How to buy eclectus male chick handraised in Syd?

[Milly]

My idea about getting an ecky is to buy it directly from the breeder and only if the chick is hand rised. With a chance to visit a little one a few times before is weaned and ready to go to new home. Am I wrong?

[macawvic]

If the breeder/handrearer is a patient person, ask them to allow you to help feed the young. This also encourages a bond between you and the bird.

[Milly]

Thank you macaw for your replay. I am not in a situation to buy the bird stright away without considering everything. I did a lot of reading about eclectus parrots and I have sort of admiration towards them. Talking about their inteligence as 4 year child says for itself, doesn't it? I have a budgie only, live in the unit, 2 very energetic children around plus, plus...
I tried in 2 petshops to get some info about a breeder in Syd (I live in Syd) so I could visit them and have a talk but, they didn't want to give it to me!!

In the first pet shop they said 'we are not allowed because only we have direct contact with him' and in second it was similar respond. I understand that giving away info means less money for pet shop if I buy a bird directly from a breader. Am I right?

In the first pet shop they have an ecky hen at $1295, poor bird, no single toy in the cage and she is there last 2 months! She looks tame and they said first time I saw her she is 4 months old. Now it makes 6? Can she at all be an ok compainon bird after that ordeal of so long being in the cage??

The cock is in cage as well, they take him out when cleaning as I saw once, tame bird as well. His price tag is $1595, still unsold. I love to pop in to see them but every time I hope they are sold because I don't like the fact they are still caged.

In the other pet shop both hen and cock are at 1300$, no info about exact age given.

Like when you are bying a dog, people should know the date of birth of their parrots, don't they?

Maybe I put eckies, greys and other big parrots on pedestal but I really appreciate their inteligence and personalities. And the fact they come to live with humans in their homes which is not, mind you, their natural surrounding. Thats why for home pet I can imagine only a parrot which is hand raised and used to people from the very much begining.

Thinking that it is someone who can live for so long, even outlive the owner, adds to our responsibility.

I contacted one breeder in NSW but far away and he just wrote me back and said that eckies can be very noisy so they might not the best choice for me, giving the fact I live in the unit. Do all ecky owners have houses? I'm joking a bit...

[eckie]

hi
i breed eclectus parrots and i live just sout of sydney.
if i get any babies soon and you are intrested in purchasing one of me i am more than willing to let you come down and help feed it sometimes. you can view the parents aswell. those prices fromt he petshops are pretty expensive. but i did see a male eckie in a petshop down here handraised but you couldnt even touch it and they wanted $1600!!!!!!.
my female is in and out of the box now she has just made a nest so babies could be not far away.
let me know if your intrested and i will give you a price.
were you intrested in a male or female?
in the eclectus parrots males are worth a little more than female but they both make great pets.
jamie

[eckie]

hi
i just finished reading the rest of your loast post about the eckies being noisy.
i have a hand raised male as a pet that i hand rasied.
amazing bird! he is so quiet. eckies can be loud if they wont to be. the only real time my eckie gets loud is if he is scared. normally he has not long started talking. he is 6 months old now. i also have a lovebird inside as a pet and the lovebird is louder then my eclectus.
i spend hours and hours with my bird when i am handraising them so they are perfect pets.
if you are intrested you can come down and see my eclectus parrots out the back and my pet one inside.
just to show you what you are looking for in a great eckie for a pet.
jamie

[Milly]

Thank you very, very much, I'd love to meet someone who knows about eclectus parrots and own them.

many thanks jamie, what a pleasant surprise! I left PM for you.