Newbie

Hi all - I am really hoping I have found the right forum, seems there are many active users who can share their experiences.
I've had a bit of bad experience on other forums and hoping here won't be a repeat experience. I'm new to parrots and in general looking for a home to pop my odd questions to. Generally, when things crop up as I know they will, I need a safe place to pop in and ask whats 'normal. I hate to discover my bird gets sick and I didn't know soon enough - my main worry really. Seen so many horror stories!

Welcome. You have officially found the nicest corner of the internet. You should have no trouble getting your questions answered. We do charge a “fee” which can be paid by posting pictures of your baby at every opportunity (haha no fee but we do love pictures!)


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Welcome to the community! I’ve also just recently joined and have found many friendly people with lots of good advice on here. I hope you also receive positive feedback! And welcome to the joys of owning a parrot! Good luck!

Welcome to the forums! So glad you found us. We have lots of knowledgeable, experienced members, happy to help in whatever way we can. Feel free to ask any questions you might have, and yes, we love pictures here

Hello and welcome!

Here's one on behavior: http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/88156-i-need-advice.html
Here's one more on health --my response is long but its my go-to "copy and paste" for new bird owners: http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/88384-new-bird-owner.html

Saash said:

Hi all - I am really hoping I have found the right forum, seems there are many active users who can share their experiences.
I've had a bit of bad experience on other forums and hoping here won't be a repeat experience. I'm new to parrots and in general looking for a home to pop my odd questions to. Generally, when things crop up as I know they will, I need a safe place to pop in and ask whats 'normal. I hate to discover my bird gets sick and I didn't know soon enough - my main worry really. Seen so many horror stories!

Click to expand...

Welcome Saash. Does your Eclectus have a name yet? Male or female? Please post pics, if possible, as we do love it so!

Welcome to you!

Welcome to you and your feathered friend

Oh wonderful - thank you so much for all the replies.

I'm think im just a nervous new mom. I have a 4 week old girl. Most of the time nothing seems amis.

She does things other times and I never know if they're 'normal or if I need to run off to a vet. So I'm hoping for some knowledge!

When I feed her in the day she's fine but at the night feed before bed, she squeeks for half an hour - like the sound a puppy makes when it's pining for love. The other strange thing she does, when she need to poop she gets a big surprised look, sits up with her bum on her paper, and wiggles about then holds her breath and makes a small grunt. Its super cute, but maybe its not good? The poop looks normal, no strange colors or smells.

Am I just being neurotic?

Is she ok?

Saash said:

Oh wonderful - thank you so much for all the replies.

I'm think im just a nervous new mom. I have a 4 week old girl. Most of the time nothing seems amis.

She does things other times and I never know if they're 'normal or if I need to run off to a vet. So I'm hoping for some knowledge!

When I feed her in the day she's fine but at the night feed before bed, she squeeks for half an hour - like the sound a puppy makes when it's pining for love. The other strange thing she does, when she need to poop she gets a big surprised look, sits up with her bum on her paper, and wiggles about then holds her breath and makes a small grunt. Its super cute, but maybe its not good? The poop looks normal, no strange colors or smells.

Am I just being neurotic?

Is she ok?

Click to expand...

Hi again Saash. So, you have a sweet little baby girl on your hands. I reckon you have a formula and feeding routine going? I don't know anything about the babies, my guys were older rescues. You may pick up a few tips under the breeding section. One thread about un-weaned babies talks a bit about formula and temperatures etc.. Your best health monitor from what I read is to check her weight frequently. Not sure if you are doing before and after feed weights, checking crop emptying etc... I KNOW NOTHING. Are those 'squeeks' because she is still hungry?



So, specifics will help the knowledgeable members assist you. What formula, how much, frequency, temperature, weights etc. Is she gaining and maintaining weight as per Eclectus weight per age and so on? Also, if you have a very specific question regarding feeding or other item then please feel free to ask, ask and ask....



Regarding poop, my Ellie (?6yo now) still makes pooping a BIG event. She finds her poop zone, the bum goes up and I can almost here her say 'ahhhh' when done . If your baby's poop is normal in amount, frequency and consistency then all should be well..



Regarding being a 'nervous Mom', welcome to the club!

Ah thanks. Yes, I am using AviPlus formula for parots 2 to 6 weeks and feeding her to a schedule going by weight. She was eating like a champion and actually overshot her weight goal 2 days ago, then yesterday's eating didn't go so well, she left about 2-5ml of her feeds. Today she's much better - but yesterday was also a crazy hot day and I struggled to cool her down a bit. I'm pretty ok with the feeding and weight gain, she's down to 4 feeds a day of 43ml per feed. Her crop empties. She has active periods in the day with plenty sleep. She does this thing where she sticks out her tongue, or opens her beak and stretches out her neck - a vet has told me that is normal. But couldn't really say about the squeeking/whining noises she makes at night. It feels like she misses her mommy.
http://www.parrotforums.com/members/saash-albums-pickles-picture23028-30-dec-maybe-7-9-days.jpg

I have decided to add info -
I don't know her exact age. I'll put pics of her at 23Dec, 30 Dec and 6 Jan. She's about 26 or 27 days old. She has been gaining weight according to the 'hen' eccie chart, yesterday she was 279g where the chart weight was 270. Then she was spitting out her food at the end of the feed so I slowed down. It was a very hot day and struggled to keep her at 30deg, where she should be at 28deg. Today she's 274g, so lost a few grams but eating nicely today again and looking chipper (but not so chatty today).

I should probably add that she's spoon fed. I'm not taking the chances of shoving things down her throat. I let her her take it as she's ready, I don't want to choke her or drown her. I have a beak-shaped spoon and her formula flows smoothly. We take it slow and I keep the formula between 38 to 42deg.
Oh and everything gets sterilized using Milton, which kills all known germs including thrush. Its active ingredient is sodium chloride.

Oh dear, did my reply post get lost?
Haha - ok, still learning how to use the page, I see there's a scroll bar at the bottom of the thread.
This is her today. As you can see, her red is only just starting to show. :

Oh my...so CUTE! What a darling little fluff ball.

Helllo and welcome. I just would be terrified to take care of one so little!! Look at how far you have come! Amazing!

I can share links , but I've only taken care if a few sick babies such s long time ago, not hand raised any myself.

Critical things are temperature, temperature you keep bsby at, temperature of hand feeding formula and maintaining that temp during feeding. Being to cold is the maintaining problems of crop stasis, yeast or bacterial over growth.

I will find what i have and put in your thread. You may not need it at this time , but maybe there will be tips, or things to watch fir that might help. As I get time between my sick flock and care of them , I will find and add.

I hope you will document your hand raising journey here. Like how you maintaining temperature, how often and how much you feed. All tge highlights too. Many people will learn from you. And please jump right in to help others with hand raising babies. Pr any snd all topics! Don't be shy dive in!

Thank you!

You know, funny thing about resources I've used, as a go-to guide (I had many), one of the things that is super useful is this weight chart that goes according to sex of the baby, which I found right on this forum.

A few days ago (before any colour came) she started refusing to take a fifth feed. I couldn't understand. She was hungrier for her normal feeding times, her weight was fine according to another chart I was using, but then in the evening she just did not want to eat one day. Then I found this chart, and as you see, girls drop to 4 feeds much quicker than boys - it was a big relief!

Here's a link to that:

https://images.app.goo.gl/HAb1qRHjDPrFtuTk7

Baby seems to have stopped crying in the night - I still think she was just vocalizing her dreams of her mommy-bird. Sounded just like when chick's are left in their nests in the trees when the mom goes out to forage. Last night she was quiet, hopefully will be quiet again tonight.

Oh and today she is spot on for 28 days again so feeding now is 51ml, its getting lots of parot porridge now. 294 grams of birdie. She is starting to investigate things with her beak, its too cute. Stretching out her legs a lot, I think she will soon be able to lift up her body without her tummy dragging by her feet.

The best option is for the baby to be raised by its parents. The next best is a suitable and experienced hand raiser (be choosey - some just do it for profit and don't put in the right level of tlc). Doing it yourself is difficult, takes commitment, its scary, and risky! You need to do tons of homework, you need tons of free time, - but yes, luckily there's a lot of info if you know where to look and who to ask.

Thank you to all that have helped me, including Jason, who posted that very handy feeding chart!

This has graphic pictures of things that can go wrong. And I'm not endorsing her " cures"
But has some good info
Uncommon Problems with Hand-Feeding

This was shared from Ellie777Australia, itc a common issue with adults. So good for yiu to read up on it now.
https://eclectusparrotcentre.com/contact/toe-tapping/

http://www.parrot-parrots.com/important-stages-life-parrot.php

Eh Saash, you are amazing! And you are doing an awesome job with OUR little gal soon to be named??? I feel like I'm seeing my baby Ellie from birth to now...the part of her life that I missed, so thanks for sharing your journey with us.

Thank you all for the great support and encouragement!

I did read the uncommon problems - thanks for the link Laura. All that anatomy, lol, I cannot get baby to cooperate with that level of examination I did find the part about stress bars especially interesting, especially now that I am looking forward to feathers.

So baby's name is PICKLES. (She was supposed to be green! Tough!).

She's my son's bird. I'm just the mommy.

Well Pickles it is then. Pickled beetroot is RED so it still works for her LOL.


FYI - the link below is page 1 of a 2 page chart from pages 118-119 of Dr. Rob Marshall and Ian Ward's book titled "A Guide to....Eclectus Parrots as Pet & Aviary Birds, 2004 Edition. I have this book. The chart is an excellent resource from an EXPERT source. If you need page 2 of the chart (covers Day 38-77 at weaning) then I'll find a way to get it to you. I use Dr. Marshall's Eclectus Health Care Weekly routine for Ellie and Bertie.


https://images.app.goo.gl/HAb1qRHjDPrFtuTk7