Switching from parrot food to TOPS

[JanMarie]

Hi...I'm new to owning an Eclectus. I am trying to swtich Oliver from traditional parrot food to TOPS. He has been on the parrot food for 13 years. I have had him for a week and he is not happy about this switch. Do I do it gradually or cold turkey? I don't want to upset him, getting a new home is stressful enough, but I want him on TOPS and that is so much better than what he was on.
I would love to know how others have transitioned their Ekkie to a healthier food.
Also he smells rather ...pungent. I've been around Ekkies before and I don't remember this odor. He's not a fan of showers or bathing. HELLLLLP!
He does have a vet apt on Sat too.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Why do you want to switch him exclusively to TOPS? Ekkis should never be fed a pelleted diet exclusively.

When I had my RS Ekki pair they were given Volkman Eclectus, and a HUGE amount of fresh fruits, veggies, and sprouts.

Dietary Information for Eclectus Parrots From a Respected Specialist Breeder

diets

 

[Terry57]

I agree with Wendy on the diet, and about the bath for him, try turning on the vacuum and then misting him. Ekko hated baths until I tried that and now LOVES being misted

 

[JadeC]

I feed my caique TOPS but he eats a lot of veggies, fruits and seeds too. He never eats just pellets. Ekkis I heard are more of a fruit kind of bird. I'd do some research and ask your vet when you take him in about his diet. Good luck!!

 

[JanMarie]

Thanks everyone...I do feed him lots fruits, I guess I should have mentioned that. I just wanted to supplement him with the Tops for nibble during the day. He's never had veggies from what I could gather from foster mom, I did a veggie chop and he wouldn't eat it. At least he eats sprouts and fruit...his main diet.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Thanks everyone...I do feed him lots fruits, I guess I should have mentioned that. I just wanted to supplement him with the Tops for nibble during the day. He's never had veggies from what I could gather from foster mom, I did a veggie chop and he wouldn't eat it. At least he eats sprouts and fruit...his main diet.

I REALLY like Volkman Featherglow 15 min soak and serve. Rio also loves broccoli and brussel sprouts.

 

[drlisaort]

I feed Oliver (yes our birdies share the same name!) only fresh fruits and veggies throughout the day and in the evening a warm mush that has fruit, veggies, grains, beans, and brown rice all combined. He LOVES it! As for seeds and pellets he gets one tablespoon divvied up in the slots of his forage wheel.

 

[viva]

On top of feeding my ekkie fruit, vegs, sprouts, and a little bit of pellets, I always give him passionfruit - which he LOVES!!

Everytime I take him to the vet, or friends are visiting, they always comment on how sweet he smells. It's the passionfruit . It's the secret ingredient to sweet smelling birds... in my parrot's case anyways.

With the veggies, I cut them up quite fine, so he has no choice but to eat it if he wants to get at his fruit.

Let us know how it goes with switching to TOPS.