An Eclectus going to a new home is going into a totally new world and
will spend several days studying everything and everybody in that world. The
bird will be stressed by this change and therefore needs to be allowed to nap
and rest several times a day for the first week. Young birds that are being
handled are paying very close attention to what is going on, and this is
naturally tiring and stressful. These first interactions with new owners and
new families are times of important learning for the bird. Every action taken
by the owners is noted. This is when the bird learns who you are and how to
behave with you. So, you want to make sure that each interaction is very positive:
1) move slowly, 2) talk constantly in a positive tone, 3) reward the bird with
good words and a little treat, such as half a grape, after each handling period,
4) be sure to give the bird plenty of time to eat before expecting to work
with it. Young birds take a long time to consume their meals and should be
given adequate time as they are still developing their physical health and
building organs and muscles. It is best to work with a young bird for a few
brief minutes before breakfast. Let the bird have at least thirty minutes to
eat, and then spend some time with the bird. Young birds will eat several times
a day; generally at least three major feeding periods.
When the bird has been in the home only a couple days, handling the bird should
be limited to four or five times a day and, each time, for no longer than five
minutes. After each handling period, return the bird to the cage and give the
bird a treat as well as some positive words, such as good bird and what a pretty
bird. After
several days, when
the bird is showing signs of being comfortable and unafraid, handling can be
extended to 15 minutes for 3 or 4 days, and after 2 weeks to
30 minute sessions. Signs of being comfortable include coming toward you when
you approach the cage and preening the feathers after returning to the cage.
Signs of fear would be retreating to the back of the cage when you approach
and perhaps even quivering.
After each handling session, birds need to go back to their cage and rest a
while, at least an hour after each encounter. The idea is to work slowly towards
longer sessions. If the bird displays fear or resistance, indicated by not
wanting to step up and not wanting to come out of the cage, do not force it.
Leave the bird alone, go do something else, and come back later. You want to
work with the bird in a way that persuades the bird to do what you want. Using
any force is a sure way to cause the bird to lose trust in you.
Persuasion works best.
Developing trust depends on showing respect for the bird's fears and reluctance.
Patience is needed, but the results will be remarkable. In time you will have
a bird that is anxious to step up and come out of the cage to be with you.
Individuals who use force with birds end up with birds that are wary, fearful,
bitey, and who prefer to stay in their cages. They don't trust you.
In this new world, the bird is going to be learning how to behave and what
to do based on how you behave with the bird. Every interaction will
be a learning session as far as the bird is concerned. The main point
is that in the first days and week the task of the owner is to make
friends with the bird so that the bird can trust the owner. That means several
things.
Always be gentle. Realize that the bird's tools for testing the world are
its beak and tongue
The beak is the bird's hands and fingers,and young birds will eventually
test everything using beak and tongue. Don't pull away if the bird pinches
down. Say no in a quiet voice and distract the bird from pinching on a finger
by putting a small toy or a green bean or something right next to its beak.
The idea is to redirect its attention. Eventually, young birds learn not to
pinch down on fingers. Adults rarely pinch and the main exception is 1) when
they are ill and don't feel well and you insist they step up, or 2) when
you are trying to get them to do something and they are afraid of and thus
are refusing to do it. The pinch means NO I don't want to do xxx. Often they
will take your finger and simply push it away. That is their way of saying
no. If you keep pushing, then they pinch down.
Expect a young bird to use its beak in stepping onto your hand, especially
if the bird is clipped, because young birds use their beaks as part of their
balancing as they move from point A to point B, whether from a perch to your
hand, or back. An easy way to return a bird to its cage is to reach behind
the perch with the bird on your hand facing you, so that when you reach behind
the perch, the bird is facing the perch and can step up onto the perch while
facing you.
One thing to keep in mind with a young, recently weaned bird is that young
Eclectus have a lot of instinctive fear about strange or unknown individuals,
objects, and actions. In the wild, research indicates that half the young
Eclectus that fledge from the nest are dead before they reach their first year
of age. Nature has built into them a powerful wariness so that they survive.
So, if your bird pinches you, it is likely a signal that the bird is afraid,
or that you are pushing the bird to do something that it does not feel comfortable
about, or you are moving too fast, so it pinches to let you know it doesn't
want to do that. Eclectus are not Amazons, who might pinch for the
fun of it. Eclectus are not generally considered to be biters, unless
they are afraid or they are being pushed. Persuasion works much better than
forcing.
If you can be patient with the young bird, you will find that the bird eventually
feels more secure and relaxed in its new world and along with the reduction
in fear and wariness is an acceptance of you and a reduction in fear and eventually
complete trust. You have to work for that trust, because Eclectus are smart
and do not forget. They will forgive a few slips, but not a constant pushing
or forcefulness from you. Being forceful doesn't work with Eclectus, patience
and persasion works.
If a bird is up on a high perch or on top of the cage, use a stool to step
up so your head is level with the bird, and then ask the bird to step up
onto your hand. If you have to reach up to pick up a young bird, that
is too much like a predator reaching for the bird. So, young birds are likely
to instinctively bite. In removing a bird from a high perch or cage top, do
not take this action and then put the bird in the cage immediately. What the
bird will learn is that when it is removed from the cage top, it immediately
goes into the cage. That action causes the bird to be reluctant to step onto
your hand from the cage top. So, when you need to put the bird in the cage
and it is on the cage top, allow sufficient time to remove the bird from the
cage top, spend a few minutes interacting with the bird, then place a treat
in the bird's bowl and return it to the cage. The idea is to make sure the
bird does not consider removal from the cage top as a negative.
Talking is very important. It is critical that the a new owners always talk
to the Eclectus before trying to pick them it or remove it from the
cage and during the entire time the owner is interacting with the bird. Talking
lets the bird know that everything is good. If owners are quiet, that is threatening
to these birds. So, use a positive tone of voice and positive words and lots
of talking. Eclectus do love to listen to your voice.
Moving slowly around a new bird is important. Fast movement reminds birds of
predators and makes them uneasy. So, when you have a new bird in the house,
make a point of moving slowly and talking to the bird. This will reassure the
bird that all is well and that you are a safe person. If you have children
or visitors, ensure they also move slowly around the bird. It is a good idea
to monitor children when you have a new Eclectus in the house so that the children
learn how to interact with the bird in a positive way. Eclectus generally
like children when they have been positively introduced to children
in their new home.
It is a good idea to go over these various suggestions with every member of
the family. Each person should understand how to interact with the bird so
that everyone feels comfortable with the bird and everyone understands what
is best for the bird.
Remember, the best approach to working with an Eclectus is to persuade,
entice, interest it into doing what you want, rather than pushing
the bird. Pushing an Eclectus can cause
the bird be stubborn and even aggressive towards you because it is
afraid. The best approach is to get the bird interested and
excited in participating with you in some activity. Eclectus are very curious
and interested in people, so you can take advantage
of that interest by involving an Eclectus in some way. Small hand toys are
a great way to interact with a new young bird that has been in your home at
least a week. You can place the toys or some simple foods, such as whole green
beans or baby carrots, on a table with the bird on the table. Then sit there
and observe and move slowly and talk to the bird.
You cannot expect young birds to be gentle sweethearts
until they are over a year of age. As they become accustomed to their new home
and their new people, they become calmer and more relaxed within the family.
And, as they get older, they are even more gentle and sweet. When they
are older, they are comfortable with all sorts of handling and petting.
Your most important tool in working with your new bird is observation. Study
the bird's actions. Is the bird looking at your face (seeing you) or your
hands (worried about handling)? Is the bird quivering (afraid) or calm (not
afraid)? Is the bird coming towards you in the cage (interested in coming
out) or retreating (doesn't want to come out)? Is the bird raising the feathers
on its shoulders (a sign of fear and responding with threat), or is the bird
relaxed and coming towards you (comfortable with you)? It helps to try to think
like a bird. These birds are intelligent, but they are not humans. They think
as Eclectus think, not as you and I think. But, with that thinking,
they learn how to live in our world. They are flexible. They learn from
every experience. Your task is to make their experiences positive, and then
you will be rewarded with a charming, playful, friendly, loving and beautiful
bird.