Soon to be mum to Ekkie

Hey all, thought I'd say hello -

I'm from Australia and I am about to be mum to an Eclectus baby boy for the first time! I've waited over a decade for this moment. I have lots of questions to ask and am a little nervous to be honest.

I'm out of my house by 7:30 every morning and don't return until 5-7pm 4 nights per week. I've been assured that as long as I provide play time to my Ekkie, prior to leaving for work and once I get home, there should be no problems. I'm also planning to take him out with me in the car once he's older and settled in.

Happy to hear your opinions/experiences.
Cheers,
Wendy

Welcome Wendy, congratulations for the Ekkie of your dreams!

I assume your boy will be fully weaned on delivery? This will be crucial given your time away most days. While Ekkies can be more independent than other species, he is young and will need much attention during the transition.

You'll receive varied opinions on the schedule and whether it is optimal for a parrot. Quality of time spent is about as important as quantity. Making the maximal use of your time at home will help foster a bond and provide the attention he will need. Will you be able to spend an abundance of time with him on your days off, ie the remaining three days of week?

My personal experience with Ekkies spanned 25 years and sadly recently ended. They are stunning birds with complex dietary needs. Mine were mostly one or two person birds and the female was atypically extremely cuddly. The male was the clearest talker I've heard, sounded like a little boy without any of the gravelly speech typical with many parrots.

I'd recommend reading through the Eclectus forum, beginning with this excellent thread: http://www.parrotforums.com/eclectus/52737-so-you-think-you-want-eclectus.html

Good luck, feel free to post any questions or concerns!

Welcome to you and happy adventure!

Oh my gosh, super exciting. The people here are great!
Look forward to hearing from you and your adventures