The Press Hacker

The Scriptures contain many commandments with a promise attached for The Abrahamic Seed Group. These promises are fulfilled for us when and if we perform the commandment. Here’s a case in point where a commandment with promise was given to The Abrahamic Seed Group.

Exod 20:12

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (KJV)

Paul also reminds us of this same commandment with promise.

Eph 6:1-3

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (KJV)

In other words, if we honor and obey our father and mother, all the above promises will be realized by us members of Abraham’s seed, whether Jew or Gentile Christian.

1. It will be well with us.
2. We may live long on the earth.

Is there anyone reading this who wants to have things go well for him/her and live long upon the earth? Then take heed to this commandment with promise.

Search your Bible. You will find many, many commandments with promise for The Abrahamic Seed Group. Here’s another one that pertains to our healing.

James 5:14-15

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (KJV)

Anointing with oil brings healing when done right. Notice above! The sick one must call for the elders of the church for it to be done right. They cannot just go into someone’s sick room with oil in hand and expect to see a healing.

On the other hand, when the sick one follows the Scripture above to the letter and calls for the elders to anoint him/her with oil accompanied by prayer, then healing follows. Failure to follow the directions shuts it all down so that no healing follows. This is another “command with promise.”

Now we see a command with promise that affects your financial health. You see, every need we will ever have, God has a command with promise to care for it.

2 Cor 9:6-7

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (KJV)

Verse seven above raises an interesting question. What is this, “as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give…” Purposeth what?

The truth that giving is the equivalent to sowing seed gives us the answer here. We sow farm land with as much seed as we need to harvest. In other words, fifty acres of farm land properly sown can be expected to yield the full fifty acre harvest. The farmer will sow with the “purpose” of reaping a full fifty acre harvest.

Christians can expect the same in the realm of sowing seed into our Lord’s work. Purpose how much return you need as a financial harvest and sow accordingly. Plant you “full fifty acres” as it were and you will reap what you sow. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give.

Three commands with promise. Do these commands and the promises begin to activate.

Dr. Jay Snell: Author of books concerning the healing, prosperity, family well being and salvation contained in the Abrahamic covenant for Christians. Books presented many times on TBN. www.jaysnell.org

I actually have two separate online businesses -

1. Selling wellness products and

2. Selling digital information products (eBooks)

Because I can look at things from both perspectives, I often tend to compare the two businesses from the point of view of the “better” opportunity.

But if I were asked to recommend a single business as the best way to make a living online, the Wellness Business would win hands down.

And no, I didn’t choose it because its easy. On the contrary, selling health supplements, vitamins and related products online is NOT easy.

Not only is there tremendous competition, but it simply can’t be done by working two hours a day, as is the common perception.

If you sell wellness products, you have to deal with REAL people. People with human needs and problems.

You must be available in person, or by phone, or at least by email, to clarify doubts, answer queries, be prompt and sensitive to your customers’ needs and generally make your customer feel good about doing business with you.

You must also provide constant support, training and leadership to a growing organisation of distributors, and help them grow their business.

This can be extremely time-consuming because few of these tasks lend themselves to complete automation.

A seller of digital products has it somewhat easier. (S)He need not even interact with customers, because everything from product delivery to answering customer queries can run on autopilot.

Digital product sellers can (and often are) literally sitting on a beach while their websites churn out profits.

Given these disadvantages, why would anyone still choose the Wellness industry?

The reason I believe is because ANYONE, regardless of their talent or creativity, can actually make a steady LIVING for a lifetime in the Wellness industry.

And of course, there are a few who even go on to become millionaires.

Here are the reasons why I think Health and Wellness should be the #1 Choice for Entrepreneurs online.

1. Health Products Fulfill a Basic Human Need

Health is a #1 concern for many people – often more important than even sex (also a top seller online) or food.

The lack of health can make you feel… well… lousy. And most people will pay their bottom dollar if they can find something that alleviates their pain or discomfort.

To put it more plainly, NOT buying an eBook will not make much difference to your state of mind or body. But not taking your prescription medication can make you feel very bad indeed.

2. Health Products are Consumable

Unlike digital products that can only be sold ONCE to a customer, vitamins, supplements and prescriptions require monthly re-orders or autoships.

Once people start using them and benefiting, more often than not, they will continue to use them.

If you treat your customers right, they will buy from you month after month, providing you with regular commissions and a more or less stable source of income.

There’s usually no need to keep selling to them again and again (barring the obligatory seasonal promotions).

If the products meet their requirements and you give them a good deal and great service, they will give you repeat business for a long time to come.

3. Your Income Grows Exponentially

When selling a digital product (as an owner or an affiliate), your potential for future income actually DECREASES with every sale you make.

Unless you are among the few top marketers who can churn out a new product every month, or can earn more on back-end commissions, your potential for income will always be limited by your creativity.

In contrast, because most wellness opportunities also involve building an organisation, every product sale actually INCREASES your potential for future income, by growing your organisation of customers and potential distributors purchasing every month.

If you help your downline earn a regular income, few will quit the business they have built so earnestly. Again YOU benefit from the RESIDUAL commissions that the organisation provides.

4. Wellness Opportunities have a High Feel-Good Factor

One of the main reasons that I suspect people stick around in the wellness industry is the feel-good factor. It can really make your day when someone calls or writes, telling you how wonderful your products made them feel. Or how it gave them their life back.

Even more than making money, the feeling that you have helped another person feel better is always a strong motivator in working your business.

I’ve no doubt it feels good when someone who purchased your eBook writes to tell you how it helped them succeed. But I can bet it comes nowhere near the feeling you get when you help someone beat a life-threatening illness or conquer their pain.

5. The Need for Wellness Only Increases with Age

As we grow older, we want to work less and enjoy life more. We also want to live healthier lives and enjoy enhanced community interaction.

Wellness opportunities are ideally suited to seniors because they have the potential to fulfill all their needs, ranging from financial security to improved health and personal interaction.

Lastly, working a wellness opportunity empowers you to take steps to improve your own health and well-being.

And do I even need to reiterate the oft-repeated quote that it will be the next Trillion Dollar Industry?

Copyright 2003 Priya Shah

Priya Shah is the editor of the newsletters Be a Whiz at eBiz!and The Glutathione Report She shows you how to truly build multiple sources of income online with the Brilliant Team Home Business Opportunity

For most companies, gone are the days of spending money just for the pleasure of seeing their name on TV or the Internet.

Most companies today are forced to insist on results. Yet on average, up to 80% of advertising is wasted because it doesn’t work. If only you could know which of your campaigns make up the 20% that is making you all your money. If you knew that, you could stop wasting 80% of your advertising budget and put the money saved towards doubling up on the 20% of your advertising that is working.

But how can you know which of your advertising campaigns are working and which are failing?

The secret is in promotional products. I’m talking about pens, mugs, t-shirts, et cetera, imprinted with your company logo. These things hold the key to measuring the ROI of every marketing medium you are using. They keep all your other marketing honest.

Here is how it works:

Step 1: In every advertisement that you create, you must include an incentive for your customer to take action now in order to receive a free gift. Of course the free gift is a promotional product imprinted with your company logo. Each advertisement should offer a different free gift.

Step 2: When they respond to the ad or take whatever action you want them to take, they will also ask for their free gift. Depending on what gift they ask for, you will know which ad they are responding to.

Step 3: Calculate your ROI for each separate campaign.

Step 4: Stop running the campaigns that aren’t working and increase your investment into the campaigns that are working.

If you response rates don’t rise dramatically, this is a good indicator that your existing marketing isn’t working as well as you thought.

The author, Nathan Cain has more ideas that will help your business marketing efforts.

Visit his promotional products web site at http://www.Web-Magnets.com

Laminate counter tops are a reliable and low cost counter tops. You can choose from a variety of colors and they are offered by a number of manufacturers. The good point about laminate counter tops is that they are easy to clean and they do not take a lot of maintenance. You can also choose from a variety of finishes and patterns. You won’t have the luxury of the natural beauty such as granite or wood, but it is a good option.

Laminate counter tops are made from synthetic material from many layers that are sheets of craft paper. They can replicate the look of granite or solid rock. It provides a look of upscale appearance at a lower cost. Solid color laminates are made from colored plastics. Typically the laminate counter top does not have dark edges.

It’s important to maintain the surface of the laminate counter top. Laminate can be scratched so it’s important to avoid placing hot objects on the surface. Matte finishes typically hide scratches. You can also find many different (both chemical and natural) products that will do good to your laminate counter if treated well at least twice a year to avoid wearing out.

Mentoring For Free is a training program that can also be used as a recruitment tool for network marketing distributors. The owner is Michael Dlouhy, a 26-year veteran of the network marketing industry. Mr. Dlouhy also gives away an e-book, Success in 10 Steps and sells an audio CD, Colors to Success.

This review of Mentoring For Free suggests that the program offers valuable training for network marketers provided a few caveats are kept in mind. The advantages and disadvantages of the program are as follows:

Advantages

• Mastermind Call

– The Saturday night Mastermind call provides an opportunity to achieve personal growth with a group of network marketers who are, for the most part, caring and sincere.

• Personality Types

- The description of the 4 personality types, while not unique, is a valuable heuristic, which I found improved my ability to quickly tailor my presentation to prospects. I’m a psychologist so I think it says a lot that Mr. Dlouhy’s description of the personality types was so helpful.

• Compensation Plans

- The overview of comp plans and the relationship between personality types and comp plans will help many people make a better decision when choosing an MLM or in working their own comp plan (although see below for the other side of the coin).

• How to Talk with Prospects

– Mr. Dlouhy and others talk with live prospects, which can be educational although see my opinion about his practice below. The general discussions about talking with prospects are very helpful.

• Relationship Focus

– Whether you like this aspect of the program might depend on your personality type. Thus, because I am a “Yellow/Green,” I think the focus on building relationships is the only way to go!

Disadvantages

• Live Prospecting Calls

- I realize this might be a minority opinion but I don’t like the fact that with this program and other training programs, prospects are called while dozens of people are secretly listening to the conversation. It strikes me as voyeuristic and a violation of privacy. But if you don’t mind this approach, you might see this as a big positive. Be aware that if you sign up for the free e-book, order the CD, or try the free version of the prospecting system that you could very well get a call from the person whose link you clicked on, then Mr. Dlouhy will come on the call (“I’ve got the author of the e-book on the line”), and dozens of people will be listening to everything you say.

• Policy & Procedure Bias –

Mr. Dlouhy emphasizes reading a company’s Policies & Procedures (P&P), which certainly makes good sense, and he offers advice for identifying rules that could jeopardize a distributor’s financial success. However, it seems more than a coincidence that the type of Policies & Procedures Mr. Dlouhy advocates is nearly identical to the P&P of his company and he seems to find fault with the majority of other company’s Policies & Procedures.

• Comp Plan Bias

- Similar to the P&P bias, many companies are found to have bad comp plans when reviewed on the calls. Company names aren’t mentioned but callers sometimes have an idea of the company and it’s also clear that the company Mr. Dlouhy–and at least half the participants on the calls–represents has a good comp plan.

• Not Completely Generic

– If a participant to the calls finds that his or her company’s P&P or comp plan does not fit the recommendations made on the calls, there is a natural tendency to want to join a “good” company with a trusted sponsor. It’s also a natural tendency for such a person to want to sign up with a leader whom they have come to know and trust. Mr. Dlouhy is an obvious choice for many participants since he clearly knows a lot about network marketing and he has a charismatic personality (I mean that in a good way).

To be fair, Mr. Dlouhy states that he will always refer a person back to the person who invited them to
Mentoring For Free (the system uses affiliate links to track visitors to the websites) and I have no reason to doubt him. At the same time, people have the freedom to join the company of their choice. Consequently, they can say, “no thanks” to the person who invited them to
Mentoring For Free and sign up with Mr. Dlouhy’s company (VitaMark). This might be particularly true if the person who invited them on the call is with a company that has a “negative” P&P or comp plan in Mr. Dlouhy’s opinion.

• Strong Personality

– Although I found Mr. Dlouhy to be likeable and engaging, he is a “Red/Blue” personality type. Consequently, he dominates the calls to some extent. He often is not very open to feedback; particularly when participants express–in a sincere, polite manner–concerns about his biases.

I went through three phases during my participation with Mentoring For
Free:

1. Excitement at a very good educational program, which also looked like an ideal way to find new distributors for my business and train them;
2. Disillusionment and jealousy when the above negatives became apparent;
3. Respect for an ingenious viral marketing strategy that I suspect others will emulate in the near future.

In summary, I’m glad I participated in Mentoring For Free for a couple of months. I learned a lot and it gave me some great marketing and training ideas for my own business. I
recommend it provided you keep the above caveats in mind.

Mark Worthen, Psy.D. is a Phi Betta Kappa graduate of the
University of Maryland’s Honors Psychology program. He earned his Doctor
of Psychology degree from Baylor University after serving as a
Clinical Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.
In addition to his work as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Worthen earns extra income
as a representative for a leading health and wellness company. You can reach Dr.
Worthen via the Contact page at http://www.Best-MLM-Opportunities.com

Phytopharm hoodia product development was delayed, somewhat, when Pfizer decided to take over the research in 2002. At that time Phytopharm planned to work on the development of a semi-synthetic version of the active molecule, leaving research and development of the naturally occurring molecule to the Natureceuticals group within Pfizer. Following the closure of the Natureceuticals group in July of 2003, Pfizer returned the rights to license the Phytopharm hoodia product. Pfizer stated that they believed another company would be better suited to continue the research and development of the hoodia appetite suppressant. This generated some concern that Pfizer was dissatisfied in some way with research results, but Pfizer actually stated that the clinical data encouraged further research of the Phytopharm hoodia product.

The Phytopharm and Unilever hoodia collaboration began in late 2004. In April of 2006, Phytopharm announced that phase 1 of the 5 stage research and development program had been completed. It may be years before any Phytopharm hoodia or Unilever hoodia products reach the market. Unilever does seem to be more committed to the project than Pfizer was. They initially agreed to collaborate with Phytopharm on studies of safety and effectiveness, as well as manage a program for farming hoodia gordonii.

Unilever hoodia would be added to the company’s long list of consumer goods which includes the Slim Fast diet products. This may indicate that the Unilever/Phytopharm hoodia products will not be prescription drugs, as was the previous assumption, when Pfizer was involved. In press releases in 2006 Phytopharm states that they intend to bring new “weight management products” to the market. In years past, press releases about Phytopharm hoodia specified a “prescription drug for obesity”.

Consumer reaction to hoodia products currently being marketed by health supplement companies has been mostly positive. Hoodia XR and Hoodia Gordonii Plus are among the many products available. As the obesity problem in the United States continues to grow, dieters may not be able to wait for the Unilever hoodia products and they may not need to.

For more information about Phytopharm hoodia, visit the Hoodia Info Blog.

Patsy Hamilton is an editor of the Hoodia Info Blog. Visit us at http://hoodiainfo.blogspot.com

Instant approval credit cards have become increasingly popular. With the rushed lifestyle many are living and the need to get things done quickly, it is little wonder more and more people are turning to instant approval credit cards. But, are instant approval credit cards really so great? Furthermore, are there any drawbacks or things you need to be aware of before applying for an instant approval credit card online? The answer to both of these questions is yes, so let’s weigh the pros and cons of these types of cards.

Pro: Instant approval credit card online applications can get a card in your hand quickly.

For those needing the flexibility and freedom of a credit card right away, the fact that an instant approval credit card can take as little as one to two weeks to arrive in your mailbox is a definite plus. Regular credit cards can take up to eight weeks to be processed and sent to you. If you have a project you want to get started on right away, a vacation you want to take soon, or bill that need to be paid quickly, you simply don’t have eight weeks to wait.

Con: Not everyone gets their instant approval credit card right away.

Although instant approval credit cards are billed as “instant approval,” not everyone qualifies quite so quickly. In fact, if you have poor to mediocre credit, your instant approval credit card online application may be put on hold for a few days while the lending company looks into your credit history a little more thoroughly. In addition, instant approval is not the same as guaranteed approval. Therefore, usually only those with an above average credit history will be instantly approved. Of course, an instant approval credit card will still most likely arrive to you much quicker than a traditional credit card, but you might be disappointed to learn you have to wait a bit longer than you originally thought.

Con: Instant approval credit cards often have a higher interest rate than regular credit cards.

While not always true, instant approval credit cards usually have a higher interest rate than regular credit cards. This is how the lending company compensates for expediting the application process. It is also the price you pay for the convenience of instant approval. When looking for an instant approval credit card, be sure to explore all of your options to find one that does not have a terribly high interest rate.

Pro: Instant approval credit cards often have a special introductory rate.

While many instant approval credit cards have a higher interest rate than standard credit cards, they often have a special introductory low APR. This special rate can be as low as 0.00%. Financially, the best move you can make is to receive one of these cards, take advantage of the introductory rate, and pay off the balance in full before the interest rate kicks in. If you want to still use the card for purchases beyond the introductory period, be sure to pay the balance at the end of each billing cycle.

Con: Some instant approval credit cards need to be secured.

A secured instant approval credit card is one that you send money to ahead of time. Therefore, you are never actually borrowing money from a line of credit. Instead, you are using your own money. This type of credit card is really more of a debit card that allows you to spend from your own account. For those with poor credit, however, a secured instant approval credit card can be a great way to rebuild credit or to establish a credit history.

Pro: Instant approval credit cards look just like other credit cards, even if they are secured.

No matter what type of instant approval credit card you obtain – whether secured or unsecured – it looks the same as a regular credit card. Therefore, no one will know that your card was instantly approved or secured, which could potentially leave you feeling embarrassed.

For more information regarding instant approval credit cards, Robert Willard recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com.

I finally had to speak out. The packaging industry is under attack by the “packaging police.”

There have been dozen of backlash articles about it in the news recently. To tell you the truth I’m sick of all the articles talking about freeing Barbie from her packaging prison and how may people went to the hospital because they injured themselves trying to open a plastic clamshell and other esoteric “packaging adventures.” These issues about packaging have been beaten to death and then some. And don’t forget the blogs. Some of the worst venting about packaging appears on personal blogs under the I’ve had a bad day column.

The media loves all the negative impressions people are bombarded with about the packaging in the waste stream, landfills etc. I too thought it was much higher (brainwashed that is) but I found out when I was at Cal Poly giving the opening keynote that its only 30% as opposed to the 70-80% the media and packaging detractors would have you believe.

Who are these “packaging police” anyway? What is there mission in life? Don’t they know that without a package you can have a product? That’s what packaging is all about getting the product safely, securely and intact to the ultimate user in addition to being the product spokes and sales person. So what else is a poor package to do? We have tamper evident, tamperproof, anti- counterfeit, date stamping, TTI’s, RFID, sonic welding and other additional security measures all designed to protect the consumer and they don’t even know it.

You’d be surprised at the number of people that don’t even know about product dating on the package. I can assure you I check. With all the concern over eating healthy, product freshness is an important issue and the package tells it all. I might mention here that it’s almost impossible to read the dates in many cases. They are either in obscure locations or the type is so small you need a magnifying glass. (I hope you read “Packaging Your Products to Boomers” available at http://packagingcoach.com/everythingaboutpackaging.htm) But seriously, packages that are difficult to open will continue to be a problem as our population ages. Do the words “manual dexterity” ring any bells?

So consumers should just GET OVER IT since they are the main cause why many products are packaged with security in mind. Lets talk about theft, counterfeiting, product integrity and product security. I got an email from Tyrone in South Africa last week. He was giving a speech on packaging innovations that impact our lives and it got me to thinking about all the wonderful and creative packaging innovations in the last 40 years. Packaging that has literally changed our lives.

Some of innovations have come about due to dire threats such as the Tylenol incident. Can you believe that happened 20+ years ago? Think of the whole category of tamper-evident packaging that evolved from this situation. When I speak to students at schools and universities about packaging they have no idea what I am talking about. They just take it for granted.

Retail claims that theft is one their worst problems so packaging that protects products form being stolen is done for a reason. The same thing with counterfeiting, which incidentally is on the rise. Anyone reading about this knows this can and will be a huge issue with the number of packaging products being sourced off shore.

Some additional packaging possibilities that can pose potential “threats.”

Green Packaging: Can you validate your claims?
Organic Packaging: Watch out for regulatory agencies.

RFID: Is big brother watching you or are you watching them?

Healthy Packaging Claims: Is It True?
Packaging For Seniors: Can they read or open the packaging? Is it REALLY senior-friendly? Copycat Packaging: A lawsuit waiting to happen and does every week.

So whatever packaging discipline you are in be sure and stay attuned to what are the “Hot button” issues in your field. Prevent the packaging police for setting their sights on you.

Please feel free to use me as a resource when it comes to understanding what packaging markets are hot and what are not. Or what companies are developing the latest in innovative packaging technology.

Packaging Experts, Packaging Consultants, Packaging Speakers: The Public Relations Department at Packaging University can connect you with the country’s top leaders, experts, consultants and speakers, in packaging and related industries. Our experts work in all facets of packaging and they will speak with you about new innovations, trends, legislation, technology, and other packaging news. Contact us if you need experts to interview, article ideas, news, hot topics, or quotes, opinions, and insights from prestigious sources. Go to PackagingUniversity.com and get your free special report: “Why Packaging Fails” by JoAnn Hines Packaging Diva. Attention inventors! Look for our new white paper “Packaging Your Invention To Sell” available soon at PackagingUniversity.com

Young adults who experience or suffer from any of the following (as stated below) maybe a troubled teen;

> Alcohol or drug abuse

> Depression

> ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

> Disrespect

> Poor academic performance

> Bad Attitude

> Display of negativity (physically or mentally)

> Teen pregnancy

> Suicide attempt

> Eating Disorder

There are 3 of the many theories about what causes kids to turn into troubled teens. The most likely of all ideas is that there is no one reason – it’s a combination of reasons. These reasons are probably as varied as the kids experiencing problems. It’s necessary to figure out what these reasons are so that troubled teens receive the individualized help they need.

Generally, troubled teens lose sight of their goals in life and some exert negative influences on others. Parents cannot afford to witness their children ruin their lives and others. There are many boarding schools, military schools, boot camps, wilderness programs, brat camp, religious programs, institutions etc. all over the nation that parents can send their kids to, in order to help these misguided young adults to reassess and regain control of their lives.

Only by pinpointing the cause of each teen’s problems and then creating mutual effort between parents, school personnel, possible medical treatment, and the young adults themselves can troubled teens overcome difficulties and realize their full potential.

Bren Davis works for a non-profit organization in the US. He is currently writing a book about teenagers’ lifestyle. More info relating to the article above can be found at http://www.for-the-touchdown.com/troubled_teen.htm

Eclectus parrots are extremely beautiful birds. The males and females look so different that is used to be thought that they were entirely different species! They are wonderful birds that make great pets if you care for them properly.

This extraordinary bird originates from the South Pacific. There are six subspecies of the Eclectus available in the United States presently: Red-Sided, Grand, Solomon Island, Vosmaeri, McGillvary and Biaki. The Red-Sided, Vosmaeri and Grand subspecies are the most common.

The male Eclectus is translucent green with red under his wings and a yellow or orange beak. The Vosmaeri male also has a yellow band on his tail. The female Eclectus are usually red and mauve, but some are red with a blue violet belly and underwings. Also, the female has a black beak.

The minimum cage size for keeping one Eclectus parrot is three feet long by two feet wide by two feet tall. This is very small for this bird though. You should try to get a much larger cage. You will have to let the bird out of the cage a lot so they get the activity they need. They need to be let out at least an hour each day.

In the wild, the Eclectus eats mostly vegetables, fruits and legumes. They don’t eat seeds, so don’t get a diet with seeds. For the primary diet, get a pellet based one. They will also need to get fresh fruits and vegetables each day. This bird is deficient in many nutrients and also has a very long digestive tract. Because of this, it is imperative that they be fed a good diet. Try to limit the amount of fat they get so that they don’t develop fatty tumors. This doesn’t mean to take fat entirely out of the diet though, they still need some.

The Eclectus parrot has excellent talking capabilities. They love to mimic every sound they hear, even the dog, doors opening, microwaves and sneezing! You will be amazed at how much they sound like the real sound. Your bird’s speaking ability will depend on how much time you spend with the bird, how much you talk to the bird and how much of a bond the bird has with you.

This bird is also very curious and loves to explore new things. They are extremely playful and really enjoy playing with people, other birds and toys. They are very smart birds and can even be potty trained. Another great thing about them is how tidy they are. They don’t throw food everywhere like many other bird species do.

Unlike many other birds, the Eclectus doesn’t produce feather dust. They have an oil gland instead of a dust gland. You won’t see dust on their beaks. A healthy bird’s beak will appear clean and shiny.

The female Eclectus is the dominant sex of this species. For this reason, many people notice that their female bird gets slightly aggressive when they reach puberty. Just make sure she has her space whenever she gets a mood swing. She is not being mean, it’s just her hormones. Most females will calm down as they get older and as you spend more time with them.

The main thing to remember with the Eclectus parrot is that you will need to spend plenty of time with it. If you don’t, they will do anything to get your attention, such as making extremely loud screaming noises. You have to be prepared for the amount of time this bird takes. Your bird could live to be fifty years old so you will have it for a very long time if you take good care of it.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Birds