Eclectus Parrots – The importance of a winter diet

Looking outside this morning I was struck by the beauty of the season change as it seemed only yesterday we were celebrating our warm Aussie Christmas. In the southern areas of Australia, Autumn is in full swing. The leaves blanket the ground in a sea of red, gold and yellow and the garden is a vast array of color. Our trees signal a time for change not only in weather but also in our parrots diet as we ready them for the cold months ahead.

Australia’s climate is varying and in the northern states winter comes and goes relatively un-noticed. My Eclectus parrots and I lived in the tropics for many years before re-locating to a much colder climate. I watched year after year as our Eckies appetite remained relatively stable with the constant year round heat. They had no need to bulk up for the upcoming winter as in Far North Queensland winter is a long forgotten season. Summers are swelteringly hot and you feel like you are living in a perpetual sauna, the ‘winter’ months are less humid however daily attire remains the same, shirts, shorts and always a good amount of sunscreen.

_MG_5902My husband, Eckies and I now enjoy a winter where night time temperatures can reach zero degrees celsius for weeks on end and this could take its toll on our parrots. On cold nights we bring our feathered kids inside where they enjoy the radiating heat from our fireplace. The Eckies love this routine and watch eagerly each night as we bring out their winter night time cages and ferry each Eckie inside one by one where they snuggle up next to their mate while watching a movie before bed. However in the morning they are keen to go outside to their aviary where they greet the morning, enjoy a fly and for one crazy boy, Cletus, revel in an ice cold dip in the water bowl. It is hysterical to watch him splash around, water fly’s everywhere as he exhales little puffs of smoke from his nostrils. The grass sparkles with frost, wind blows off the snow but this little man is un-perterbed. Cletus is a lifelong member of the Polar Bear club and revels in his morning ritual.

As good parrot slaves we must begin changing our Eckies diet in the Autumn months to be sure our kids are in peak condition. Parrot owners often notice their kids appetite changing as the weather starts to cool. Our own Eckies turn into ravenous eating machines and we find ourselves filling and re-filling their food bowls up to three to four times a day. I have spent many years living in a cold climate and watched as our Eckies food preferences altered dramatically in direct correlation to the season change. They seek out high energy foods and I modify their diet in accordance to this.

Parrots need a fat reserve to help them maintain their body temperature as when our kids get cold they expend a great deal of energy trying to warm up. If a parrot is underweight then they are not going to be able to remain warm and this makes them susceptible to illness and further weight loss. It is natural for our kids to want to put on a little extra padding during this time and as good parrot owners we must let our Eckies appetite guide us.

IMG_6951Parrot Haven kids love a warm winter meal and they like to let be a part of their daily cook up. Blue, Cletus and many of our other Eckies fly to the kitchen window and tap on the glass as I bring out the pots and pans. They scrutinize every move I make as to ensure I am making the food to their liking. I like to cook a fresh meal for our kids each day if possible especially during the middle of winter.

The advice in this article is based on our current location and may differ from my old routine which is outlined in our book. In early Autumn I cook a warm meal every third day and then as the weather cools further I increase this to every second day. I watch closely and take note of how much of the meal is eaten and if there are particular foods that are favored over others. I feed the kids their cooked meal both morning and night on these days, serving it in a separate bowl so not to mix it with their day time fruit/veg and sprouted seed.

In the depths of winter I feed a hot meal every day both morning and night. They also receive a mix of warm egg and biscuit just before sundown. The kids love their egg and biscuit and jostle for the best feeding position. Being the spoilt kids they are they prefer to be spoon fed and when you have over 25 parrots, this becomes quite chaotic. However everyone always gets their fill and it is comforting to know they are going to bed with a crop full of hot, nutritious food.

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We have many recipes available in our book, The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots. These will give you some great ideas for winter meals for your kids. We feed our own kids many of the foods from the following list and have a great time creating new and exciting recipes for our feathered family.

The following foods are high in protein

  • Cooked meat and chicken
  • Boiled eggs (cooked right the way through)
  • Almonds
  • Pumpkin seeds (also known as pepitas)
  • Lentils and pulses
  • Chia
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Sweet corn

Foods such as:

  • Brown rice
  • Brown pasta
  • Lentils/legumes (cooked only)
  • Cous cous
  • Quinoa

These make a great base for your winter recipes or a quick and easy warm meal if you are running short on time. Each day I serve a small portion (1/3 of a cup approx. per bird) of nice warm food. Be sure to monitor your parrots weight by keeping a weight chart. Weigh your parrot twice a week preferably before their morning meal. This way you can track any changes and ensure they remain a healthy weight during winter. Eckies are very adept at regulating their food intake and this helps to guide us so we can better understand their dietary requirements and the portion we should feed.

Eclectus careEven if your Eckie lives in the house with you, they will still enjoy a lovely warm meal in winter. So, bust out the pots, pans and start experimenting with some winter avian treats. It’s a rewarding feelings to watch your feathered kid devour a meal you have prepared or see their little eyes light up as you bring them something new and exciting. So have some fun with it. Get creative and share your wonderful recipes with other parrot lovers.

Eckie slaves can also download our book, The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots. Our book has received many wonderful reviews, has a five star rating in the iBook store and is on the best sellers list.

Eclectus Molt

Well it is that time of year again, the summer sun is blazing, families are enjoying the last of their holidays and our parrots are busy molting their feathers like never before. The last few months have been rather prickly for our feathered friends as it seems that Eckies everywhere marked their calendar and decided that this was to be the molt of all molts.

Parrot Haven kids have been dropping feathers like no-bodies business and we can’t keep up with the epic amounts of snowy feather dust that floats merrily around the house. For the more experienced Eckie owner, molts such as these are nothing to worry about. But for new parrot slaves, seeing your parrot slowly turning into a porcupine can be incredibly stressful. I have received a great many emails from owners who are all worried about the same thing: their Eckie’s are molting very heavily, some displaying large bald patches on their heads, primaries are being shed rapidly and their parrots mood has changed from being happy-go-lucky to that of a cranky bear coming out of hibernation. They are concerned that this is abnormal, that something may be wrong and ask whether they need to seek advice from an avian vet. I applaud the many contentious owners who are pro-active regarding their parrots health and don’t wait to ‘see how things go’ before reaching out for help. It’s wonderful to help and reassure them that what they are experiencing is perfectly normal and there are many things they can do to help ease their kids through their molt.

Molting is irritating for our parrots at the best of times but when they undergo a massive molt, it can take it’s toll both physically and emotionally. As the months wear on, owners start to wonder if their parrot will ever feather out normally again and our Eckies appear tired of the whole process. It is important that we adjust our parrots diet to help ease them through this time so their bodies are not depleted of essential vitamins and nutrients.

Feathers are made from a protein called keratin, this protein is taken directly from the Eckies body and if a parrot is not provided with protein rich food then their bodies will become depleted. Foods such as boiled eggs, almonds, pepitas, chia seeds, lentils and sweet corn are just a few foods that are rich in protein and are a must for any molting parrot.

Shower fun is also another way to help ease your Eckies itchy skin. Our Eckies shower with us almost daily when molting, with many asking to ‘come in for a shower’ when they hear the faucet turn on. The warm water and steam helps soften the skin keeping it subtle and preventing it from becoming dry and flakey. Aloe spritzes are another way to assist your Eckie, the aloe helps to moisturize their skin and it’s great for feather sheen and lustre.

For extensive information on the Eckie molt, dietary requirements, how to cope with mood and appetite changes please visit our website www.eclectusbook.com and follow the link to our book ‘The Ultimate Guide to Eclectus Parrots’. This chapter has helped many Eckie owners through their parrots molts and helps them understand molting through the eyes of their parrot.

So if your Eckie is a current member of the ‘porcupine’ club then feel reassured that you are not alone. We can all sympathize with any anxiety you may feel, we have all been there at one time or another. Just give your kid an extra hug and know that they will come out the other side looking more spectacular than ever.