Gone Off His Food.

[Caesar]

My ekkie is about 5months now and he used to love pumpkin, sweet potato ,beans and broccoli steamed and mashed together. But now he seams to be turning his noise up at it. Also his fruit.
Is this common at this age as I think he is filling up on the pellets (is this healthy).
You can lead a horse to water but cant make it drink!!....
I feel like he is missing out on the nutritional benefits of his fruit and vegies.

 

[maillet]

Most Eclectus books will say 5-10% Pellets, 20-30% Fruits, and the rest Veggies. From my experience Pellets or Nuts can occupy up to 30% as long as Veggies stay higher, and fruits are watery enough to provide plenty of water to offset fatty foods.

Maybe it is simply me however, except pellets are not natural to Eclectus and he is still young. When my Eclectus was that age I ONLY fed him natural Fruits, Vegies, and Seed Mixture found readily from wild. Pellets to prevent dietary issues not to adulthood.

At the end of it all, Ekkies are motivated by their tummies. If you remove seeds, he will eat what is available. No different than if you remove the candy from a child they will eat healthy (albeit be moody about it). Pellets and Nuts are like Candy to Ekkies.

 

[Caesar]

Thankyou for the info,

 

[drlisaort]

I purchased Oliver when he had one little green feather back in September of 2012 visiting every weekend for nearly 5 months before he came home to me. I know he ate fruits and veggies with the breeder but also pellets and seed. When he came home he was toe tapping so I stopped the seed and pellets immediately and he did eat the fresh "real" foods and thank goodness stopped tabbing. I believe he had the interest in fruits and veggies because the favorite foods (seeds and pellets) were removed. With that said, I do use no more than a table spoon of pellets and seed in his forager daily along with other healthy treats that he searches for to keep him thinking and entertained. He LOVES the seed and pellets and goes to the wheel first before any of the fresh real foods. I guess what I'm trying to say is your little one most likely will eat the real foods if you give him less of the foods he's craving but not necessarily the best choice for this species.

 

[Caesar]

Thanks heaps for the info. I have now reduced the pellets down to a tablespoon in his cage and I will see the outcome . I basically think he was filling himself with pellets and had no room for the real food . I have also removed his feeders of a night cause I think he was having midnight snacks...Naughty Caesar.
cheers.

 

[Boysmom]

I feed Ruby fresh foods during the day and only place a small amount of pellets in her cage overnight. If I am to be gone from home all day, then I feed her the cooked versions of Golden Feast, as it doesn't go bad as quickly as fresh foods do, with a small amount of pellets in another bowl. I don't feed seed at all.

 

[Caesar]

I have reduced his pellets down to about 2 tablespoons and the change has been dramatic .He is eating his vegies and fruit now.
thanks for all the feed back on this subject