Feeding Eclectus Parrots

In the wild, Eclectus parrots primarily eat a variety of fresh plant foods. This includes native fruits, flowers, sprouted seeds and a variety of plants. Whilst Eclectus have a digestive tract that is designed to eat large amounts of fruit and fibre, it's important to realise that In captivity, the fruits and seeds available differ significantly in their nutritional profile compared to wild types and typically contain much lower amounts of fibre and higher amounts of sugar. That is why feeding a predominantly fruit diet to a pet Electus is not necessarily appropriate.

Furthermore, they spend up to 70-80% of their time in the wild foraging and travelling for food - which would allow them to burn all those calories without much effort.

A complete seed diet is not appropriate either, as it is high in fat, but low in lots of important vitamins and minerals. 

An appropriate diet for an Eclectus should include up to 30-50% high quality formulated (pelleted) food, and the remainder consisting of fruit and vegetables. Seasonal fruits and vegetables can be offered fresh and include bananas, passionfruit, melons, kiwis and to a lesser extent pears, apples and oranges. Frozen fruit can also be used to add texture and variety when out of season. Vegetables that can be fed include legumes (chickpeas, lentils and soybeans), carrots, and sweet potatoes and dark leafy greens such as asian greens, spinach and carrot top. They should get more vegetables than fruit.

Avocado, onion, garlic, and ginger are toxic to birds. Fresh food can be fed a variety of ways, including whole as well as cut up finely or grated into a chop mix to prevent selective feeding. This can then be refrigerated for up to a week.

Seed should make up less than 10% of the diet as more of a treat food or not be included at all. Sprouted seed has far more nutritional value, if seed is to be offered in the diet. Sprouting seed can is a straightforward process, but take care to monitor closely and avoiding feeding any seed that becomes contaminated with mould.

Nuts such as walnuts, macadamias, and peanuts as well as dried fruits are treat foods, and should only be given sparingly in small amounts. They can be used as training treats and up to once to twice a week.