weaning

The Eclectus parrot is said to be one of the hardest parrots to wean. If it isn’t done correctly you can end up with some behaviours & severe weight loss. Stunted & malnourished chicks are on the increase with hand feeding today. Many hand feeders use their own home made formula, never weigh the bird so never know weather the bird is actually a proper weight & healthy. You can't judge by looking at a chick & the most accurate way to know how the chick is progressing is to keep a weight chart. If the weight declines you at least can be aware this sooner rather than later.

Other causes are watered down formulas,

incorrect mixing of formulas & unhygienic areas where the food is prepared.

Pulling eggs from the parents can also cause many problems. The first 28 days are the most important to the chick because this is the time their growth rates accelerate. For this reason alone they should be kept with the parents. Only they can give the chicks the correct nutritional requirements for successful growth.

There are breeders who rush the weaning process by having the bird weaned at an too early age & too quickly. These breeders usually want their Eclectus fully weaned by 3 months old & these birds can often develop behaviours when they arrive to the new homes of unsuspecting owners who have no idea what is going on & why the bird is not behaving normally.

Eclectus parrots need to be allowed to wean in their own time. Some can start to show signs of weaning around 8 weeks while others not until about 3 months. Eclectus parrots weaning time frame is about 4 months to 6 months.

There is a window of opportunity when they’re ready to start weaning. If you don’t see this & miss it, it can cause some weaning problems & behaviours.

If you have a new baby Eclectus parrot that is screaming continually, it is usually a very clear indication it is malnourished & has not been weaned properly. Eclectus chicks do not scream for no reason & most often these chicks need to be put back onto their formula & weaned properly. This causes a lot of strain with the new owners because they're not experienced in this area & don't know what to do & the bird they've just bought may not be weaned.

To help with the weaning process you can offer a little heated mashed foods, peas, corn just before giving a formula feed so they become full quicker & don’t need to eat as much formula, therefore rejecting it. Weaning Eclectus chicks do become quite independent eaters once they have started the weaning process.

If you feel your baby is rejecting the formula but not ready to wean you can try adding baby food like apple or banana to it. You may also want to add mashed fresh fruit. It may simply want a different taste to it’s usually getting & something as little as a bit of baby food added is all it takes for your baby to start eating & enjoying their formula again.

During the weaning & fledging stage their weight can bounce up & down. This is normal as long as the weight drops aren’t dramatic. During this time they will lose some baby fat & gain muscle as they start to use their wings.

Weights

This is just a guide to the sub species weights & length. The weights can vary individually. You can have a larger or smaller weighing Eclectus than usual for the sub species. These weights should only be used as a guide for your Eclectus parrot.

Grand Eclectus Parrot

Length: 35 cm (13.5 inches)

Weight: 380 - 475 gm

Red-sided Eclectus

Length: 37 cm (14.5 inches)

Weight: 470 - 525 gm

Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot

Length is 33-34 cm

Weight: 390 -425 gm

Vosmaeri Eclectus Parrot

Length: 38 cm (15 inches)

Weight: 430 - 540 gm