New Bird, New Species - Need some advice please!

[BarnabyRose]

Hey guys... Ok, so I am about ready to bring Oliver home (a brand new baby Timneh African Grey), and although they may seem stupid, I have some quick general questions.
So right now we only have one parrot, Emma, and she is an Eclectus, so her diet is very specific. No seeds, no nuts, no millet or grain or etc - she has a strict daily diet of fresh vegetables of all kinds, occasionally fresh fruit and cooked foods, and a pellet mix of ONLY the 'TOPS Outstanding pellets', which were reccomended to me not only by my vet, but by the lady who sold her to me as well, as they are supposed to be 100% organic and natural and no fillers or seeds/nuts or etc.
Anyway here's my question. Oliver my Timneh obviously doesn't have to have as 'strict' a diet as Emma does, but I do want to make it the best I can possibly make it but I have one slight issue - I am DEATHLY allergic to nuts. All nuts. As far as I know I do actually have to Injest it, but it may even be as severe as airborne or just touching or etc, I have never taken the chance. Now, I know that TOPS are supposed to be an excellent pelleted food.. So can I keep it real simple, and put Oliver on the tops as well (obviously with fresh veggies every day and fruits and cooked food and etc), but keep him off of the seeds and nuts and everything as well? Is this a 'complete balanced diet'? Could it be any better in ANY way, or for that matter is 'TOPS' really the best I can be using not only for him but for Emma as well? If it helps, I can't use Harrisons, or anything else that may or may not use nuts so keep that in mind.
Thank you guys so much in advance, you have no idea honestly how helpful this forum and everybody on it have been during all of this!
B

 

[MonicaMc]

That's a tough question....


I would at least recommend sprouted seeds... and african greys can, and do, benefit from some extra calcium and vitamin A in their diet....

 

[Blancaej]

I would consult an avian vet about a good alternative to nuts and pellets. I would think everything your Ekkie is eating would be fine for your grey but like Monica mentioned Greys tend to benefits more calcium and vitamin a in their diet.

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[chris-md]

Don't be afraid of grain for your ekkie! Grain such as quinoa, wild rice, and brown rice provide a phenomenal source of fiber, which is the key difference in the specialized ekkie diet. It should be one of the biggest diet contributors. That and vitamin a. Your allergy aside, nuts and seeds make great treats be aide they are sources of good fats the birds need. But they aren't hyacinth macaws who need a largely nut based diet (or so I've read).

That aside, what's good for the goose here should be good for the gander. I wouldn't stress it too much about it. Fresh grain, veggie, and fruit (in that order!) with a smattering of crushed hard boiled egg with shell makes a great diet for anyone.

 

[BarnabyRose]

That's a tough question....


I would at least recommend sprouted seeds... and african greys can, and do, benefit from some extra calcium and vitamin A in their diet....

Yes I have heard the sprouted seeds are awesome.. Time to start my own little garden I guess huh (lol!)

And I have read the latter as well.. Right now I do use a vitamin/mineral supplement every day with Emma as reccomended by my vet, I literally sprinkle a scoop into her food or even into her water and I assume it gives her a good amount of vitamin A and added calcium, unless anybody sees a reason not too, I will probably do the same thing with Oliver when I bring him home!

 

[BarnabyRose]

I would consult an avian vet about a good alternative to nuts and pellets. I would think everything your Ekkie is eating would be fine for your grey but like Monica mentioned Greys tend to benefits more calcium and vitamin a in their diet.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Yeah actually my vet was the one that originally recommended the TOPS and the vitamin/mineral supplements, so ideally I would do exactly the same thing with Oliver. But I will absolutely consult her again when I bring him in for his initial check up and bloodwork and etc. thanks for your reply as well

 

[BarnabyRose]

Don't be afraid of grain for your ekkie! Grain such as quinoa, wild rice, and brown rice provide a phenomenal source of fiber, which is the key difference in the specialized ekkie diet. It should be one of the biggest diet contributors. That and vitamin a. Your allergy aside, nuts and seeds make great treats be aide they are sources of good fats the birds need. But they aren't hyacinth macaws who need a largely nut based diet (or so I've read).

That aside, what's good for the goose here should be good for the gander. I wouldn't stress it too much about it. Fresh grain, veggie, and fruit (in that order!) with a smattering of crushed hard boiled egg with shell makes a great diet for anyone.

Thanks for replying Chris.. You know what I may have said 'grain' way to loosely.. We actually do feed Emma a Quinoa mix and sometimes a sweet potato mix with her veggies and her fruits and etc, we just try to stay away from the actual like seeds and obviously nuts, millet and etc - as reccomended by the vet. That being said I LOVE hearing the opinion and experience of somebody who actually OWNS an Ekkie, versus just someone who understands in 'theory' how they should eat and etc, if you catch my drift