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Behaviour Challenges
There
are
a
number
of
behaviours
which
are
particular
to
eclectus
parrots
which
the
new
owner
needs
to
be
aware
of
and
at
some
point
you
are
likely
to
experience
these.
Whilst
I
am
no
authority
on
training
and
dealing
with
behaviours
I
have
experienced
some
of
these.
The
majority
of
the
issues
outlined
below can be dealt in the same way however there is different schools of thought about how these issues need to be tackled.
Terrible
Two’s
-
Basically
this
is
a
stage
very
similar
to
human
baby
development.
In
eclectus
it
occurs
anywhere
between
two
and
six
months,
in
some
cases
it
can
take
longer.
The
young
bird
generally
misbehaves
and
tests
the
new
owner
and
hand
in
hand
with
this
stage
is
a
strive
for
dominance.
During
this
stage
the
bird
may
become
possessive
of
everything
under
it’s
ownership
i.e.
food
bowls,
cage
etc.
Lunging
for
you
with
the
intention
of
nipping,
biting
etc.
are
all
mechanisms
the
bird
uses
to
assert
it’s
authority.
The
majority
of
advice
on
the
internet
and
in
books
advocates
the
owner
to
assert
the
alpha
position
and
not
to
let
the
baby
get
away
with
thinking
it’s
the
boss.
This
technique
does
work
and
although
punishment
is
totally
forbidden,
there
is
the
issue
of
forcing
the
bird
in
doing
what
it
does
not
want
to
do.
So
if
the
bird
is
lunging
for
you
as
you
want
it
to
step
up
on
your
hand,
this
technique
advocates
getting
the
bird
onto
your
hand
regardless
of
the
consequences.
I
on
the
other
hand
take
the
opposite
approach,
if
the
bird
is
in
this
mode,
then
I
leave
it
be.
I
have
had
very
young
babies
in
the
past
which
have
been
absolute
nightmares
as
they
lunge
and
rush
at
you
every
time
you
enter
their
space.
Trying
to
take
them
out
is
no
easy
task.
However
I
have
found
that
by
ignoring
them,
leaving
them
in
the
cage
and
allowing
them
to
come
out
themselves
changes
the
dynamics
entirely.
If
left
alone,
the
eclectus
baby
can
remain
dominant
over
it’s
food,
toys
and
cage,
it’s
desire
for
power
is
not
being
challenged.
Whilst
if
you
were
constantly
putting
your
hands
in
the
cage
and
trying
to
get
it
out
then
in
effect
you
are
challenging
it.
I
personally
feel
this
is
the
reason
why
some
birds
remain
in
this
state
for
quite
a
while.
If
left
totally
alone,
I
believe
the
transition
is
much
more
natural,
less
stressful
for
both
parties
and
allows
a
closure
of
this
stage.
The
first
technique
only
reaches
closure
when
one
of
the
parties
gives
up.
With
my
technique
not
only
do
you
completely
ignore
the
bird
you
leave
it
in
the
cage
for
a
week
or
two.
The
next
step
is
to
leave
its
cage
door
open
and
allow
the
bird
to
make
the
transition
in
approaching
you.
Having
a
bowl
of
favourite
food
will
help
to
attract
the
bird
to
you.
I
hope
the
reader
can
understand
that
all
it
is,
is
a
psychological power struggle.
Puberty
-
Virtually
same
as
the
terrible
two’s,
the
baby
eclectus
around
1-2
years
starts
to
enter
adulthood
and
there
is
a
rush
of
hormones.
The
behaviour
and
how
you
deal
with
it
is
the
same
as
above.
There
is
additions
such
as
males
rubbing
themselves
on
the
owners,
females
trying
to
build
nests.
With
males
you
can
either
let
them
fulfil
there
natural
urge
or
place
them
back
in
the
cage
when
they
display
such
behaviour.
With
females
it
is
better
that
if
they
do
attempt
to
make
nests,
it’s
in
the
cage
rather
than
outside.
Obviously
a
female
eclectus
selecting
a
nest
place
which
is
outside
a
cage
will
mean
that
is
where
she
considers her new home.
Adulthood
-
The
male
will
display
no
significant
change
in
behaviours.
The
female
however
will
at
some
point
go
through
the
motions
of
reproduction
and
end
up
laying
eggs.
Ideally
she
will
seek
a
dark
area
especially
a
box,
she
will
chew
paper,
wood
and
may
line
it
with
feathers.
She
will
lay
two
eggs
and
then
incubate
them
for
28
days.
When
they
do
not
hatch
she
will
either
eat
them
or
discard
them.
This
is
her
natural
urge.
She
will
try
and
seek
out
a
dark
space
and
if
she
establishes
one
she
will
try
and
claim
it,
being
absent
from
it
and
locked
in
her
cage
will
create
anxiety
hence
why
its
better
to
give
her
a
box
in
her
cage,
line
it
with
wood
shavings
and
the
way
I
see
it,
if
that’s
all
it
takes
for
us
to
allow
her
to
fulfil
her
natural
instinct,
what’s
the
harm.
She
may
for
a
month
have
more
focus
on
her
box
than
you,
she
may
be
entirely
engrossed
in
lining
her
nest,
then
laying
eggs,
then
incubating
them
but
once
she
has
done
that
her
urge
should
be
satisfied
and
you
can
be
re-united
again
as
pet
and
owner.
Your
bird
may
well
become
defensive
of
her
box,
that
is
entirely
natural
especially
when
she
has
eggs.
If
you
find
your
pet
has
laid,
fully
incubated
and
then
starts
all
over
again,
it
is
probably
wise
to
remove
the
box
after
the
first
set
off
eggs
have
been
sat
on
and
she
has
abandoned them. If you struggle with any of these behaviour area’s, contact me for further advice or search the net for articles written by eclectus owners.