Eclectus color

kris29 · Jan 30, 2021

Hi I recently got a female eclectus and was wondering whether the color around the nape of her neck will ever develop to a more vibrant blue? She is only 3 months old and she’s got little to no blue around the back of her neck. Her feathers are definitely still growing in as you can see her chest is still quite grey. Is it normal for a female eclectus to not develop her color this young? Or will the back of her neck remain this dull red?

Ellie777Australia · Jan 30, 2021

kris29 said:
Hi I recently got a female eclectus and was wondering whether the color around the nape of her neck will ever develop to a more vibrant blue? She is only 3 months old and she’s got little to no blue around the back of her neck. Her feathers are definitely still growing in as you can see her chest is still quite grey. Is it normal for a female eclectus to not develop her color this young? Or will the back of her neck remain this dull red?

Welcome kris29...do you know her sub-species? Variations with same:

https://eclectus-parrots.com/identification-of-subspecies/

Then check out developmental 'colours' for the sub-species.

Saash · Jan 30, 2021

Diet is also important for good feather colour in eclectus, if you know what she was raised on that might help give you some idea if her plumes might change when she moults - she does look quite dark.

Debbie, could you perhaps share the care routine links here, I know they are on my newbie thread also if poster wants to go look. And what sub-species is your beautiful Ellie - is she a vosmaeri? I think Pickles is a Vosmaeri (probably cross Solomon, I didn't even think to ask at the time).

kris29 · Jan 30, 2021

I’m not too sure about her sub species, the breeder never told me- there’s no blue ring around her eyes nor are there yellow feathers developing under her tail.

She is still not fully weaned yet however she is slowly being introduced to some fruits and veggies

chris-md · Jan 30, 2021

She definitely has a ways to go in coloration. Make no mistake she will improve. They aren’t born with full colors everywhere, that can often come with successive molts. Especially traits like the blue ring, if it comes.

Saash · Jan 30, 2021

Maybe also help with identifying her:

https://eclectus-parrots.com/tail-feather-identification/

Ellie777Australia · Jan 30, 2021

Hi again kris,
Your little gal should have a completely black beak by 6 months and further feather colouration. The iris of the juvenile stays brown without distinct colour. It is helpful to know where you are from in order to narrow down possible subspecies. Is your breeder able to provide subspecie info? The fact that she has distinct blue bib line rather that an indistinct lavender/purple rules out a Vosmaer’s hen. Vosmaer’s also have a golden iris. Sooo, your baby belongs to the ‘cobalt or blue breast-feather group’ rather than the purple or red breast-feather group of subspecies. The cobalt group includes 5 subspecies: Red-sided, Solomon Island, the Australian (Macgillivrayi), the Aru Island and the Biak Island Eclectus.
Here are a couple more links to assist with ID:
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/eclectussubspeciesidentification.html
subspeciesID
With respect to the Eclectus Care links that Saash suggested, here is the link to Dr. Marshall’s products that I use for Bertie and Ellie (products are available in USA and UK as well as Australia). The species specific routine is only available to clients but our nutrition routine is close to the generic one within one of the links below:
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/eclectus
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/daily-routine
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/nutritional-supplements
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/weekly-health
In the pics of your baby girl her feathers look oily. It could be just the pic. Are you bathing her regularly? Eclectus parrots have oil glands for preening rather than dust/powder like other parrots. Please ensure that your hands are clean before touching her and do not stroke her anywhere other than front to back on the head. This is for feather health and to prevent hormonal behaviour later when she matures. Eclectus parrots can be bathed regularly once they fledge. Do not bath on a cold day nor late in the day. Use warm water or room temperature depending on the season. You will find bath info in an above link. I mist Bertie and Ellie with purified water, gently as if rain is falling upon them. Here are a couple of links on ‘oil glands’.
https://emeraldaviaries.com.au/what-makes-an-eclectus-parrot-a-great-pet/
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/eclectus.htm
Please continue to ask lots of questions. Our excellent members here are a treasure trove of information.

Laurasea · Jan 31, 2021

Ellie777Australia said:
Hi again kris,
Your little gal should have a completely black beak by 6 months and further feather colouration. The iris of the juvenile stays brown without distinct colour. It is helpful to know where you are from in order to narrow down possible subspecies. Is your breeder able to provide subspecie info? The fact that she has distinct blue bib line rather that an indistinct lavender/purple rules out a Vosmaer’s hen. Vosmaer’s also have a golden iris. Sooo, your baby belongs to the ‘cobalt or blue breast-feather group’ rather than the purple or red breast-feather group of subspecies. The cobalt group includes 5 subspecies: Red-sided, Solomon Island, the Australian (Macgillivrayi), the Aru Island and the Biak Island Eclectus.
Here are a couple more links to assist with ID:
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/eclectussubspeciesidentification.html
subspeciesID
With respect to the Eclectus Care links that Saash suggested, here is the link to Dr. Marshall’s products that I use for Bertie and Ellie (products are available in USA and UK as well as Australia). The species specific routine is only available to clients but our nutrition routine is close to the generic one within one of the links below:
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/eclectus
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/daily-routine
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/nutritional-supplements
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/weekly-health
In the pics of your baby girl her feathers look oily. It could be just the pic. Are you bathing her regularly? Eclectus parrots have oil glands for preening rather than dust/powder like other parrots. Please ensure that your hands are clean before touching her and do not stroke her anywhere other than front to back on the head. This is for feather health and to prevent hormonal behaviour later when she matures. Eclectus parrots can be bathed regularly once they fledge. Do not bath on a cold day nor late in the day. Use warm water or room temperature depending on the season. You will find bath info in an above link. I mist Bertie and Ellie with purified water, gently as if rain is falling upon them. Here are a couple of links on ‘oil glands’.
https://emeraldaviaries.com.au/what-makes-an-eclectus-parrot-a-great-pet/
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/eclectus.htm
Please continue to ask lots of questions. Our excellent members here are a treasure trove of information.

I was just going to say oily feathers, and I see food stuck to feathers in several places ..

Feeding is messy, I've been Feeding sick birds and the stuff ends up all over.

But you need to keep cage abd surrounding spot less.

And mist sbd pat with towels any food stuck on bird. You don't want to soak them or give them a chill....but you do want to keep them clean.

cneuhauser · Feb 9, 2021

My first thought is... DIET!!!

Alembic772 · Feb 9, 2021

This is my Paprika around the same age.

The red on their backs is always more of a maroon / merlot color. Paprika is a Solomon island so her brightest red is around the tips of her tail and then her head. Basil is 23 years old, the male in the one picture.

I would agree with diet. Basil is addicted to pellets. His feathers get a small amount of stress bars and don’t feel as soft as Paprika. She is a baby though, too.

She is going through her first molt now and will be eight months tomorrow. Here is a more recent picture:

Working on their diets is very important. Basil is a pain in the rump, thought, because he became hooked on pellets. Paprika is much different and eats all fresh foods with some Tops pellets occasionally and some nutriberries every once in a while.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

kris29 · Feb 15, 2021

Thanks for the info! I took that photo after I gave her a bit of a spritz so the feathers aren’t actually oily they were just wet.

I also found out that she’s a red sided eclectus, although I’m not to sure how this will impact the growth of blue feathers around the nape of her neck. Will it develop overtime? Although she has been moulting for the past couple of weeks now

kris29 · Feb 15, 2021

Alembic772 said:
This is my Paprika around the same age.

The red on their backs is always more of a maroon / merlot color. Paprika is a Solomon island so her brightest red is around the tips of her tail and then her head. Basil is 23 years old, the male in the one picture.

I would agree with diet. Basil is addicted to pellets. His feathers get a small amount of stress bars and don’t feel as soft as Paprika. She is a baby though, too.

She is going through her first molt now and will be eight months tomorrow. Here is a more recent picture:

Working on their diets is very important. Basil is a pain in the rump, thought, because he became hooked on pellets. Paprika is much different and eats all fresh foods with some Tops pellets occasionally and some nutriberries every once in a while.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Paprika is such a beautiful bird!

I have indeed been working on my birds diet. She’s being fed fruits, veggies and seeds everyday! I’m not too sure about which pellets to get for the eclectus so any recommendations will be highly appreciated!

My eclectus is about 4 months now but she is still in the process of weaning and I only offer her formula at night.

It’s been a challenging few weeks trying to bond with her, she hasn’t been accustomed to eating any nuts when I offer them as treats. Every time I take her out of her cage she’d always yell and fly into things.

Alembic772 · Feb 23, 2021

The only pellets you will see recommended are TOPS pellets because they are all natural and have no added vitamins or enrichments. They smell like alfalfa, and Basil wouldn’t eat them at first. Slowly got him converted over to him eating them and the fresh food that Paprika eats. Paprika will eat the TOPS pellets too, but then again she is a machine and will eat almost anything at this point.

If you are weaning off a different type of pellets just have patience and don’t make her go cold turkey. As others here will attest to, it has taken me a long time to get Basil to convert to the fresh food and tops.

I also have found that Basil will engage more in new foods if I make it a challenge to get to them. Like covering them will shredded paper. Or hiding in a foraging toy.

Just keep trying and have patience.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Alembic772 · Feb 23, 2021

And in addition to what I said, I think you will find when she gets older she will become very fond of almonds. Basil is addicted to them and Paprika has also fallen in love with them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ellie777Australia · Feb 25, 2021

kris29 said:
Thanks for the info! I took that photo after I gave her a bit of a spritz so the feathers aren’t actually oily they were just wet.

I also found out that she’s a red sided eclectus, although I’m not to sure how this will impact the growth of blue feathers around the nape of her neck. Will it develop overtime? Although she has been moulting for the past couple of weeks now

She will be a bit bigger than a SI but the blue nape feathers should develop a bit. Nothing to fret about as 'breeders' may not have 'pure breeds' so variations in colouring may occur over time. Please keep us updated on her progress kris.

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