Diet for Eclectus Parrots

Diet for Eclectus Parrots

For any bird species we can make general diet recommendations but ‘one size does not fit all’ and a diet on which one bird may thrive may not suit another. This is particularly so for Eclectus Parrots who are a tropical species that have a complex breeding behaviours where the females may remain sedentary protecting a nest site for up to 11 months of the year, while males will range widely around the rainforest for fruits and berries. They regurgitate these foods to feed warm to multiple wives, whom they visit on regular rounds.

Experts agree that compared with other, predominately grain and seed-eating, parrots, Eclectus Parrots eat more fruits and wet foods and have higher vitamin A requirements. There is also universal agreement that an all-seed diet is especially bad. Seeds and nuts are not essential and should, at most, be a minor part of an Eclectus Parrot’s diet, if they are included at all. A source of calcium, such as a calcium/mineral bell or cuttlefish should be provided, especially for females who may unexpectedly start laying eggs any time of the year.

Vegetables and fruit are essential, particularly orange and yellow ones that are high in vitamin A precursors and antioxidants. These can be pre-prepared as ‘chop’ and frozen in quantities suitable for a day’s feeding.

Vegetables

Provide a wide variety of leafy green, yellow and colourful vegetables daily, e.g. select from carrots, capsicum, broccoli, kale, spinach, rocket, corn, peas, long beans cooked sweet potato and pumpkin. Herbs like basil, oregano, sage, dandelion, marjoram and thyme or flowers such as nasturtiums, hibiscus and chrysanthemums can also be fed.

Fruits

Yellow/orange fruits including rock melon, papaya and mango are excellent, so too are berries, kiwifruit, pomegranate, persimmon, apple, pears, figs, bananas, oranges, grapefruit and stone fruit. Seeds of passion fruit can cause tummy upsets for some Eclectus Parrots and are probably better avoided.

Protein Supplements and Grains

These include legume beans (such as kidney, Bortoli, lima or black-eyed) and lentils (yellow or red) that are incomplete proteins and should be paired with rice, corn (canned or frozen) or millet to provide a full complement of essential amino acids. Legumes are soaked and boiled until soft (do not used canned legumes as these may have too high salt content) and mixed with the cooked, complementary rice, corn or millet. This mixture can be fed warm in the morning, it mimics regurgitated food that Eclectus Parrots feed each other and provides a sense of fullness during the day.

Foraging foods and toys

These are ideally fed after the remnants of the breakfast meal are removed and include unpeeled fresh fruit and vegetables as listed above cut into large pieces and placed in foraging toys or between the bars of the cage or on skewers. Native Australian trees and bushes (eucalyptus, callistemon, wattle) can be used as browse.

Pellets

These are controversial for Eclectus Parrots. Many Eclectus Parrots do well on diets where pellets, specifically formulated for Eclectus Parrots, are a component, but some experts are of the opinion that pellets may move too quickly through the digestive system and leave the bird hungry while cooked rice and legumes, as discussed under Protein Supplements above, leave the bird more satisfied. If you choose not to feed pellets, it is appropriate to provide a vitamin, amino acid, omega 3 fatty acid and mineral supplement two or three times a week.

Research with wild Eclectus Parrots has found they do not eat after 5 pm.

Sydney-based avian veterinarian, Dr Rob Marshall, who has done considerable research on wild Eclectus parrots, is a leading advocate of non-pellet-based diets for Eclectus Parrots. His recommendations are complex and will not suit every owner, particularly those whose birds are doing well on a traditional pellet-based diet, but his approach may be especially helpful for birds with health problems such as feather destructive behaviour or reproductive issues.

We recommend his book ‘The Eclectus Parrot’ that can be purchased through https://www.birdhealth.com.au/product-page