Eating habits

[peeko.the.eclectus]

Recently Peeko has been eating less veggies, and I'm starting to think its because he's waiting for his dinner that contains seeds and beans which he loves.

He also really loves corn and will sift through the veggie bowl to find all the corn. Yesterday I started to include him in my meal time and would put his veggies on my plate so he would think I was eating the same thing. It kind of worked but what can I do so that he will eat it on his own? I added a bit of cayenne pepper to the veggies but it didn't help much. He just loves starchy foods and doesn't touch the leafy foods.

I started putting more foods in his foraging toy which he really enjoys, but he will give up when the food is stuck inside.

Also he isn't losing any weight at all! he continues to gain weight.

 

[Mango121913]

Hi, I feed Mango a fresh diet ONLY. No seeds, unless they are sprouts. I also don't think him wanting beans is bad at all, they are loaded with protein some vitamins. However, I would try raw or cooked veggies. Just be sire to wash the raw in apple cider vinegar. This kills the mold spores if there's any you can't see.
What i have noticed is Mango will switch off favorites, guess he is just eating what hia body needs at that time.
I also feed him fresh fruits and rotate his chop I make up once a month. Just so he gets a variety of different foods. He never gets bored of anything really. We call him the flying stomach! He is a VERY GOOD eater.
Check out "The Land of Vos" website. There are good ideas for different food he can eat.
He may just be bored of the same stuff?
BTW he is a very pretty little guy!

 

[labell]

The dark leafy greens that they absolutely must have I chop VERY fine and mix into every thing else, they can't help but eat it because it coats on everything else. Great examples are Arugula, Kale, Watercress, Italian Parsley, Cilantro, Basil, Mustard Greens, Dandelion Greens lots of choices.

 

[peeko.the.eclectus]

Thank you both.
All the veggies i give him are raw. I also was thinking he was bored with the food. I always add something new, string beans being the most recent. Also the only leafy greens in the chop right now are kale and dandelion greens. So I will get more variety!
I think I'll also try putting some kale pieces in his foraging toy to see if he likes them more there! because he did with the string beans.

 

[peeko.the.eclectus]

UPDATE: So I've noticed that Peeko likes to eat when I am around, and will eat a lot once I come home from work. He would also rather eat on top of his cage than inside of the cage.

But something has me concerned. When I took him home he would cry for food, but over time the crying decreased. He's been home with me for about 2 months now, and this week I feel as though the crying has increased. After reading through several threads it has become pretty clear that Peeko was not weaned properly. I just find it weird that recently he has been crying more after making so much progress.

Ultimately I think I am going to have to re-wean him myself and I need some advice on specific formula for eclectus parrots, and if it would be okay to only have one feeding in the evening. This isn't something I had planned on doing, but it is so clear that it is needed. I haven't contacted the pet shop because I feel as though they shouldn't have gave him to me unweaned, and should not have been using a "one size fits all" formula.

Also I've noticed that his urine has a green color instead of being clear, which i've read can be a sign of liver damage. He is not overweight and only gets about 2 tsp of seeds so I don't understand how he could be having problems.

 

[labell]

Two questions, first has he been to an avian vet for a wellness check and have you ever hand fed an eclectus?

 

[peeko.the.eclectus]

Labell,
I took him to a vet the first week i had him and they said he looked great. The vet I saw works with all pets but she is the only one at the facility that worked with birds.
And No i have not fed an eclectus before. I was present during a lot of the feedings when Peeko was at the store and got to watch, but I never fed him myself so I wouldn't say I have experience.

 

[labell]

Labell,
I took him to a vet the first week i had him and they said he looked great. The vet I saw works with all pets but she is the only one at the facility that worked with birds.
And No i have not fed an eclectus before. I was present during a lot of the feedings when Peeko was at the store and got to watch, but I never fed him myself so I wouldn't say I have experience.

Watching is certainly not enough and eclectus can be one of the most difficult to hand feed. How old is he now? I would start making him more warmed meals, please don't microwave. A base of warm rice or quinoa with veggies and fruits added in. Even a fully cooked egg once a week with the shell. Babies under a year eat an amazing amount of food. Adult eclectus eat a lot but babies in that first year it's amazing how much they can pack away and a hungry baby will scream...LOUD!

 

[peeko.the.eclectus]

For me the yells are annoying and more of a cry. Sometimes i think its for food and other times i think he's because he missed me or wants to cuddle. He's not as loud as other ekkies I've heard, and the loudest I've ever heard him was when he was at the vet!

I warm all his meals by putting his bowl on a warm water bath and stir it until everything is warm. Sometimes i even rewarm his food and he starts to eat it again. I just feel like he doesn't eat enough and doesn't finish what i give him which had me concerned. He's only had egg once, but I will make some for his breakfast tomorrow.

Also sometimes when I'm stirring his food, he tries to eat the food using the spoon and sometimes shakes his head in the same way they shake when being hand fed with formula. I think he would prefer it if i sat with him and the spoon and fed him .

 

[labell]

Absolutely then try feeding him some warm foods off a spoon, good bonding for both of you without the issues of aspiration that can come with trying to hand feed from a syringe. You can warm up some apple sauce or other good organic baby foods as well as oatmeal, just try different things and see what he likes.

 

[peeko.the.eclectus]

Labell,
Would this be considered a part of the weaning process? and how do I know when he is weaned?
I will use the spoon for his dinner since he likes to eat during the same time I eat dinner. He loves oats, which is what i give him for breakfast .

Oh and he is about 5 months now!

Thank you for all your help, you always have great advice.

 

[labell]

This is part of weaning, I show each and every baby what new foods are and feed them by hand as well as in their dish. I also eat them in front of them while they are eating so that they understand its food. I also make lots of yummy noises..really glad no one is ever around to watch and hear that!

 

[peeko.the.eclectus]

Thank you very much.
I also make sounds while I eat with him haha. And I pretend I'm eating his food and he really goes for it.