The selection and care of the food you give your pet bird is vital to its continuing health, because many of preventable health problems originate from the food.
Foods fed to Eclectus parrots are highly perishable, and will support the growth of many disease-causing organisms if left to sit. They must be removed, discarded and replaced at least three times each day. The Eclectus requires a diet high in beta carotene and vegetable protein, this is achieved through fresh, organic, seasonally available tropical fruits and vegetables is best such has banana, mango, pawpaw, passionfruit, rockmelon, Brown rice, watermelon, berries, pomegranate, kiwifruit apple, pear, strawberries, banana, kiwi fruit, grapes, bell pepper, snow peas, green beans, sweet peas, carrot, celery, beets, Swiss chard, guavas, figs, pomegranates, passion fruit, melon, papaya, mango, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, almonds, pine nuts, pistachio nut and various squash.
Dark green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of β-carotenes. While the above fresh foods provide a good base diet, breeding birds also benefit from dandelion, including the roots and flowers Think variety and fresh ingredients when mixing and feeding Eclectus.
We have limit green vegetable components arising from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, mustard, and turnip tops as these plants contain oxalates and they can interfere with absorption of other nutrients and in large amounts these vegetables can cause problems.
Henry and Angel’s diet consists mostly of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. While Eclectus don't eat many seeds in the wild, and since dry seeds are deficient in many nutrients, we feel they are more crunch than lunch so they are the exception rather than the rule at our house. We do have pellets available during the day.
Seed for Ekkies should be sprouted! Sprouted or germinated seed undergoes dramatic biochemical change, converting the nutrients stored as carbohydrates and oils into a wider variety of more highly digestible nutrients. They are certainly a valuable addition to the diet of all captive seed eating birds.
However, seed preparations can be contaminated with bacteria, fungus and fungal toxins. therefore, sprouting seed have the potential to become contaminated with bacteria and fungi (moulds). Because these germs and moulds are extremely harmful we have limited the seed intake of Henry and Angel between 3 and 5% and only to best quality organic seeds. This was done with consultation with our avian vet.
He also recommended to give a small amount of fish or chicken (half a teaspoon) along with a chicken bone, once a week. Apparently, it seems that parrots in the wild also eat insects, which are a source of protein. Eggs whites are also an excellent protein source, But the yolks provide excessive cholesterol and predispose the birds to atherosclerosis and heart disease if fed too much. We only give egg white once to twice a week.
Chewable foods are vital for mental health they provide, rather than the nutrients they add to the diet. Eclectus are constant chewers and this helps to combat the problems associated with boredom. Things such as pine cones, banksia cones, “nuts” from bottlebrushes, Grevillea flowers, gum nuts, hakea nuts, Casurina nuts and natural branches all are very useful additions to the diet and should be offered in generous amounts.
However, an owner must regularly monitor their Eclectus parrot’s weight, and adjust diet intake to maintain optional body weight, and prevent obesity. For your birds to reach its full potential you must start with feeding a diet of the very highest standard, for food is the foundation for our birds’ health.
We use water fountains because the risk of contamination from bacteria, food or droppings is lower than using water bowls. But we still change the water Daily.