Pellets and Toe-Tapping....

[kali]

Ok, so today I was told by a very respected avian vet that the correlation between these two things is rubbish and that the guy who came out with this 'fact' owns a vitamin company or some rubbish and doesn't want birds eating pellets so that they don't supplement with his vitamins or something.

Does anyone have any FACTS on this matter?

[Monica]

I've been told that electus do just fine if you feed them on pelleted diets formulated specifically for eclectus.... however, I'm sure there are owners out there who would disagree.

Another company says that if you continue feeding their pellets then the behavior will simply "disappear" - but how long are these birds toe tapping and wing flipping for before the behavior is gone????


I have not heard what that a-vet claims, but personally, I'm willing to believe those owners who have *EXPERIENCED* the behavior in their ekkies.... and it's not just pellets, either. There are other causes. Read this.
Land of Vos - General Care and Information Articles/Talk/Weaning/Aloe/General/Entertainment

[kali]

Thanks, I still need to do more research on this. Lexi really likes pellets but i've been using them as a 'sometimes' food. I know she would enjoy them if she got them more often.

[becca623]

Pellets as a small part of the diet are fine. Echo has been eating natural pellets since he was 18-19 weeks old. Before that all he received was fruity pellets (not from me). The female ekkie I worked with for a year ate the same diet with no problem. Her feather condition improved greatly. Beans, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, birdie bread, ekkie seed, human grade goodies, and a small amount of pellets. A woman I knew online got a rehomed ekkie who was naked. She fed him pellets made for eclectus. He regrew all of his feathers. Some ekkies can have allergies but the people I have talked to and from my own experience, it's not as common as some will have you believe.
Echo has recently once barbed a few feathers on his tummy but this was a reaction to camicide spray I used in other areas of the house.

[Braveheartdogs]

Originally Posted by becca623

Pellets as a small part of the diet are fine. Echo has been eating natural pellets since he was 18-19 weeks old. Before that all he received was fruity pellets (not from me). The female ekkie I worked with for a year ate the same diet with no problem. Her feather condition improved greatly. Beans, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, birdie bread, ekkie seed, human grade goodies, and a small amount of pellets. A woman I knew online got a rehomed ekkie who was naked. She fed him pellets made for eclectus. He regrew all of his feathers. Some ekkies can have allergies but the people I have talked to and from my own experience, it's not as common as some will have you believe.
Echo has recently once barbed a few feathers on his tummy but this was a reaction to camicide spray I used in other areas of the house.

Can I ask which natural pellets you are feeding?

Thank you.

Vicki

[Jess89]

every bird is different; just like every human is different... Jasper eats COLOURED pellets.. and despite many rumours he doesnt toe tap.. it doesnt turn his poop odd colours... infact since I put him on these coloured pellets ive noticed his eyes are brighter and his feathers are brighter; and bright eyes is the number 1 way of telling your eccy is healthy... so pellets are fine for eccys; you just have to make sure they get the right kind...

ie- get pellets esspecially designed for eccys

[Voslover]

Keiki is our a 5-yo female Vos Ecclectus and we have been feeding her Harrison's Lifetime Course (pepper) since just after weaning. She consumes approximately 20 gms of the Harrison's per day, along with appoximately 10-15 gms of fresh organic sprouts, and 5-10 gms of fresh organic fruit. She is an absolutely healthy bird and has never exhibited toe-tapping or any other odd behaviours. The Harrison's food is certified totally organic and comes in various sizes (fine...course) for different sized birds. Here's a link to the Harrison's website.
Premium Certified Organic Pet Bird Foods. Harrison's Bird Foods - let the results speak for themselves.

[Greycloud]

Voslover, Keiki is just beautiful. Kudos to you!

[MusicalFeathers]

Originally Posted by Greycloud

Voslover, Keiki is just beautiful. Kudos to you!

I have to agree. She is in beautiful feather!

[Voslover]

For your nice comments about Keiki...she says 'Thank You"!