a few eclectus parrot questions,

[avianfanatic247]

hello everyone! I'm thinking about getting a female eclectus parrot from craigslist, i know about craigslist but the guy seems to know what hes doing and answers all of my questions. anyway, right now he has the parrot on parrot pellets, fresh fruit, nuts and abot a teaspoon of milk (in moderation) for some calcium suplement. does that sound like a healthy and good diet? the bird is about 9 years old. Thakns in advance!

[sablesept]

well i'm not an expert, i have a female vos eclectus.. i don't think birds should drink milk, lots of fruits and veggies have calcium, i think they can have yogurt...so my vet says.. in one article i read, parrots don't have the enzyme to digest milk...

[jjones1719]

Please read up on the Eclectus, check out land of Vos website. Eclectus do not need Milk. You Eclectus needs non added color Zupreme or Roudybush pellets. Eclectus get 1/2 hard boiled egg everyother day without the yoke with the shell for calcium. They should have only 1 almond per day as a treat. No seeds or peanuts. Fresh organic fruit and Veg. If you can not find organic, make sure you wash them very well. Fresh water 3 times per day as eclectus love to dunk their pellets and other food into the water while they eat. Baths are very important. My 3 year old SI Male Eclectus and my 1 year old Green wing macaw get baths 2 times per week. I blow dry them with the hair dryer approx 36 inches away on low. Eclectus need heat lamps to keep them warm and away from drafts. If you can get sunlight on them approx 1 hour everyday, this really helps with their feathers and brings out vit a that they need. Stay away from caffine, sugar, salt,land of vos also lists other stay away items. Keep candle at a distance, throw away all teflon pots and pans and buy stainless steel. The teflon can kill your bird. I hope this helps. please read up on the eclectus before buying one as their needs are much different then other parrots. best of luck to you. Thanks Joe

[sodakat]

If you do get her, I urge you not to change her diet right away. If she is nine years old and has been eating this particular diet for many years, this is what she is accustomed to and a drastic change would be worse than any deficiencies she may have because of her current diet.

A teaspoon of milk a day probably does not really affect her one way or another. I mean, how much of ANYTHING can there be in a teaspoon? Certainly not much calcium so I'm not sure why it was ever started.

There are several very reputable Eclectus breeders who have web sites that include diet ideas. Some of them feed seeds; others do not; most suggest that calcium come from leafy greens. Protein sources are a bit of egg, fish, chicken and most often legumes fed proportionately with grains like brown rice.

There is only one "natural" source of vitamin D: the sun (well technically I think a body creates vit d after exposure to the sun). If a bird is not exposed to the sun it may get vitamin D from pellets. Vit D is fat soluble and is necessary for calcium absorbtion.

If she has been eating a "lot" of nuts she "may" have been getting too much fat. Without knowing which nuts and how much, you can only guess. An avian vet will do bloodwork for you and this will tell you whether she has been on a good diet.

Have you seen her? How do her feathers look?

[avianfanatic247]

wow thanks for the replies guys! they are very helpfull. umm im not sure which nuts he gives her ill ask. he gives her a teaspoon of milk about once ever week. not everyday. no, i havent seen a picture yet, i wont go through with the deal if he doesnt have a pic. ill kepp looking into eclectus' to make sure there for me. ill let you guys know! Thanks!