Pictures Converting Ekkie to sprouts/seeds?

[Vulpeste]

Hi everybody;

I'm new to this forum, and I think I'm in the right section. I've posted a thread in the welcome section yesterday to introduce myself and my first new baby Oliver here.

Oliver is gonna arrive in a months and I have a few question regarding his diet, and was hoping to find advice of good Eclectus specialist around!

Oliver is only 8 weeks old and he's gonna arrive at 12 wo to me. He has been fed and grown up on Pellets (Vetafarm Paradise Pellets), Parrot soft food Egg&Biscuit (Passwell), peach seeds and fruit/veg.
Her owner is gonna sell me a pack full of Pellets for when I take him home/

My question was relative to Pellets. I'm trying to read as much as I can on the subject, and I know that even if know they are really good pellets on the market, they still tend to be subject to debate, as many owners realised some behavioral/ health problem related to them.
In the different bird sanctuary where I worked with Ekkies, I've always been feeding them sprouting mix, seed mix and fruit/veg.
Sprouts are more work for me to get into as I have never sprouted by the past, but I really would like to introduce them to Oliver's diet when he comes to me.

Here's my questions :

° Is Oliver current diet good enough and should I or shouldn't I start feeding him sprout? Knowing that I might still feed him pellets occasionally as supplement

° I live in Brisbane, and there is so many options as to what seed should be sprouted and fed for Ekkies, is there already Sprout mix available on the market with all the good seeds and value in them, and can we buy some online?

° Finally, if I do start changing his diet for sprout, how should I introduce them, and when fully introduced at what % should they consist his diet ? (ex: 30% sprout, 60% fruit/veg, 10% large parrot seeds + few nuts)

Thanks to everyone!
I'm gonna be a mom for the first time in a month and holy hell I'm stressed out! So much to know about Ekkie's diet !

 

[blackivory]

For starters; I'd keep him on his breeders diet for a few weeks, while he settles in to his new home. And expect him to want some warm hand raising mix too; just as a comfort feed. So have some Passwells on hand too!

I'm in Western Australia. You can buy some great sprout mixes online. I make my own and can happily send you a sample and instructions on how to sprout.
http://www.myparrotshop.com/nutrition/spicy-organic-sprout-mix-250g/prod_560.html
http://www.myparrotshop.com/nutrition/original-organic-sprout-mix-500g/prod_555.html

Any type of seed should be a treat for an Eclectus.

Look into Harrison Pellets. Mine love them. Sold here Bird Supplies Australia | Bird Seed | Bird Feeders | Bird Toys

When I bought my pair I was freaking out about their diet but honestly, you just go along with it.

 

[Vulpeste]

Thanks for your quick response, everything is still a bit confusing as English isn't my mother tongue as well, and I tend to get mixed up between what are seeds, sprout, the difference between them etc.
I already bought a few things on MPS but didn't saw that sprouting mix, so it sounds perfect I will buy some! I would also be happy to hear about your own mix. I've read a lot about how to sprout so it shouldn't be too hard, I was just getting lost into the which seeds to choose, there's so many!

What do you mean by any type of seeds should be a treat for Ekkie? That it shouldn't be part of the everyday diet? What seeds are we talking about?

For the Pellets, shouldn't I stay on Vetafarm as that's what he is fed at the moment?

Sure I didn't intended to change his diet straight away, and I already bought some Passwell comfort feed !
I just want to be sure of everything before the D-Day, and the more I read the more confused I get

 

[Vulpeste]

Okay, I think everything is started to be a bit more clear;
I should leave Oliver on his current diet Pellets+Egg&Biscuit+Fruit and veg for at least a week or two, and then try to slowly integrate sprouting mix?
Should I get slowly rid of the peach seeds as well? Was that what you meant by the fact that seeds should by treats for Ekkies, like sunflower seeds? Only giving him some as a treat and not part of the diet?

From all the sprouting mix, are they all suitable for Ekkies? Should I purchase one on each for variety or stick to a specific mix? (here)
And when I will start introducing sprouting mix, and slowly increase the amount and decrease pellets, should I end up removing all pellets and only give him an hand full every so often as supplements or should I still leave him a % in his everyday diet?

Sorry for all those questions, I've read some response here and there but not really different opinion about the best way to go.
Many thanks for the help, I'm starting to get there !