Eclectus Parrot Diet

Natural Diet in the Wild

Parrots living in the wild eat a large variety of food types, including berries, leaves, twigs, shoots, flowers and their buds, seeds and insects. Captive birds need a very wide range of foods in order to maintain good health and feather quality.

 

Toe Tapping Or Wing Flipping Syndrome

The eclectus parrot can develop a diet-related condition called “toe tapping or wing flipping syndrome” where there are involuntary opening and closing movements of the feet and / or wings. Other signs of the syndrome can be behaviour problems such as screaming and feather plucking. This distressing condition is directly caused by incorrect feeding and can be reversed by making important changes to the bird's diet.

 

Important Facts To Remember About Feeding An Eclectus

* avoid all preservatives, additives and colourants. Foods given should be 100% natural and for this reason don't give any manufactured food (human or bird food). Give no biscuits, cereals or bird pellets.

* avoid all pesticides and chemicals. Ideally only organic fruits and vegetables should be given, but as this is not always practical, all food must be very thoroughly washed.

* avoid all extra vitamin and mineral supplements. The nutrients should all be found in the bird's diet.

* the eclectus is prone to calcium deficiencies. Instead of providing mineral supplements, foods containing calcium should be given every day, for example: - leafy greens such as spinach, kale and parsley. - sesame seeds. Sprinkle a small amount over other foods.

* only give sunflower seeds and nuts as a small treat. Seeds and nuts are high in fat and low in most essential nutrients. Don't give a bowl of seeds as birds tend to fill up on them rather than eating the healthier foods. Instead of the very fatty peanuts, try unsalted almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts. Give no more than 2 nuts a day.

 

Diet Related Health Problems

Birds fed a limited diet often develop a deficiency in proteins, minerals and vitamins, especially Vitamin A deficiency. Common diet-related problems are:

poor immunity	poor feather quality	skin problems	sinusitis
abscesses on the face and in the mouth	kidney disease	fatty liver disease

Variety is the spice of life!

It's strongly recommended to follow the 'Ten Rule' of feeding at least TEN DIFFERENT TYPES of foods a day. Most foods that are deep green, orange and red in colour contain Beta Carotene, which is converted in the body to  Vitamin A, and should be fed in abundance. These foods are underlined in the lists below:

 

Fruit

apples	bananas	grapes	pears	peaches
nectarines	mangoes	pawpaw	melon	spanspek
fresh dates	strawberries	blueberries	raspberries	youngberries
gooseberries	naartjies	oranges	granadillas	pomegranates
litchies	plums	natural fruit juice (Liquifruit or Ceres)

 

Vegetables

cooked butternut	cooked pumpkin	cooked gem squash	chillies
cooked sweet potato	cooked potato	celery	green beans
broccoli (leaves and florets)	beetroot	cauliflower	peas
mealies	carrot	radish	baby marrow
patty pans	watercress	spinach	peppers

 

Protein

well cooked chicken	well cooked chicken bones	well cooked red meat (tiny amount)
boiled egg 3 times a week	hard cheese (in moderation)

 

Grains / Legumes / Pasta

cooked pasta	cooked rice	cooked quinoa	cooked millet
cooked lentils	cooked barley	cooked beans	popcorn

 

Foods to Avoid

These foods can KILL your bird:

• Chocolate
• Avocado pear
• Rhubarb

 

These foods can cause health problems for ALL birds:

• Lettuce, cucumber, onion, garlic and tomato.
• Sugary, salty or fatty foods – these are not processed well by the kidneys and liver.
• Mushrooms.
• Any drink containing alcohol or caffeine and sugary, fizzy drinks.
• Apple seeds (contain traces of cyanide).
• Milk - birds are lactose intolerant. Milk products should be limited to small amounts of hard cheese and natural or fruit yoghurt.
• A number of uncooked beans are toxic eg soy, black, red, yellow wax and kidney beans.
• Large quantities of bread / toast. (The yeast in bread can cause a yeast overgrowth).
• Uncooked potato.
• Foods high in preservatives such as processed meats and dried fruits.

 

​Tips To Encourage Your Bird To Eat The Healthy Foods

• Steam the vegetables – some birds prefer them cooked.
• Serve the vegetables, grains or pasta warm (not hot).
• Give your bird a portion of food when you eat – birds like to eat with their “flock”.
• Hand your bird food or offer it on a spoon.
• Chop finely or grate the food – small tit bits are more appetising than large chunks.
• Mix your bird's favourite foods with the other foods.
• Sprout the sunflower seeds – these are tasty and nutritious.