Eclectus; meals vs. free feeding

[SilverSage]

I've always been more of a believer in meals rather than free feeding for reasons I don't need to get into right now, but I have recently adopted two Eclectus parrots, and from what I'm reading a lot of people seem to think they basically need to stuff their faces all day. I have been letting them do this because they are finally, for the first time in a decade, on a fresh food diet and I need them to recover from 10 years locked on a cage, pellets, no toys, no baths, etc. so fat the results have been pleasing. But I'm wondering now if it is time to reduce their food to two or three hour-long meals? I'm wondering not only because of the health issues, but also because I would like to address their extreme cage aggression and food aggression, and think this would be easier if the food weren't always right there!

So, Eckie experts? Is twice or three times a day feeding a no-no with these guys? I only ask because there are so many Eckie differences and I'm reading so much about them being such big eaters, and seeing it myself. I just want to make sure I'm not starving or abusing them.

 

[labell]

Sorry I am a firm believer that eclectus need to have food available at all times. Just find a food they really love and you can use that to help train. They don't have to be hungry like other species to work for food. If they like it they will want more. Always.

 

[dragonlady2]

I totally agree with labell...I have an Ekkie and he has food out all day and he eats all day. I just swap out the bowls. I shudder to think of the screeching that would take place if he was missing his food...yikes!

 

[Terry57]

I also agree with Laura, Ekko always has food available.

 

[SilverSage]

Ok thanks! My reasons for preferring meals rather than free food for most of my birds are health reasons not training reasons, I don't control food amounts in order to creat hunger, just to be clear

 

[labell]

Eclectus are like hummingbirds dressed up as parrots LOL seriously I was always amazed at how much they could pack away and stay trim and healthy. Give that much food to an amazon for instance and you would have real weight issues. Even eclectus who may seem pretty sedentary still manage somehow to burn off all those calories.

 

[dragonlady2]

Just to clarify on my end...I have a mixture of fresh and frozen foods that I prep in the morning. i prep two 40 ounce bowls that stay in his cage for about 5-6 hours, before I swap them out. He gets an eclectus seed snack at 7pm. If you need to schedule feedings, you might be able to regulate the switch in bowls? Just a suggestion.

 

[SilverSage]

Yes I am currently feeding fresh in the morning and replacing it when it is either mostly gone or when it seems like it is no longer fresh, and then a few pellets, natural colors. As treats in the evening. They get a little dry seed with their fresh food. A LITTLE. And nuts are treats, which we use pretty often.

With my other birds, free feeding has led to some weight issues, alas well as being issues with keeping the food fresh for everybody.