The First Few Days - How It Should Be: Part 1 Your   baby   eclectus   is   placed   in   a      carrier   which   is   does   not   recognise,   it   has been   raised   in   various   brooders   during   its   life   with   me,   each   time   I   place them   in   a   new   brooder   or   cage   it   has   took   them   a   few   days   to   really   settle down.   The   carrier   is   new,   the   bird   recognises   that   the   interior   of   the   car   is not   home,   it   does   not   recognise   the   voices   of   the   people   in   the   car,   the radio   may   be   on,   the   engine   sound,   turning   around   corners,   breaking   etc. are   all   going   to   have   a   psychological   impact   on   the   bird.   Whilst   the   majority of   these   cannot   be   avoided   recognise   that   your   bird   may   be   stressed,   it may   be   frightened   and   therefore   it’s   defences   are   probably   up.   The   only security   it   has   is   the   carrier.   By   all   means   talk   to   it   whilst   looking   at   it, gauge   it’s   response,   it   may   call   you   when   you   speak   to   it   softly.   If   you   have a   piece   of   fruit   slowly   move   it   to   the   wire   and   keep   your   hand   there,   if   the bird   approaches   and   starts   eating   that   is   a   good   sign   showing   the   bird   is dealing   with   the   strangeness   quite   well,   if   it   does   not   move   and   does   not approach   the   bars   then   drop   the   fruit   there   and   back   off.   If   it   approaches and   eats   even   after   some   time   it’s   a   good   sign,   once   its   eaten   you   can   try the   same   procedure   again,   it   may   approach   you   this   time   feeling   a   bit   safer, if   it   does   then   that’s   brilliant.   If   it   doesn’t   you   can   understand   it’s   hesitancy. If   the   bird   stays   at   the   back   all   the   time   and   doesn’t   even   approach   the front,   again   you   understand   that   too   and   this   gives   you   a   big   indication about how your baby eclectus is feeling. You   arrive   home   and   the   eclectus   baby   senses   the   change,   whilst   it   was   a bit   settled   in   the   car   now   things   are   moving   again,   its   awareness   levels shoot   through   the   roof   as   does   the   anxiety.   It   is   far   better   to   open   your cage   door,   open   the   carrier   door   at   the   same   level,   prop   the   carrier   with   a table   or   something   similar.   Place   something   to   eat   in   the   cage   which   is visible   to   the   eclectus   and   then   leave   it   alone,   stand   well   away.   The eclectus   is   more   than   aware   if   it   is   being   watched   and   may   be   hesitant   to move.   Once   it   feels   safe   it   will   venture   out,   have   a   good   look   at   the   new cage   and   then   at   some   point   climb   in.   You   can   then   remove   the   carrier   and close the door. Your   baby   eclectus   is   now   in   a   very   nervous   state,   everything   becomes magnified   as   it   tries   to   reason   and   deal   with   everything   going   on.   It   will hear   sounds   it’s   not   used   to,   a   mobile   ring   tone,   a   squeaking   door,   sounds of   children   making   noise,   running   about,   any   different   sound   will   result   in your   eclectus   becoming   very   alert.   It   may   even   jump   at   an   unexpected sound.   In   the   same   way   certain   sounds   may   be   reassuring   and   the   bird may   react   thinking   it’s   back   home   such   as   the   sound   of   boiling   water   in   a kettle   which   it   will   recognize   as   food   time   when   it   was   being   hand   reared, only   for   its   response   to   fall   on   deaf   ears   or   a   realization   that   it’s   still somewhere   else.   The   bird   will   slowly   start   to   look   around   its   cage,   it   will notice   the   wire,   it   will   notice   food   but   maybe   too   scared   to   go   down   to   get it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               All   the   bird   needs   is   to   recognise   that   you   are   not   a   threat   to   it.   If   left   alone it   will   build   up   its   confidence   and   start   to   explore   it’s   own   cage   and surroundings.   You   need   to   continue   doing   what   you   normally   do,   i.e.   watch tv   but   try   and   keep   a   distance   from   the   cage.   Watching   the   bird   move down   and   start   eating   is   a   good   sign   of   progression.   Over   the   next   few days   be   mindful   about   how   you   approach   the   cage,   do   it   slowly,   change   the feed   pots   without   sharp   movement   and   speak   gently   to   your   baby   eclectus. The   important   issue   is   to   give   time   for   your   baby   to   adjust   to   it’s   new home.   Speeding   up   this   process brings it’s own risks.                                                                                                                                                               Notice    the    defensive    posture of    the    female    on    the    right when moved to a new brooder.

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