Help, Please. SI ECLECTUS development; Breeder Concerns

[linrichie]

Oldest two are stated as 7 and 8+ weeks, 49 and 58 days old (!?)

eclectus babies at 7 and 8 weeks.jpg (57.86 KiB) Viewed 3210 times

Help, please! I am stuck and in tears...I need advice on the physical development of Solomon Island Eclectus babies and any opinions regarding the BEHAVIOR OF THE BREEDER with whom my husband and I are dealing.

We are in the process of adopting a male Solomon Island Eclectus from a breeder about 100 miles from where we live. I researched the aviary and owners online, read online reviews, spoke to the breeders on the phone, and my husband and I attended an open house at their home (though not at the aviary, which they state is no longer open to the public for fear of infections and theft) and played with a couple dozen of their seemingly well-cared-for and well-socialized birds of various ages and species.

We asked what I believe to be all the pertinent screening questions, and after that and meeting four of their darling older SI Eclectus, my husband and I put down a deposit on one of what the breeders believe/hope to be male (not feathering yet) SI Eclectus baby. The breeders reported the hatch dates of the oldest babies to be 1/1/13 and 1/10/13. I have pretty much been considering the January 1st bird my baby, though I haven't visited him yet in person.

Meantime I requested photos of the babies and have received two photos, one with the two oldest babies at what would be 33 and 42 days, and a second photo of three babies, the older two at what would be 49 and 58 days (7 weeks and just over 8 weeks).

My concern is that the babies in the photos seem very developmentally delayed in size, feathering, and coloration for their stated age... The 7 and 8+ week babies have beautiful fluffy charcoal/black down but have no pin feathering or coloring yet (See photo; you'll notice you can see little shafts just starting). I understand all babies are individuals and develop at their own pace, and that SI Eclectus develop slower than other Eclectus species, but these babies seem three to four weeks behind any Solomon Island Eclectus baby I can find anywhere online. All the SI Ekkies I have viewed online, that I can definitely determine their age, have feather and coloration by about 4 to 4 1/2 weeks; (not 8+ weeks and still just black down...)

I stated to the breeder in a (very pleasant) voicemail Monday that I wondered if she had sent the wrong photos, but when I had no response by Thursday, I restated my concern in an (also very pleasant) email. She voicemailed back to me that night that she had "already sent the photos" and to check my email. Her message didn't address my concern, so thinking she just hadn't listened to my message or fully read my email, I wrote back late last night another (yes, very pleasant) email.

Wow. This morning she emailed back with a curt little chastising! She writes that she is irritated, that the dates and photos are correct, that all birds develop differently, that she "went out of [her] way" to send me cute pictures, that I have to be more patient, that "adopting a bird is usually a thrilling and fun process for both parties," that she is very upset because her emails kept bouncing back to her (sure, that's my fault...) and that maybe I should accept a refund if I am going to be so dissatisfied.

OMG, What?!!! This is such a glaring red flag on the breeder.

But I want this baby. (I know, I know; I can hear you all thinking...) I just feel so attached to who I thought was my baby, and it is hard to locate Ekkies out where I live. I also don't like the idea of shipping a bird. So I am totally conflicted.

So, ANY INPUT PLEASE, would be so helpful:
1) Does anyone think it is likely to have a seven and eight+ week-old Solomon Island Eclectus who have not yet feathered and yet are still healthy? (photo above is supposed to be the birds at 7 and 8+ weeks, or 49 and 58 days); and

2) Any thoughts on staying with a breeder who otherwise checks out but is so unprofessional (or possibly covering something?) She seems at the very least to have some serious mental health issues if she cannot even be questioned on her birds she is selling.

3) Lastly, any thoughts on shipping from an out-of-state breeder? Maybe I should consider it...(?)

I probably already know the answer to my questions. I would likely be best walking away. I am just attached to this baby and so ready for another bird.

Sorry this is so long and THANK YOU in advance, for any info you can offer on any part of this.

Sincerely, Linrichie

[pennyandrocky]

though i am very much against buying from a breeder if i did i would find other people who have purchased birds from them first. i don't get the part where they let you in their home to handle birds but you would be a danger in the aviary? that doesn't sound right to me. i've never delt with a breeder so i don't know what the difference would be.

[sidech]

Breeders never let people in their aviairies, to protect the babies. That is totally normal. For the rest, they don't look 7 or 8 weeks to me either. But if she's willing ti refund, maybe you should just get tour money back and run before she changes her mind... Or she might just be playing a game and has no intention to refund you whatsoever.

Good luck

[marie83]

Welcome to the forums, I don't really know anything about ekkies but they do look younger than the ages given to me as well.
If the breeder cannot be honest with you and seems irritated by your questions then I wouldn't buy from her. Have you considered taking on a rescue?

[linrichie]

Dear marie83 and previous two posters: Thanks so much for the input, and regarding the suggestion of a rescue and concerns regarding breeders, I so appreciate the concept of rescue birds.

For now, I am looking for a baby. My husband and I have been unable to have kids, and ten years ago we adopted a ten-week-old Congo African Grey, whom I hand-fed and has become my child. Gonzo is a doll and keeps us in stitches, and he has been such an amazing addition to our family, which is presently down to only my husband and me; Gonzo the Grey; my Lab Mix, Jake, 15-ish; and a little Beta named Fishie. I am feeling the call for a second baby (a baby-baby).

All of our dogs, cats, and other critters have been rescues, and my sister has adopted several rescue birds with great results.

Thanks again for the input and reminders to all about re-homing animals.

Linrichie

[marie83]

I feel your pain regarding the children. I cannot have children either. However parrots are not substitute children, they are a seperate species and need treating as such.

The care a parrot needs remains the same throughout its lifetime (apart from the feeding/weaning stages) if your to succeed in not messing it up psychologically so I do not agree with your thoughts on needing a baby parrot unless you are planning on rearing it. I sincerely hope this is not the case like with your grey as selling a baby before it is weaned is illegal in many countries, it isn't just a pointless law, there is alot of evidence as to why selling unweaned babies is such a bad thing. A baby which is handfed by you will not bond to you any better than it will anyway.

Anyway, I didn't mean this to sound like a mini lecture, it was supposed to be more sympathetic but the bottom line is that pets are not there to fullfill our needs, desires or fill a hole in our lives.

[linrichie]

No worries, and happily, no hole in my life. I didn't mean to give that impression. Again, I am a big one on rescue animals and glad you sound so passionate about it, and as I stated all of my other animals, besides my Grey, have been rescues. And all my animals have been, and will remain, my babies...

[marie83]

Well whatever you decide I wish you all the best and keep us updated. Take your time in finding a good breeder if that is the route you choose to go rather than one that cannot be honest with the babies backgrounds even if it means waiting. Personally I no longer wish to support breeders and I do feel strongly about my reasoning for it, I have learned alot in the past couple of years about ethical and welfare issues but appreciate not everyone shares those views as much as I would love everyone to do so lol.
I hear what you are saying all my pets are my "babies" but yes, I did take your previous post to read like you wanted another baby parrot to feel like you were rearing a young life from more or less scratch to fullfill some sort of maternal instinct. I appologize if that wasn't how it was supposed to read, text can be hard to interpret.