I can only speak for my babies, but this is my advice!
Stock up on fresh fruits! Do not serve canned fruits. Also serve plenty of steamed orange colored veggies. I also make them scrambled eggs, or boiled chicken or broiled white fish once a week. They like to peck at food so I make birdie muffins for them and they each get one every day. Don't leave fruit out for them to eat for more than 4 hours. Just dump it cuz it's not worth taking a chance that the fruit has turned. I actually have plexiglass glass behind Sergei and Lucy's cages because they can trash a wall with food splatter in no time. Very exuberant eaters!
Ekkies like to dip food in water, not everything, but be sure to check their water several times a day and change it if there are "floaters".
Don't give them too many nuts as they put on weight fast and don't need the extra oils.
They have much runnier poop than other birdies because of their mostly fruit diet so prepare accordingly!
Keep an eye on the length of their upper beak. In the wild they keep it worn down using it to make holes in trees for nests. I have my avian vet file them down as needed. Their claws grow very fast! I take them every 3 months for a nail trim while my Amazon and RB2 only need it every 5 or 6 months.
Ekkies are THE BEST talkers! Sound totally clear and totally human! I know, the CAGs have the voice rep, but I would pick an ekkie's voice every time! Start teaching him to talk on day one, he won't disappoint you! I even have training CDs I play for them. Teach her to call you, not screech when she wants you. Mine say Momma, Come Here! And I make sure to go to them. Properly trained ekkies don't scream or screech, they will ask for what they want. Sergei loves walking/sitting in his water dish. But as soon as he climbs out he yells Fresh Water! Lucy loves berries of any kind and will yell Berry, Berry, Berry when her bowl's empty. They both will say Shut Up when my little dog barks. They are very smart!I
I have harness trained Sergei and he goes all over place with me. He whistles at the ladies, talks to everyone we meet, and let's everyone pet him. He has NEVER bit me or anyone else. Sergei is the most gentle, cuddly Bird I have ever met!
Lucy I rescued from a bad situation. I work every day with her to gain her trust. She has come so far from the frightened cowering little girl I adopted. She'd plucked out nearly all her feathers and was so skinny. I am so proud of her. She picks up sentences so fast! If I drop something she says Uh Oh, What a Mess! Ekkies are smart enough to know when a comment is appropriate!I
Well, that's my 2 cents worth!
BTW: Sergei is now 28 and Lucy is 11 years young. I love my Ekkies!
