variations in the wings that set the subspecies apart. Size also comes into play, although none of the subspecies will be bigger than fifteen inches, or smaller than twelve inches. Other than these differences, everything else is generally the same.

When you start searching for a breeder, be sure to ask which subspecies of Eclectus parrots they breed. If they can't give you an answer, move on to a different breeder. Also, as soon as you know what subspecies they have, read up on that particular subspecies to learn more about them. Generally, only breeders refer to their Eclectus parrots by their various subspecies. Those who simply love these birds, but do not breed them, refer to them simply as Eclectus, Eclectus parrots, or parrots.

When you start thinking about adopting an Eclectus parrot, and you start talking to various people about the prospect, there is a very good chance that you will hear many myths, and absolute misinformation, concerning these very special birds. Here are the most common myths that you will likely hear:

• Surprisingly, when people hear how wonderful Eclectus parrots are, they think that because they sound too good to be true, that there must be something inherently wrong with these creatures. The fact is that the Eclectus parrot is the most popular bird to adopt, and the reason for this is because they are actually quite pleasant pets.

• Some people will tell you that Eclectus parrots only live for about eight to ten years. This is only true if the bird is not well cared for. A well cared for bird, on the other hand, lives to be between the ages of thirty and fifty.

• Because Eclectus parrots were grossly malnourished when they were first brought to the United States - largely because nobody understood their dietary needs - these creatures were deemed as boring and stupid. This isn't true. If the bird is well nourished, he is quite active and interesting.

• For the same reason, many people believe that the Eclectus parrots health is fragile. This isn't true at all. In fact, the Eclectus parrot is one of the healthiest captive birds in existence. They seldom get ill, and if they do, it is usually because they are not getting the proper nutrition.

• This lack of understanding still exists in our world today. Some people don't realize that Eclectus parrots require much more than bird seed or pellets. They require a well rounded diet of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and even grains.

• You will hear reports of Eclectus parrots that have very bad behavior. In almost all instances of bad behavior, the bad behavior is due to negligence or improper nutrition. When the bird is well attended to, he is one of the easiest of all birds to keep as a pet.

• Many people mistakenly think that Eclectus parrots do not talk, or do not talk very well. This is a complete myth that only becomes true when the bird is not sufficiently worked with. Eclectus parrots are actually considered the best talkers. They can learn an extensive vocabulary of words and phrases, and will even sing songs and make sound effects. Furthermore, the males sound very masculine, and the females sound very feminine.

In the future, if you hear negative things about Eclectus parrots, make it a point to find out for sure whether the information is true. The greatest source of information is a breeder with years of experience.

When a new baby, puppy, or kitten comes into the house, most people know that they must make their home safe for the new little one. Unfortunately, many people don't recognize the potential household dangers to Eclectus parrots. This, of course, leads to unnecessary fatalities among these beautiful creatures.

Here are some tips to help you make sure that your home is Eclectus parrot proof:

1. Always close the toilet. Otherwise, your beloved Eclectus parrot could fly in, and the lid could slam down on him. He will see the toilet as a potential birdbath.

2. Never operate the stove, or open a hot oven, if the Eclectus parrot is loose in the house. Make sure that he is caged when you are cooking. Also, even after the stove is turned off, be careful about hot pots without lids. He could fly right in.

3. Fireplaces and open space heaters can be dangerous to your Eclectus parrot. Make sure that you have a screen closed in front of fires, and that you do not put space heaters in the same room with your parrot.

4. Lids should not be considered as deterrents for parrots. If you leave snacks on the counter, with lids on them, your parrot can work the lid off of the container to get a taste of what is inside.

5. Birds don't know the difference between good foods and toxic materials. Never leave cleaning supplies out where your bird can get to them.

6. Dismantle the mechanisms on doors that automatically close in your home. You should close all doors manually, ensuring that your bird is not in the way before you do so.

7. Inspect all toys carefully. Make sure that there are no small parts that will be ingested - even if the bird destroys the toy. Also, make sure that the toys are not covered with any toxic materials.

8. Do not use Teflon cookware in your home with an Eclectus parrot in the house. When the Teflon heats, it emits a toxin in the air that can kill a parrot in mere minutes. Also beware of bread machines and toaster ovens that have Teflon coatings, as well as self-cleaning ovens.

9. Remember that Eclectus parrots are very curious, and they love to investigate. Look around the rooms that your parrot will roam free in, and see if there are any potential dangers. Remove those dangers.

10. Open pots, open clothes hampers, open drawers, and any other open container large enough to contain your parrot are a danger to him. Make sure that they are covered sufficiently.

The Eclectus parrot is one of the most popular types of birds to have. Because these beautiful birds live for such a long time, the decision to adopt one is often well thought out, with the understanding that this is essentially a life long commitment. However, there is one thing that few people stop to consider - children. Is an Eclectus parrot living in the same house with children a good idea?

There will always be people who are on the opposite side of the fence from others, and this topic is no exception. With that said, however, there are some things that you should consider if you have children - for the overall safety of your children, and the Eclectus parrot that you plan to adopt.

For example, Eclectus parrots don't fare well in noisy, unpredictable environments, and young children naturally create noisy, unpredictable environments. In this case, the children are just being children - and the bird is just being a bird. It's nobody's fault, but neither the child nor the parrot will understand this.

Furthermore, little hands are not always gentle, and this could not only startle the Eclectus parrot, it could also injure him. All of this combined could cause the parrot to feel threatened every time the child enters the same room that he is in, and he may exhibit aggressive behavior towards the child, which of course opens up the potential for injury to the child.

For these reasons, if you have young children, or you still plan to have children at some point, you might want to put off getting an Eclectus parrot until the child is about ten or eleven years old. At this age, they are better able to understand the preferences of the Eclectus parrot, and better able to accommodate him. What you must realize is that a child can be reasoned with, once they reach a certain age, but the bird is still an animal, no matter how affectionate he is. You will never be able to explain the situation to the bird.

Otherwise, children should be an important part of the Eclectus parrots life. They should be taught how to care for the bird, and how to handle him appropriately. It is important that they realize how important it is to talk to the parrot, and also that they understand how much loud, unexpected noises disturb this special bird.

If the child is more tolerant of the Eclectus parrot and considerate of his needs, you will be amazed at how tolerant the bird is of the child as well. The two will get along famously, and because these creatures live so long, there is a chance that the child will eventually become the responsible adult in this bird's life.

Too often, bird owners think that a little birdseed and fresh water are all that is needed to sustain their bird. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the Eclectus parrot. In fact, if an Eclectus parrot has to survive only on birdseed and water, he won't live a very long life.

First, there is a choice to make between regular birdseed and bird pellets. Experts agree that pellets are healthier for the Eclectus parrot than birdseed. You should select a high quality pellet that contains numerous nutrients and minerals, particularly vitamin A.

As mentioned, however, seed or pellets aren't nearly enough. Your Eclectus parrot also needs fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a source of calcium. Hanging a calcium block in the cage, and replacing it when it gets too small easily supply the calcium. The fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, are a bit more complicated.

First, you should know that avocados are toxic to your Eclectus parrot. Of all fruits and vegetables, this is the one thing that he should not have. Also note that parrots should not have junk food designed for human consumption, as this can not only lead to obesity, but can also cause additional health problems, which may be life threatening.

As for the fruits and vegetables that your Eclectus parrot will enjoy, he should be fed apples, cucumbers, carrots, dandelions, tomatoes, oranges, melon, broccoli, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, spinach, raisins, plums, pears, apricots, bananas, peaches, green peppers, sorrel, chickweed, lettuce, beets, sweet corn, green peas, eggplant, and zucchini. Most fruits and vegetables should be served raw, with the exception of any grains, such as rice, which absolutely must be cooked before being eaten by the bird.

Cooked rice and beans are also a favorite of Eclectus parrots. Fiber is very important, because Eclectus parrots have a longer intestinal tract than what is considered normal. Fiber is needed to keep this long intestinal tract clear.

Fresh fruits and vegetables that are made available to your Eclectus parrot should not remain available for more than twenty-four hours, as they may spoil. Remove the old food and replace it with fresh food. Overtime, you will get a sense of exactly how much your parrot will eat, so that you don't waste food.

Finally, make sure that water is always accessible to your Eclectus parrot. Instead of providing tap water, however, you should provide bottled water, with no added minerals or nutrients. If possible, stick with the same water brand throughout your Eclectus parrots life.

It is important that you keep an eye on your Eclectus parrots weight. These birds are usually pretty good eaters, and they can easily become obese if you aren't careful. If your bird appears to be gaining too much weight, you should consult your veterinarian, and determine a proper amount of food to feed the bird in order to get his weight back down.

If you are planning to adopt an Eclectus parrot, you need to have an avian veterinarian lined up before you do so. An avian veterinarian is a veterinarian trained and experienced at caring for birds. Some avian vets specialize in certain birds, and others will care for all breeds.

Unfortunately, a veterinarian can refer to himself as an avian veterinarian, but that doesn't mean that he is a certified avian veterinarian. Certification can only be obtained through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Just four years ago, in 2004, there were only 102 certified avian veterinarians around the world. Certification requires six years of a large amount of avian practice, as well as a series of examinations.

This doesn't mean that a non-certified veterinarian cannot care for your Eclectus parrot. You should, however, seek out a veterinarian who is in the process of becoming certified, if at all possible. Since there are so few veterinarians worldwide who have accomplished certification, instead, you should seek out a veterinarian who is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. This organization has more than 3000 members worldwide, and these are veterinarians who are working towards certification. You can contact the AAV to get a listing of the members in your area. You can also ask your breeder for recommendations.

Once you have a list of veterinarians to choose from, you should set up a consultation appointment with each one. Most will charge you their regular office visit rate for this visit, but finding the right veterinarian makes the cost well worth the expense. You should ask these veterinarians the following questions:

1. How much experience do you have with Eclectus parrots?
2. How much avian experience do you have overall?
3. Do you have any birds as pets yourself?
4. How much do your services cost?
5. What are your regular hours? Do you have after hour emergency care?
6. How often do you recommend that I bring my bird in for a check up?
7. Are you a member of the AAV? Where did you receive your training?
8. Do you make house calls?

With the answers to these questions from each veterinarian that you contact, you should easily be able to make a choice. Write the questions down for each veterinarian, and write down his or her answers so that you can compare them later.

Just because one veterinarian stood out among the others in the initial consultation, you need to pay close attention during the first visit your Eclectus parrot has with the chosen vet. Do you approve of the way that he handles the bird? Does he show genuine interest and concern? Is he rushed? Are the atmosphere and/or the veterinarian causing the bird stress? The chances are that if you liked the veterinarian during the initial consultation, he will do fine with your new bird - just make sure that you have a veterinarian lined up for your birds care.

As much as you love your Eclectus parrot, and you strive to keep him safe from harm, there may come a point in time when he does become injured. When this happens, it is important that you have the appropriate first aid supplies on hand to treat him, at the very least until you can get him to a veterinarian. It can mean the difference between life and death. Here is a list of items you may need to keep in your bird's first aid kit.

• Kwik Stop - Kwik Stop is a powder that is used to stop bleeding. You may find that you need this after clipping your Eclectus parrots nails. However, this isn't the appropriate product for all types of bleeding. For instance, if bleeding occurs after a feather has been pulled out, do not apply this product, because it can close the hair follicle. Instead, apply slight pressure to the area that is bleeding.

• Needle Nosed Pliers - Pliers are most commonly used to remove broken feathers that are bleeding a great deal. These are known as blood feathers, and the fastest way to stop the bleeding is to pull the feather out, and apply pressure.

• Vet Wrap - Vet wrap is bandage designed especially for pets. Look for vet wrap that is for small animals or birds, specifically. This special adhesive wrap can be used to bandage an injury, but make sure that the bird is still seen by the veterinarian. Your bird won't be able to get this special wrap off.

• Heating Pad - When an Eclectus parrot becomes ill or injured, he needs to be kept warm. A heating pad is the fastest and most effective way to do this. Don't get a cheap heating pad. Get one that allows you to control the temperature, and don't allow it to heat hotter than 90 degrees.

• Veterinarian Approved Antibiotic Ointment - Some injuries need antibiotic treatment, so that they do not become infected. Only your veterinarian can determine whether the antibiotics should be topical or oral, but having topical antibiotic, approved by your veterinarian in advance, is a good idea.

• Tweezers - While pliers are used to remove feathers, your bird may obtain an injury that requires tweezers as well. Just as a child may get a splinter, your eclectic parrot may also get a splinter that he is unable to pull out himself.

• A thick towel - This is often the most vital piece of equipment that you can have. Your Eclectus parrot won't appreciate your tender loving care when he is injured, and you are advised to wrap the bird in a good thick towel to prevent further injury to you or the Eclectus parrot.