Knowing that Eclectus are known to get "toe tapping" when fed pellets I have been using Volkman Super Science Eclectus blend for almost a year.

What do you feed yours?

I feed Todds Custom Blend #7. Theres no dye in it.

Originally Posted by leighrivera

I feed Todds Custom Blend #7. Theres no dye in it.

I thought pellets in general weren't good for them?

Originally Posted by Jeanne

I thought pellets in general weren't good for them?

depends on the Eclectus. Some (like Sophie so far) have no problems with them at all. Others are hyper sensitive.
The Ultimate Blend from Bird Paradise is hands down Sophie's favorite mix. I do give her different Golden Feast blends as well. From time to time I make my own from grains and such from Whole foods.

There are those out there that will tell you seed mixes are just as bad or worse then pellets, yet some have fed seed diets to their birds for years with o problems. Volkman is an awesome mix and makes into Sophie's rotation now and again as well.

I already buy BP Ultimate Blend. I'll mix some in with my guys and see how they do.

Is "toe tapping" obvious? Just want to be able to watch out for something like that.

Its the colored pellets that are mostly the issue. Occy eats some of the pellets but eats the other stuff in the blend first. Plus fresh food every day. Toe tapping is usually accompanied by wing snaps. Its obvious.

from what I have been told it usually even sounds like somebody tapping their finger, unless they are on a rope perch.

thanks...I'm going to start giving them the BP Ultimate blend..they'll probably enjoy the change

I don't think it's so much the pellets or seeds themselves but how large is the percentage they constitute of their diet although, of course, the more natural the better so anything artificial should be out. Ekkies need lower protein, lower nutrients and higher fiber than any other companion bird (with the possible exception of some finch varieties) and pellets and commercial seed mixes are usually completely off when it comes to this delicate balance. Most owners that have had ekkies for a few years or who have ekkies younger than eight or ten years old would tell you that theirs are doing well on them but, as time goes by, the issues start to appear so it's better to start them off on a healthy diet from day one. They are all good eaters so this is usually not a problem even tough it might take a while to get them off.

Romeo eats seeds for dinner but I mix the seeds myself always aiming at lower protein and the portion is so small (less than 1/8 of a measure cup) that I sometimes feel sorry for him because he does love them so! But he is a bird that was normal until he was about eight years old and, by the time he came to me, at 13, he was all plucked, screaming non-stop and very aggressive. He now doesn't scream, shows no aggression at all and, although he hasn't quite stopped plucking (and might never do), he does have some new feathers he is allowing to grow out (this bird was completely charcoal grey with only a green head!) and has not barbered for a while. And I am convinced the improvement has mostly to do with his better diet even though he is not yet as good an eater as any of my other birds (including Nina, my hardest nut to crack). He is also very, very resourceful when it comes to getting the forbidden seeds so that has also delayed the process... he even managed to get into the canary hens flight cage to steal theirs so I had to put locks in all the canary cages doors and feeders.

Agree with Bea. My Ekkies are fed like hers, mostly fresh natural foods. Why wait for trouble to start before getting them on the most healthiest of diets.