New ekkie owner!!!

I have some questions! I just got my new boy from a coworker who wasnt giving him enough attention (but otherwise took great care of him). He has been on the same diet for about his whole life I think, for a majority of it. Just frozen veggies, some beans and frozen fruit, and pellets. She also gave him seeds on the weekends. I have been trying to give him some fresh stuff, but he doesn't seem interested in it. He will eat the apples but not interested in other squash or peppers. I'm not sure if this is just because he is still stressed and adjusting or if he is actually just a picky eater. Otherwise he has been doing really well. Should I just slowly start mixing in new ingredients to his food now to start to see what he likes? Another other recommendations? Also, I just got a whole bunch of foraging toys for him, to keep him busy while im at work. What sort of treats should I put in them to keep him busy? Like I said, he's picky so I'm not sure whats going to work here. ALSO, can I give him dried fruits? they had a bag of dried fruit at petsmart for birds, but i wanted to do some research and make sure it was safe before I bought it. Thanks for reading all the way through! I appreciate any ideas!

Hey, I'm not a dietary expert but be careful with those dried fruit bags. Even if some are marketed towards parrots, they still include ingredients like fillers and preservatives that are bad for parrots.
Double check the ingredients.

I agree with that--the preservatives and sugar in dried fruit can make them less safe. Some dried fruit also contains added oil.
I want to say that in some cases, a chemical is added to speed the drying process---I remember reading this anyway but it escapes me.

In moderation, the bits of dried fruit for parrots are okay for most parrots, but they are like treats.

I don't have an Ekkie, but I do know their dietary sensitivities are unique, so take it with a grain of salt...The preservatives may be even more dangerous in them (??)

Oh- and the pellets-- Ekkie owners are discouraged from giving pellets due to the added vitamins and minerals.

Hello and welcome!!

Frozen veggies actually aren’t bad at all! they are usually picked at the height of freshness so retain maximum nutritional value. Keep that up. Frozen veggies usually make up the base of the chop I make for Parker.

Go easy on fruits - ekkies are on Of the rare species of bird that are not restricted to breeding in the spring time. They are capable of breeding all year, which means they don’t just experience hormones in the spring, they are actually induced into hormonal behavior by environmental factors. Excessive sugars in the diet, which include sugars from fruits, are one of those triggers.

Part of the key to get your bird to accept new foods is to prepare them in different ways. Try serving at different temperatures, Cut them differently (Julienne, cube, put through a good processor so the pieces are tiny). Most importantly: be persistent. They may not recognize it as food, or may be afraid of it - birds are weird that way. Keep offering the food over and over again. You’re gonna waste a lot of food but he’ll eventually get it b

To get him to eat healthier fruits, which are considered the tropical fruits that are colored throughout such as papaya and mango, find his favorite foods such as a nut and LET HIM WATCH YOU stick pieces into the flesh so that he has to dig into the fruit in order to retrieve the nuts. Good foraging opportunity and gets good nutrition in the process. He’ll eventually dig into the fruit on his own.

If you are going to feed any pellets, only give goldenfeast goldn’obles or TOPs pellets? Which both lack added vitamins and supplements (ekkies should never have food with supplements/added vitamins/minerals).

For your foraging, get a nice treat mix such as Higgins fruit to nut mix, or you can gather some stuff from around your pantry: whole grain noodles (no “white”/“enriched” noodles), seed crackers, dry/uncooked oats, dried coconut (NO ADDITIVES), assorted dry grains (spelt, quinoa, oat groats, etc).

Make sure he knows how to forage! It’s not necessarily an innate behavior for all individuals, some need to be taught.

Lastly, a word on the diet: the diet is not optional. Ekkies have very sensitive digestive systems, so require a special diet. You can’t quite feed them as you would other birds. When I say no additives, I mean it: NO ADDITIVES, NO SUPPLEMENTAL VITAMINS IN ANY FOOD THEY RECEIVE, NO SUPPLEMENTAL DYES. Minimize sugars and fat - nuts are a to be kept to a minimum. Ekkies need a high fiber diet rich in vitamin a. Get in the habit of including plenty of red/orange/yellow colored food, such as peppers and sweet potatoes. Grains are a good friend as well.

Be on the look out for toe tapping. It’s easy to miss but is a huge indicator that something is wrong with your diet.

And of course, stick around! We have a great Ekkie community on the forums really willing and able to help you in every aspect of caring for your new boy

Thanks so much for the long reply! That really helped!

He seems to like the pellets over his veggie fruit mix. Should I just stop them cold turkey or give him less and less?

What pellets are these?

Excellent response by Chris! I'd only add this link as a great resource for ekkie diets: fruitandveg

Read that site through in its entirety. You won't regret it. It's just chock full of dietary information for eclectus parrots.

You've found the right place! I'm so glad you're here with us!

chris-md said:

What pellets are these?

Click to expand...

They are Zupreem Natural pellets for Eclectus. He came with a big bag of these.

Um...says right on the bag “with added vitamins and minerals”...breaking rule 1 in the Ekkie play bold: no added vitamins and minerals. Zupreme is not a good pellet.

Lesson 1: just because there is a photo of eclectus on the bag does not mean it is for eclectus.

Toss it immediately.

meganma1994 said:

I have some questions! I just got my new boy from a coworker who wasnt giving him enough attention (but otherwise took great care of him). He has been on the same diet for about his whole life I think, for a majority of it. Just frozen veggies, some beans and frozen fruit, and pellets. She also gave him seeds on the weekends. I have been trying to give him some fresh stuff, but he doesn't seem interested in it. He will eat the apples but not interested in other squash or peppers. I'm not sure if this is just because he is still stressed and adjusting or if he is actually just a picky eater. Otherwise he has been doing really well. Should I just slowly start mixing in new ingredients to his food now to start to see what he likes? Another other recommendations? Also, I just got a whole bunch of foraging toys for him, to keep him busy while im at work. What sort of treats should I put in them to keep him busy? Like I said, he's picky so I'm not sure whats going to work here. ALSO, can I give him dried fruits? they had a bag of dried fruit at petsmart for birds, but i wanted to do some research and make sure it was safe before I bought it. Thanks for reading all the way through! I appreciate any ideas!

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum. Chris-md has provided good advice and Anansi has given you a great link for Eclectus Dietary information. How are you and Ozzy doing at the moment?


Slowly introducing new food works well for Ellie. She arrived eating Zupreem coloured pellets- a giant no-no for an Eclectus. At least Ozzy had the natural version LOL. You may need to wean him as you introduce new and better vegetables and grains. I personally avoid dried fruit for Ellie. She loves her fresh fruit in rations so I don't feel that she needs any dried version. Also be wary of warm mushy food as it can stimulate hormones.



No dark places or shredding material in cage (nothing that can be used as nesting places/materials). Definitely purchase 'shredders' and weave it into his cage. Make cuttlebone available as well...


How does he take a bath? Misting, in the shower, in a bird bath? This is another very important addition. So much to learn! We are here for you and Ozzy..

Ellie777Australia said:

meganma1994 said:

I have some questions! I just got my new boy from a coworker who wasnt giving him enough attention (but otherwise took great care of him). He has been on the same diet for about his whole life I think, for a majority of it. Just frozen veggies, some beans and frozen fruit, and pellets. She also gave him seeds on the weekends. I have been trying to give him some fresh stuff, but he doesn't seem interested in it. He will eat the apples but not interested in other squash or peppers. I'm not sure if this is just because he is still stressed and adjusting or if he is actually just a picky eater. Otherwise he has been doing really well. Should I just slowly start mixing in new ingredients to his food now to start to see what he likes? Another other recommendations? Also, I just got a whole bunch of foraging toys for him, to keep him busy while im at work. What sort of treats should I put in them to keep him busy? Like I said, he's picky so I'm not sure whats going to work here. ALSO, can I give him dried fruits? they had a bag of dried fruit at petsmart for birds, but i wanted to do some research and make sure it was safe before I bought it. Thanks for reading all the way through! I appreciate any ideas!

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum. Chris-md has provided good advice and Anansi has given you a great link for Eclectus Dietary information. How are you and Ozzy doing at the moment?


Slowly introducing new food works well for Ellie. She arrived eating Zupreem coloured pellets- a giant no-no for an Eclectus. At least Ozzy had the natural version LOL. You may need to wean him as you introduce new and better vegetables and grains. I personally avoid dried fruit for Ellie. She loves her fresh fruit in rations so I don't feel that she needs any dried version. Also be wary of warm mushy food as it can stimulate hormones.



No dark places or shredding material in cage (nothing that can be used as nesting places/materials). Definitely purchase 'shredders' and weave it into his cage. Make cuttlebone available as well...


How does he take a bath? Misting, in the shower, in a bird bath? This is another very important addition. So much to learn! We are here for you and Ozzy..

Click to expand...

Oh okay! I was wondering about the cuttlebone! I will get some asap! We are doing good so far! He's still weary of me and won't step up onto my hand if hes on top of his cage, so I'm trying not to push him. With his old owner he used to get in the shower, I've had him for a little over a week and I had him on my hand and brought him over to the shower (I had turned it on first) and I think he got freaked out so I didn't pursue with thatt. I also tried spray him a few days ago and he REALLY didnt like that. I think because he's just not used to that and only used to getting into the shower. I've noticed that he's a little greasy around his neck feathers, so i'm hoping i'll be able to get him into the shower soon. Any suggestions? And yes he's also a really picky eater I've noticed. Hopefully he gets better as I continue to offer more things.

meganma1994 said:

Ellie777Australia said:

meganma1994 said:

I have some questions! I just got my new boy from a coworker who wasnt giving him enough attention (but otherwise took great care of him). He has been on the same diet for about his whole life I think, for a majority of it. Just frozen veggies, some beans and frozen fruit, and pellets. She also gave him seeds on the weekends. I have been trying to give him some fresh stuff, but he doesn't seem interested in it. He will eat the apples but not interested in other squash or peppers. I'm not sure if this is just because he is still stressed and adjusting or if he is actually just a picky eater. Otherwise he has been doing really well. Should I just slowly start mixing in new ingredients to his food now to start to see what he likes? Another other recommendations? Also, I just got a whole bunch of foraging toys for him, to keep him busy while im at work. What sort of treats should I put in them to keep him busy? Like I said, he's picky so I'm not sure whats going to work here. ALSO, can I give him dried fruits? they had a bag of dried fruit at petsmart for birds, but i wanted to do some research and make sure it was safe before I bought it. Thanks for reading all the way through! I appreciate any ideas!

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum. Chris-md has provided good advice and Anansi has given you a great link for Eclectus Dietary information. How are you and Ozzy doing at the moment?


Slowly introducing new food works well for Ellie. She arrived eating Zupreem coloured pellets- a giant no-no for an Eclectus. At least Ozzy had the natural version LOL. You may need to wean him as you introduce new and better vegetables and grains. I personally avoid dried fruit for Ellie. She loves her fresh fruit in rations so I don't feel that she needs any dried version. Also be wary of warm mushy food as it can stimulate hormones.



No dark places or shredding material in cage (nothing that can be used as nesting places/materials). Definitely purchase 'shredders' and weave it into his cage. Make cuttlebone available as well...


How does he take a bath? Misting, in the shower, in a bird bath? This is another very important addition. So much to learn! We are here for you and Ozzy..

Click to expand...

Oh okay! I was wondering about the cuttlebone! I will get some asap! We are doing good so far! He's still weary of me and won't step up onto my hand if hes on top of his cage, so I'm trying not to push him. With his old owner he used to get in the shower, I've had him for a little over a week and I had him on my hand and brought him over to the shower (I had turned it on first) and I think he got freaked out so I didn't pursue with thatt. I also tried spray him a few days ago and he REALLY didnt like that. I think because he's just not used to that and only used to getting into the shower. I've noticed that he's a little greasy around his neck feathers, so i'm hoping i'll be able to get him into the shower soon. Any suggestions? And yes he's also a really picky eater I've noticed. Hopefully he gets better as I continue to offer more things.

Click to expand...

Showering - Ozzy needs to trust you and is still bonding with you, may mean showering will take a bit longer. Perhaps trying a bird bath so that he chooses when to jump in? New home, something different, something independent, something that may just be FUN? Ellie never had a bath before we 'rescued' her at the age of 2-3. We were already 4-5th owners. We started by dancing in the rain (after she was harness ready)...We went back to basics. She now has aloe spray baths. And we still love dancing in the rain.


Food - you said that Ozzy loves apple, so try putting small pieces of apple into a very healthy bird bread, slightly steamed squash and sweet potato. The emphasis on orange and red veggies (some fruit) is critical once pellets are completely removed so it's good to get him started now. Ellie likes to see me eat something new first, then she will take a taste. Keep an eye on any preferences...a diet log would be handy until you get the likes, dislikes sorted. For example: Ellie hates bananas. Ellie loves pomegranates. Ellie won't eat carrot sticks but will eat grated carrot in her chop. She loves to destroy a zucchini because shredding is fun. However, she gets to ingest some of it as well. That's how zucchini got into her chop. Same with cucumber and kale - shred, eat. Be prepared to clean. We keep newspapers or easily hosed off heavy duty black plastic in her 'wet-food' zone lol.


Oily neck - Eclectus are rare in they have oil glands, not dander for preening. No petting other than head and beak zone helps with the oil and hormones.

General bird advice unrelated to food:

Make sure that you have a solid light/dark/ sleep schedule w/ at least 12 hours a night. A cover is very helpful but make sure it is breathable and that you don't wash it in a scented detergent that will stink up the cage at night. I got my cover online--Cozzzy covers (available on Amazon) and as long as you don't wash it too many times in hot water or in the "heavy" cycle, it should hold up. I learned that the hard way.

No access to shadowy spaces in or outside of the cage (boxes, beddding, pillows, blankets, in your lap/under your hair like a nest, under furniture, tents, low ledges etc).

Make sure you only ever pet on the head/neck.

No Teflon/PTFE/pfoa/pfcs in the same house (hint- hairdryers, curling irons, irons, ironing boards, rice cookers, griddles, drip trays, space heaters, steamers, rice cookers, air fryers, air poppers, many pots/pans/trays, waffle irons, George Foreman grills, toasters, microwave ovens, toaster ovens, ovens, coffee makers, heating pads, electric blankets, dryers, Scotch Guard (on furniture/carpet), heat lamps, etc). You can call the company and verify that the ones you have a safe or not safe. These chemicals can be inert (mixed into the metal during molding), they can be a clear-coat, or they can take on a colored coating. The point is, if a product heats or is intended to be heated, you need to verify because it can't be identified visually and birds have died on separate floors with doors shut. Similarly, while DuPont claims that off-gassing only occurs at higher heats, there have been myriad parrot deaths (even within academic circles) at temperatures well within the 300 degree F range!
To find out what contains PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon, you have to call and be very persistent about it over the phone (and even then, in some cases, you won't get far). Almost always, it will take a few days for them to get back to you and you must provide the full chemical names, abbreviations and brand-names.


Also, use no chemicals around the bird (99.9% of household cleaners, perfume, paints, polishes, heated plastics, candles, air fresheners, smoking, vaping, burning food, flea shampoo, carpet cleaner, aerosols, acetone, nail polish, show polish, sharpie markers, bug spray, sunscreen, hairspray, hair dye etc...the list goes on...)
They have super sensitive respiratory systems. For instance, if you roast a chicken at a high temperature in order to brown the skin, if the oil gets hot enough, it can kill a bird (smoking fats, oils, butter etc are very dangerous).

Alternative cleaners- White vinegar + water (as long as you don't heat it up), grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda (as a scrubber for the sink etc), some (but not all) pre-mixed natural cleaners, Poop-Off (for dissolving but not disinfecting) and my favorite ---DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....F10 SC (the clear/yellow concentrate-NOT THE GREEN ONE).

noodles123 said:

Make sure that you have a solid light/dark/ sleep schedule w/ at least 12 hours a night.

No access to shadowy spaces in or outside of the cage (boxes, under furniture, tents, low ledges etc).

Make sure you only ever pet on the head/neck.

No Teflon/PTFE/pfoa in the same house, and no chemicals around the bird (cleaners, perfume, paints, air fresheners, smoking, vaping, burning food etc).

Click to expand...

Thanks Noodles123..that was my next post...good on ya mate..

Great advice Ellie! But I’d amend a few things to reflect the fact that we’re dealing with a male and not a female:

No cuttlebone. These aren’t conures or other small birds. Cuttlebone is a calcium supplement: no supplementing an ekkies diet without express veterinary instruction. Since egg production isn’t an issue, a male Ekkie will receive all the calcium he needs from his diet.

Speaking of diet: keep oranges to a minimum. The acid is a problem, as is the excessive vitamin c content.

Male ekkies aren’t prone to nesting like the females are, FYI. They are more masturbators and regurgitators. Giving them a happy hut might swt this off, but they aren’t going to seek out the dark spaces.

chris-md said:

Great advice Ellie! But I’d amend a few things to reflect the fact that we’re dealing with a male and not a female:

No cuttlebone. These aren’t conures or other small birds. Cuttlebone is a calcium supplement: no supplementing an ekkies diet without express veterinary instruction. Since egg production isn’t an issue, a male Ekkie will receive all the calcium he needs from his diet.

Speaking of diet: keep oranges to a minimum. The acid is a problem, as is the excessive vitamin c content.

Male ekkies aren’t prone to nesting like the females are, FYI. They are more masturbators and regurgitators. Giving them a happy hut might swt this off, but they aren’t going to seek out the dark spaces.

Click to expand...

Well said Chris-md...I wondered about male vs female nutrition and nesting needs! Thank you.

Here is my F10 SC sales pitch (I am very enthusiastic about it because it is cheap, safe and it works):
I am not a representative for the South African company but I love the product lol. It comes in a tiny bottle and you mix it yourself- I get mine on Amazon for around $20. It is super safe around birds and it disinfects better than vinegar or anything else (aside from bleach, which isn't safe). It is the safest thing that you are going to find if you are trying to deactivate some viruses and kill bacteria etc and it is much better at disinfecting than vinegar. I use 2ml per 17 oz of water and that achieves a 1:250 dilution ratio which is safe for general disinfecting (although you can go higher or lower depending on goals).
At this ratio, you can make 13+ gallons of the stuff from one tiny bottle--it is good for 6 months after mixing with cold water and it lasts for years in concentrated form. I just mix each batch as I go and store it in a chemically resistant spray bottle (my spray bottle has measurement lines printed on the side) and I got a 1 ML syringe for free at the Walmart pharmacy.

Once dry, you do not have to worry about the bird coming into contact with it and it doesn't have to be rinsed or even wiped off. Even if your bird does come into contact with some of the wet stuff (post dilution), it will be okay (don't let your bird touch it on purpose, but it isn't going to be a major issue). Terrifying story: My bird actually ingested some of the diluted mix once *eek* because I sprayed it on some old dried oatmeal that had fallen (which absorbed the F10 in the soaking process). Without knowing that she could reach it, I sprayed a ton on there to let it soak and she was able to hang upside down to reach it...It was scary and it SHOULDN'T be eaten, but she was fine- No changes to behavior or appetite and blood-work, gram strain, xrays, stains etc confirmed this. I know that in some large-scale poultry operations, they have even added it to drinking water to decrease microbial growth. One study indicated that impacts on liver and kidneys only occurred at very high concentrations when added to drinking water daily for a period of time. DO NOT allow your bird to eat/drink it, but it's nice to know that if an accident happens, it isn't likely going to be deadly as long as it is diluted and a 1x deal. It is still a chemical, so take standard precautions, but you get the picture.

It has actually been used to nebulize birds with aspergillosis by vets with the proper experience (do not try this at home)...so it is safe for them to be around while you use it (as they can breath it in for therapeutic purposes in the right setting). It seems expensive when you see how small the bottle is, but when you do the math, 13 gallons of the mixed 1:250 ratio comes out to be cheaper than 13 gallons of windex refills (windex is also not safe---obviously). I just always feel the need to emphasize how much cheaper it is than standard cleaners. It doesn't do a great job of dissolving caked on matter, but it will if you let it sit for a few minutes. It works best if you wipe up "organic matter" *cough* and then spray over the residuals, wipe and spray again. I use it like I would any other cleaner when cleaning up poop.

Last thing about F10 SC- if you live in the US, the bottle has an intimating warning label on it. I investigated this thoroughly because I though, "HOW CAN THIS BE SAFE WITH A WARNING LABEL LIKE THAT!?!" and due to the fact that it is a specific type of cleaning chemical, legislation mandates certain generic warning statements to be present...I have gotten the concentrate on my hands etc etc with no issues. I believe someone on this forum actually bathed in it when their kid brought home stomach flu lol! Just saying...the product is safe for birds at proper dilution ratios, so don't let the label scare you. It is a non-specific warning required by the FDA. That same warning is not required in Europe (even though the US is way less safe when it comes to marketing dangerous chemicals to the public). In other words, if it is sold in Europe without warning labels, then it is definitely safe (it's just that the US is litigation-crazed and no one wants to get sued).

Yes-- any citric acid can be harmful (including citrus). Look up fruit/veg and avoid the super-acidic ones. Tomatoes are generally frowned upon.
Oranges, tangerines etc can be given, but in VERY small amounts. Then there are fruits like kiwis that also have high levels of citric acid and should be limited.
Too much citrus can lead to iron storage syndrome.
For my large cockatoo, the vet said 1-2 small slices of tangerine per week. You have an eclectus with an even more efficient digestive system, so I am guessing that the allowed amount will be even less, but I am not certain.

Make sure you research toxic foods, such as avocado, rhubarb, certain beans, alcohol, artificial sweeteners (xylitol included), high sugar/salt foods, chocolate, coffee (even decaf), caffeine etc...The list goes on.

As long as you remove hormonal triggers (dark spaces, petting outside of the head, warm mushy foods etc) then in most cases, you will decrease the chances of your bird attempting to nest, laying eggs and/or becoming egg-bound. My bird *knock on wood* has never produced an egg (although she has been hormonal). I am sure it will happen someday, but I do try very hard to prevent her from having any access to snuggles, shadows, nesting spaces, or nesting materials...We shall see....That isn't to say it can't happen, but it can be controlled to an extent. If your bird does ever start to produce an egg, then nutritional adjustments may be needed...I don't know that giving extra nutrients to an eclectus ahead of time is a good idea, just because they are so sensitive (but again, I have never had one, so listen to those who have them before latching onto this comment of mine).