I don't know if you've been on the Land of Vos site yet, but I consider Carolyn Swicegood the go-to person on Eckies. This is from her post on Toe-Tap and Diet:
TOE-TAPPING AND WING FLIPPING
Overall, the Eclectus is a healthy and hearty parrot. When fed appropriately and provided clean and relatively stress-free surroundings, health problems are rare. However there is one worrisome syndrome to which Eclectus parrots are prone. Toe tapping, or more accurately, foot clenching, is the rhythmic, involuntary opening and closing of one or both feet. The toenails sometimes make a tapping sound as they hit the perch during the opening and closing of the foot. This repetitive and involuntary motion should not be confused with the display of purposeful foot stamping that cockatoos sometimes exhibit when they feel threatened.
Wing flipping, or flicking, also is an involuntary and repetitive movement of the wings. The wings droop and then are tightened against the body, making a slight popping sound. All parrots flick their wings occasionally. They sometimes do it several times in succession to rearrange the wing feathers, to show excitement and pleasure, and to prepare for sleep. This behavior is not repetitive and is not a symptom of a problem. Wing flipping as part of the toe-tapping syndrome is repetitive and continuous. Some birds exhibit symptoms of this syndrome for weeks, or even months, although it usually does not last longer than a week. It is stressful for owners and birds alike.
Some of the remedies that have helped to alleviate the symptoms are exercise, calcium supplements, the elimination of all vitamin and mineral supplements including spirulina and pellets, and treatment with a detoxifying formula of aloe and herbs. The prudent course of action when a bird has these symptoms is an immediate vet check with comprehensive blood work including tests for metal toxicity. Although many vets are not yet familiar with the syndrome, it is important to rule out metal toxicity which can cause toe tapping and wing flipping. Metal toxicity can be fatal but with diagnosis and chelation treatments, the bird's health can be restored. Only blood tests can reveal metal toxicity, as well as calcium deficiency, another culprit.
Causes of the syndrome
Obviously, there are a number of triggers for the toe tapping and wing flipping syndrome experienced by some Eclectus parrots. We have attempted through a general survey to determine some of the factors that the affected birds have in common.
Birds with perfectly normal blood work can be affected and these are the cases that baffle owners and veterinarians alike. To date, no specific research studies have been reported. Owners have been frustrated to discover that their veterinarians are not always aware of this syndrome and therefore doctor and client must investigate causes and solutions together.
One of the first triggers of toe tapping to be discovered was the over supplementing of vitamins and minerals. When an Eclectus parrot is consuming a full complement of nutrients from its diet, especially if pellets are a good portion of the diet, the addition of supplemental vitamins and minerals can start an episode of toe tapping in a susceptible bird. The reason that one bird is affected while others on the same diet remain symptom free is perhaps a matter of sensitivity, just as food sensitivities depend upon the individual chemical makeup of each bird.
The food supplement that has caused the most cases of toe tapping and wing flipping appears to be spirulina. It is a microscopic, spiral-shaped blue-green algae which is a single celled plant. It is often touted as the most nutrient-rich food in the world, which just might be the problem for some Eclectus parrots. Many people swear by the health-giving properties of spirulina for themselves and their pets. One of the manufactured bird diets most popular with Avian veterinarians is fortified with spirulina. However, since Eclectus thrive on a nutrient-sparse diet in the wild, it is possible that this nutrient-dense food is simply too rich for the system of some sensitive individuals and therefore causes the toe tapping and wing-flipping syndrome. Another fact worth consideration is that "all spirulina is not created equal". Because it is grown on water, quality control is an important issue.
Calcium deficiency
Another trigger of the toe-tapping and wing-flipping syndrome is low blood levels of the important mineral, calcium. Blood tests will reveal whether or not blood levels of calcium are low and the syndrome usually clears up quickly once calcium levels are restored to normal. One veterinarian stated that calcium should be supplemented not only when a blood test indicates low calcium, but low normal calcium levels as well. Toe tapping sometimes clears up within an hour of the administration of calcium (when low calcium caused the problem). Liquid NeoCalglucon, available from pharmacists without a prescription, is one source of oral calcium often recommended by veterinarians. There are calcium and magnesium supplements from health food stores that also are effective but calcium should not be given full time on a long-term basis without testing and monitoring by a veterinarian. Natural sources of calcium are safe and easy for the owner to provide. Baked egg shells are calcium rich and easily assimilated by healthy birds. If cuttlebone is available, it is possible to get a therapeutic amount of calcium into a bird that is experiencing toe tapping by "shaving" cuttlebone onto a favorite food. There has been some concern about cuttlebone contaminants so a source of cuttlebone that is routinely tested would be good.
Calcium deficiencies do not occur in healthy birds with normal metabolism if they are given the proper diet. Eclectus parrots effectively assimilate necessary nutrients, including calcium, from whole foods unless there is a problem. It is important to know the best food sources of calcium. Parrots lack the enzyme needed to digest milk products so dairy products are not the best calcium source for them. Leafy green foods such as kale, greens such as mustard, turnip and dandelion, broccoli, as well as almonds (a big favorite of Eclectus), Brazil nuts and white navy beans contain good amounts of calcium. Other food sources of calcium are apricots, beans, carrots, beets, endive, figs, hazelnuts, oranges and watercress.
THAT IS "THE BIBLE" FOR ECKIE DIETS IN MY BOOK!
