Eclectus Parrots

[AvianLover80]

Here is a new thread that can be a Q&A for the Eclectus and their owners. There is a lot of new information regarding this species including diet, training and safety. Feel free to post questions or new information that you feel will be useful to new and experienced owners, breeders and enthusiasts.
Let the posts begin...

[AvianLover80]

DIET UPDATE!!

So, now there are researchers and experienced Ekkie people who say that Salicylic acids are bad for our little feathered friends and they we need to avoid feeding them foods that contain salicylates. This would drastically limit what we can feed them, so offering the lower content foods at a more monitored rate would be sufficient to keep the intake at a minimum. Some ekkies have shown prominent allergic reactions to the salicylates. Symptoms include: Feather plucking, shaking, toe-tapping, diminished alertness and appetite, irritability and behavioral changes. There are several food lists online that categorize the foods by level of potency.

There is also controversial opinions that claim pellets are no longer recommended for the ekkie diet. Eclectus have long intestinal tracts and pellets don't digest or pass through their system as well. If they do not have a healthy water intake then the pellet residue builds up in their intestines. If you want to continue pellets be sure they have plenty of water, and juicy fresh fruits like watermelon and grapes. You can also crush the pellets and mix with plenty of water.

So, the more I read, the more it appears that Ekkies should be on no less than a 80:20 diet. 80% solid foods and 20% pellet, seeds and nuts. Probably best used as treats rather than in a meal plan.

I hope this will be helpful and will encourage us to always study new intellegance about our feathered companions. We want them to have the long life they were designed to have.

[Pajarita]

Actually, I would make their diet 80% organic produce, 10% low protein seeds (as in a budgie mix), 10% cooked whole grains. No pellets at all.

Also, as far as I know, there has been no actual research on ekkies diets. The salicylic acid intolerance is been proposed as a possible cause for the very common problem of plucking in these birds but it hasn't been studied scientifically so I would not use the word 'researchers' when proposing it.

As to their too short lifespan in captivity, personally, I think it's both diet, improper light schedule and lack of an adequate social group (they don't flock like other parrots do). No parrot is happy in captivity but some are easier than others and ekkies are at the top of the 'unhappy' list, poor things!