soon to be eclectus owner

[EclecticSoul]

Hi, I am a soon to be solomon island eclectus owner. I just have a couple diet questions. First, is the bird tricks natural feeding program a good diet for eclectus? I know they have very particular needs. Second if that diet plan isnt a good choice for an ekkie, what is your normal feeding routine? Like what do you feed each meal, how much do you feed etc. Thanks for any help!

 

[MikeyTN]

Natural feeding program like home made food with all the essentials with fruits and veggies plus more is good to do. Just no added vitamins! They don't tolerate that well at all, here's a site you can visit! --->Eclectus Parrots

 

[antoinette]

Welcome to our awesome forum
Eclectus are great birds
Have you ever had a bird before?
MikeyTN has given you a very informative link

 

[EclecticSoul]

So no input on the bird tricks feeding program? Thats really what im looking for. I understand the eclectus diet needs, I just find it easier if I have a set schedule and routine.

 

[MikeyTN]

Not everyone uses those program cause for me I'm not about to pay for something that's already listed on the internet for free. So if someone on here have bought the program they will respond to you otherwise there's food you can prepare listed on the forum or the site link I give you.

 

[rbreck]

If it was easier and safe it would be all over this site. Diet is the most difficult part of these birds, so be very careful trying new ideas. I think that is the basic answer for your question. Once you get the hang of it you will be fine. Every other week I make a batch of 5 or 6 veggies, beans and rice and freeze in snack size bags. Everyday I throw a couple of pieces of fruit in, sometimes cut sometimes not. Pellets and/or seed (very small amount) a couple of times a week. It's super easy!

Also read read read... Lots of fun treats and ideas on this site - I have never seen recommendation for a food program for eclectus.

 

[Marlin]

there is a list on the internet on what you can and can't feed parrots.
avocado, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, are just a few thing you can't feed your parrot. I would also avoid peanut as they can be infected would mould and fungus that is fatal to parrots.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

The bird tricks natural feeding program cookbook is great, but not the best for a eclectus. Eclectus require much more fruit than other parrots, and the natural feeding program is aimed at those other parrots lol. But it's still awesome and I think the cookbook is worth having.

FYI, instead of buying birdtricks expensive pellets buy Totally Organic Pellets, they are the exact same product.

 

[Marcy]

Welcome to our Forum! Congratulations on your Eclectus Parrot!

 

[EclecticSoul]

Thank you everyone for the replies, Copperarabian thanks for your answer as well. I was thinking I would avoid pellets for my eclectus, only things I've read about them have been that they have too many vitamins in them and are hard on the birds. Should I include them occasionally? I was just under the impression that I didn't need to feed them to an ekkie. I think i will order the bird tricks cookbooks, I can just incorporate more fruit into the recipes, right? I have been reading for hours everyday about their dietary needs, but I'm still freaking out, I don't want to forget to feed something and cause my baby any harm! About how often do they need grains given to them? Can I give too much? Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any help.

 

[4Ziggy]

I went on their website to see what they are doing. Feeding an eclectus is super easy as they are pigs! They LOVE to eat. Things that our bird would not eat: dried fruit which is part of this system. It is so easy to make a big batch of cooked food. I think their advertising is a little scary - we were killing our birds. I was very concerned when we first got Ziggy and read everything I could get my hands on for Eclectus. Basically, fresh fruits and veges each day - making sure to include carrots, sweet potatoes and other things with Vitamin A as often as possible. We prefer no seed. Ziggy loves what we eat because we are the flock. Pizza crust, pasta, beans, chicken, rice, eggs - just about anything except avocado and chocolate - not much dairy, either. Whatever is fresh, they love. Pineapple, mango, peaches, grapes, carrots, corn, peas, limas, squash, peppers - especially the seeds, papaya and melon - especially the seeds (our guy isn't crazy about broccoli or green beans). Start by trying many different things and slowly your guy will show you preferences. A bag of mixed vegetables (corn, peas, carrots) with beans, rice, pasta, cut up sweet potato added can be placed in baggies to supplement the fresh stuff (freeze them in baggies for easy use). It is really easy to feed your Eclectus so don't be worried! I put fresh food in his bowl in the morning and clean it out in the afternoon after work. He then snacks on his perch as I fix dinner with whatever I am making. It is so easy. We do have Harrison's pellets in his cage which he eats on occasion. A breeder recommended them. Her birds were gorgeously plumed and I thought if he is missing anything because of my cooking, he can get it in the pellet. I only put out a few cubes which last a few days. I hope this helps you to know how easy it is to go it on your own and do fine. Donna

 

[kc_y0]

I panicked at first as well, but trust me once you get the hang of it, you will do fine!

I give my bird breakfast, which always includes corn, carrot & peas and then I add in different fruits as well. Things I add in could include apple, mandarin, orange, pomegranate, chilli, cucumber, spinach, rockmelon, Grapes etc.

Then for afternoon/dinner I give a small mix of cooked rice & beans as well as pumpkin, green beans, broccoli, just veggies mainly. Then at bed I give her a small handful of seeds for bed time. I don't give pellets as I have always thought that they get enough vitamins from the healthy food they eat.

It becomes second nature after a little while! You learn to know what your bird likes and doesn't like and make different meals from that.

Congrats on choosing to get an eclectus, they make wonderful pets.

 

[EclecticSoul]

Thank you guys for helping put my mind at ease! I am already so excited and in love with my little guy from just pictures, that I would hate to do something wrong and cause him harm. I fostered a sun conure for a while and had him eating fresh fruits veggies and greens after 5 years of never getting any, so I feel confident in feeding those things, I just want to make sure I do it in the right proportions. And thank you KC I've wanted an ekkie for years, and now me and the hubby finally have the income to get one and care for him properly! So excited!

 

[4Ziggy]

You are going to do great because you care so much!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

The totally organic pellets are a great simple pellet full of good stuff. It's important to offer pellets, even if only a little. It helps to fill any nutritional gaps that the birds may have. And unlike other pellets TOPS aren't full of extra vitamins(they get vitamins straight from the excellent ingredients), perfect for a eclectus. You can tell when examining the pellet that it isn't processed much.

Here's the ingredients
Rice, hulled millet, barley, alfalfa leaf, sunflower seed hulled, sesame seeds unhulled, quinoa whole, buckwheat hulled, dandelion leaf powder, carrot powder, spinach leaf powder, purple dulse, kelp, rose hips powder, rose hips crushed, orange peel powder, lemon peel powder, rosemary whole leaf, cayenne ground, crushed red chili peppers, nettle leaf.

Offering a small bowl of pellets daily, along with the fresh food would be a good idea. It sounds like your doing a lot of research, that's fantastic

in comparison to the TOPS, here's the Harrison's pellets. I feed both Rosie and Kenji Harrison's, and they do very well on it. In my opinion TOPS and Harrison's are the two best pellets available in the united states, both are excellent for different reasons.

*Ground Yellow Corn, *Ground Hull-less Barley, *Ground Soybeans, *Ground Shelled Peanuts, *Ground Shelled Sunflower Seeds, *Ground Lentils, *Ground Green Peas, *Ground Toasted Oat Groats, *Ground Rice, *Ground Alfalfa, *Psyllium, Calcium Carbonate, Montmorillonite Clay, Ground Dried Sea Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Sea Salt, *Sunflower Oil, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, * Algae Meal, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, D-Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Carbonate, *Vegetable Oil.
*CERTIFIED ORGANIC INGREDIENT

 

[EclecticSoul]

Ok thanks, I will make it a point to offer a little bit of pellets everyday. How much should I offer daily? 1/4 cup?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Ok thanks, I will make it a point to offer a little bit of pellets everyday. How much should I offer daily? 1/4 cup?

That seems like a good starting point, as you get to know your eclectus you may tweak your portions to better suite him.