Baby Eclectus Hatchling Weight and Gains

Jayson_Black

New member
Jan 20, 2018
29
9
Finley, NSW, Australia
Parrots
2x Eclectus-bonded Pair, 1 x Eclectus Chick (Hand Rearing from Incubation) (Male). 3X Cockatiel (2 of them hand reared from 4 weeks), 1 X Australian Magpie (reared from Fledgling), 2 X Budgie (Hand re
Hello everyone. Could someone please tell me specifically how much weight a baby Eclectus Hatchling Should weight and how much it should gain.


I wasn't sure if the egg would hatch or if it would have problems because of incorrect temperature. I didn't trust the Thermostat in the incubator and was afraid it was too cold.



Fortunately the Baby Hatched Right on time. Almost to the hour. So my fears about the Incubator were unfounded.


In the excitement of the new Eclectus Hatching I forgot to weigh the baby. The next morning at 4am, I again forgot to weigh the baby (sleepy). However, today I did weigh the baby at 4am (with emptied crop of course) and we have 21 grams. How does that sound? I will report back with the next few weigh ins. The baby has definitely grown quite a bit though. There is no way it would fit back in the same sized egg anymore. lol.



I would also love to know how much a healthy Hatchling should be gaining each day.


This is my first Parrot I have reared from actual Hatching and Artificial incubation and am struggling to find useful or reliable information on this topic specifically related to Eclectus.


It would seem that I may need to purchase a book or two as the information does not seem to be freely available on this part of rearing from hatching.


Don't fret though, I have plenty of experience rearing other parrots and birds, albeit from an older age including Wild Birds/rescues. Apart from forgetting to weigh baby the first two mornings, everything is going well. He/She has plenty of energy, good color skin. Temps and RH% are pretty good.


Thank you :D


Born 4th of December between 5 and 8 am. From External pip to unzipping ~12 hours. Weight unknown.

5th Dec: ???
6th Dec: 21g
 

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,349
2,119
Maryland - USA
Parrots
Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
Unfortunately nobody here breeds and raises Ekkies, anything you’d hear from people here would be guesses. I’d suggest reaching out to a breeder with these questions. Being from Australia, you’ll have a myriad breeders you can reach out to who would be very willing to help.
 
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Jayson_Black

Jayson_Black

New member
Jan 20, 2018
29
9
Finley, NSW, Australia
Parrots
2x Eclectus-bonded Pair, 1 x Eclectus Chick (Hand Rearing from Incubation) (Male). 3X Cockatiel (2 of them hand reared from 4 weeks), 1 X Australian Magpie (reared from Fledgling), 2 X Budgie (Hand re
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Thanks for that. I have just purchased a really good (really BIG) Book on everything to do with Eckies, including incubation and rearing. So I am really Chuffed that my baby is 21 grams and the chart in the book for Day 3 Says 20 grams. It's amazing the variation in information around the internet specifically to Eclectus rearing (very little for hatchlings). But yeah this book is great. I purchased the e-book version, but I think I will try to get a hard copy. It seems to have all the information i need and can not find on the internet. It's written by zoologists, Avian Vets and Eclectus/Parrot Experts. It has 155 Pages and is called:
A Guide to Eclectus Parrots as Pet and Aviary Birds – Rob Marshall, Ian Ward


Just for anyone else who comes to this forum looking for this information. Here is a chart found in the book mentioned above:
lOKmF7.png
 
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Jayson_Black

Jayson_Black

New member
Jan 20, 2018
29
9
Finley, NSW, Australia
Parrots
2x Eclectus-bonded Pair, 1 x Eclectus Chick (Hand Rearing from Incubation) (Male). 3X Cockatiel (2 of them hand reared from 4 weeks), 1 X Australian Magpie (reared from Fledgling), 2 X Budgie (Hand re
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Everything is going well I am pleased to report. my nerves are frazzled, I am heavily fatigued, there have been lots of close calls, but our baby is energetic, feeding well and hitting the target weights from the chart above. Has not been easy. In fact it's been terrifying but i am feeling more confident now that we have hit day 11.
 
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Jayson_Black

Jayson_Black

New member
Jan 20, 2018
29
9
Finley, NSW, Australia
Parrots
2x Eclectus-bonded Pair, 1 x Eclectus Chick (Hand Rearing from Incubation) (Male). 3X Cockatiel (2 of them hand reared from 4 weeks), 1 X Australian Magpie (reared from Fledgling), 2 X Budgie (Hand re
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Hi everyone, though you might like to see my baby. Day 12 now, 67 grams WOW!! 12 grams over night (last night).



Here is a video I made of our first 12 days together.



Dont get me wrong, it's not been easy. It's been extremely exhausting, mostly because of the way I worry and take full responsibility (at least in my own head) for things. so every little change, every little squak... I worry... A lot. but maybe that's what is keeping this baby safe and well.



I literally burned my skin because of excessive hand washing - Very Painful (so I switched to mild washing and using Rubber gloves)



Can you help me find a name? We wont know for a while yet whether it's a boy or girl (**** or hen). But I'd still love to know your thoughts. I've sometimes (much to my partners dislike) been calling him/her "Mgak" (Pronounced Mah-Gack) No idea what it means, where it came from, just popped into my head while feeding the little angel. This is how I name my babies. Just what ever pops into my head while interacting with them. If it was a girl I also like "Indra" (Hindu God of thunderstorms). Being a former Storm Chaser and lighting Photographer, I found myself saying a little prayer everyone now and then to Indra. not much else to in the down time of storm chasing. lol.



Anyway here is the video of day 1 to 12: [ame="https://youtu.be/XYJjfxGEFZU"]Baby Eclectus Parrot chick Hatchling Day 1 to 12 - YouTube[/ame]
 
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Jayson_Black

Jayson_Black

New member
Jan 20, 2018
29
9
Finley, NSW, Australia
Parrots
2x Eclectus-bonded Pair, 1 x Eclectus Chick (Hand Rearing from Incubation) (Male). 3X Cockatiel (2 of them hand reared from 4 weeks), 1 X Australian Magpie (reared from Fledgling), 2 X Budgie (Hand re
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Just an update. IT's A BOY! We are at day 33 now (351 Grams). We Named him "Salem" He is eating well (though has just gone through a bit of mess making phase). I have been logging all his weight details into a google Sheet, then making graphs with the data. Looks cool, enables you to be able to visualize things in a much convenient way.


I have uploaded to youtube a new video of Him but it only goes to Day 24. I will make a new video of him up to Now (day 33+) very soon, so I wont worry about posting a link to the Day 24 Video. Oh Bugger it, if you really want to see the video of him to Day 24, here is the link: [ame="https://youtu.be/04LciLv6ohM"]Eclectus Chick Baby Hatchling Day 1 to 24 - YouTube[/ame]



Anyway, I will make a new video of him over the next few days. :)



One issue has arisen though. He has a lump/Mass on the left side of his neck. Our nearest Avian Vet returns from Holidays on the 9th of Jan, but we are going through a record breaking heatwave ATM so may not be able to take him to the Vet until the 11th as it is expected to be a little cooler that day. I was about to post what I know about it, but I wont do that here. I will start a New Thread for that.
 
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Saash

New member
Jan 13, 2021
78
6
Durban, South Africa
Parrots
Eclectus
Hi Jayson

I see from the forum that you hand raised your eclectus.

Thank you so much for the info you posted at the time. It has really helped me!

I have questions I hope you can answer.

My girl is on 28 days and pining.

She gained weight 100% to the chart you posted. This morning I weighted her (day 29?) And she's 304. Suddenly her appetite has dropped. On the chart it sows smaller feeds for a few days and even weight loss (on the girls). Do you have any idea why? She doesn't even want the 40ml im offering her so I expect a weight drop, which shows on the chart, I'm just curious what its all about.

Also. I'm wondering about vitamin A in the porridge? Did you find you needed to supplement yours during the porridge phase?

Thanks in advance, hope you don't mind the Q's.
 

Ellie777Australia

New member
Apr 12, 2019
1,280
98
Queensland, Australia
Parrots
SI Eclectus Female, Ellie; RS/SI Eclectus Male, Bertie (both adopted as rescue/re-home)
Thanks for that. I have just purchased a really good (really BIG) Book on everything to do with Eckies, including incubation and rearing. So I am really Chuffed that my baby is 21 grams and the chart in the book for Day 3 Says 20 grams. It's amazing the variation in information around the internet specifically to Eclectus rearing (very little for hatchlings). But yeah this book is great. I purchased the e-book version, but I think I will try to get a hard copy. It seems to have all the information i need and can not find on the internet. It's written by zoologists, Avian Vets and Eclectus/Parrot Experts. It has 155 Pages and is called:
A Guide to Eclectus Parrots as Pet and Aviary Birds – Rob Marshall, Ian Ward


Just for anyone else who comes to this forum looking for this information. Here is a chart found in the book mentioned above:
lOKmF7.png


Excellent resource....I too have the book.
 

Ellie777Australia

New member
Apr 12, 2019
1,280
98
Queensland, Australia
Parrots
SI Eclectus Female, Ellie; RS/SI Eclectus Male, Bertie (both adopted as rescue/re-home)
Hi Jayson

I see from the forum that you hand raised your eclectus.

Thank you so much for the info you posted at the time. It has really helped me!

I have questions I hope you can answer.

My girl is on 28 days and pining.

She gained weight 100% to the chart you posted. This morning I weighted her (day 29?) And she's 304. Suddenly her appetite has dropped. On the chart it sows smaller feeds for a few days and even weight loss (on the girls). Do you have any idea why? She doesn't even want the 40ml im offering her so I expect a weight drop, which shows on the chart, I'm just curious what its all about.

Also. I'm wondering about vitamin A in the porridge? Did you find you needed to supplement yours during the porridge phase?

Thanks in advance, hope you don't mind the Q's.


Hi Saash....p.124 of Dr. Marshall/Ian Ward's book states the "Between 4-6 weeks of age, many Eclectus chicks tend to refuse feeding for some reason. It is suspected that their eyesight is poor at this stage and they may flinch or become shy when approached too quickly. If at anytime during the handrearing process an Eclectus chick shies away from food or from your hands, you can place a towel over its eyes leaving only the beak exposed. When you touch the beak it should begin to solicit feeding once again. No-one really knows why they go through this stage, but almost anyone who raises this species agrees that they can be difficult to feed just before they feather."
 

Saash

New member
Jan 13, 2021
78
6
Durban, South Africa
Parrots
Eclectus
Yes Ellie, that is totally true, a few days before the pins, I don't really think she was seeing well at all and going by smell. Then I noticed she started exploring things in close range with her beak and flinching at movements.

I had a terrible time calming the family to stay away from her and approach her slowly because she not only shied away from feeding, but even started shaking at a point - I started feeding almost in the dark and chased everyone away, and that worked.

She's much better now, but doesn't enjoy new people or a lot of noise. She is starting to waddle around, nibble at sparkly things, and is investigating her toys. Her eyesight is definitely starting to focus now.

Its really interesting that she accepts food up to a certain appetite satisfaction, and doesn't go more than that. I did read that pining takes up loads of energy so perhaps she had more hunger on the 51ml day, then appetite has normalized after the pins. That would also make sense.
 

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