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Archive for the ‘Feeding’ Category

Too often, bird owners think that a little bird seed and fresh water are all that is needed to sustain their bird. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the Eclectus parrot. In fact, if an Eclectus parrot has to survive only on bird seed and water, he won’t live a very long life.

First, there is a choice to make between regular bird seed and bird pellets. Experts agree that pellets are healthier for the Eclectus parrot than bird seed. You should select a high quality pellet that contains numerous nutrients and minerals, particularly vitamin A.

As mentioned, however, seed or pellets aren’t nearly enough. Your Eclectus parrot also needs fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a source of calcium. The calcium is easily supplied by hanging a calcium block in the cage, and replacing it when it gets too small. The fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated.

First, you should know that avocados are toxic to your Eclectus parrot. Of all fruits and vegetables, this is the one thing that he should not have. Also note that parrots should not have junk food designed for human consumption, as this can not only lead to obesity, but can also cause additional health problems, which may be life threatening.

As for the fruits and vegetables that your Eclectus parrot will enjoy, he should be fed apples, cucumbers, carrots, dandelions, tomatoes, oranges, melon, broccoli, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, spinach, raisins, plums, pears, apricots, bananas, peaches, green peppers, sorrel, chickweed, lettuce, beets, sweet corn, green peas, eggplant, and zucchini. Most fruits and vegetables should be served raw, with the exception of any grains, such as rice, which absolutely must be cooked before being eaten by the bird.

Cooked rice and beans are also a favorite of Eclectus parrots. Fiber is very important, because Eclectus parrots have a longer intestinal tract than what is considered normal. Fiber is needed to keep this long intestinal tract clear.

Fresh fruits and vegetables that are made available to your Eclectus parrot should not remain available for more than twenty-four hours, as they may spoil. Remove the old food and replace it with fresh food. Overtime, you will get a sense of exactly how much your parrot will eat, so that you don’t waste food.

Finally, make sure that water is always accessible to your Eclectus parrot. Instead of providing tap water, however, you should provide bottled water, with no added minerals or nutrients. If possible, stick with the same water brand throughout your Eclectus parrots life.

It is important that you keep an eye on your Eclectus parrots weight. These birds are usually pretty good eaters, and they can easily become obese if you aren’t careful. If your bird appears to be gaining too much weight, you should consult your veterinarian, and determine a proper amount of food to feed the bird in order to get his weight back down.

By Mayoor Patel

Tube bird feeders are given this name for the obvious reason; they are a tube shaped feeder that makes use of this unique design to offer a little something different to the birds that come to eat. The cylindrical shape makes it harder for a pest to latch on to it if they are going to try to steal seeds, or whatever it is you choose to feed, because they have nothing to grab onto. This means you lose less feed to the squirrels, chipmunks or other rodents who otherwise might see the bird feeder as a free meal. As well these kind of feeders are more likely to bring you the smaller birds, so if you have a preference between smaller birds or larger birds that may be a deciding factor on whether you want this type of bird feeder or not.

Theses tube bird feeders can be a variety of sizes and so hold different amounts of food. But that is not why they attract the smaller birds as opposed to the larger ones. The reason for this is the size of the perches. These feeders tend to have perches up the sides of the tube which allow the birds to eat at different levels on the feeders. This is unlike the platform bird feeders where they all eat on the tray at the bottom. With these there is a tray to catch falling seed, but the birds can eat while sitting on a perch anywhere on the feeder. This means that you must keep the bird feeder full to allow the perches to be useful places for them to eat from.

Therefore if this is the type of bird feeder you want to use you will need to understand that you will not be seeing any jays, doves, cardinals, grackles or other large birds eating from it. If on the other hand you like chickadees, finches or nuthatches then you will be happy with this feeder. Tube bird feeders can hold a variety of birdseeds from the small Niger seeds to the much larger sunflower seeds. Check before you you’re your purchase because some will come with different sized holes for the use of certain types of seeds.

Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website http://www.bird-feeders.wares-are.us. Please visit for information on all things concerned withTube Bird Feeders

Article Source: Mayoor Patel

Eclectus parrots are very special birds, and part of what makes them so special is their unique socialization. This socialization, however, typically comes from being hand fed as chicks. This is also known as being hand reared. Hand feeding Eclectus parrots; however, is not exactly like hand feeding other bird species. In fact, some experts say that the Eclectus parrots are the most difficult to hand feed.

First, you need to know what to feed your chick. Most pet stores sell prepared formulas for the Eclectus parrots. Some chicks will like these formulas very much, while others will hate them, and want nothing to do with them. In this case, you must mix your own formula. If you find that this is the case, look for a formula that is all natural, and try that first. If that doesn’t work, consult your veterinarian to find out what ingredients he recommends for your particular bird, and mix those ingredients in a blender, until it is the same texture as the commercial brands. Sometimes, baby food is recommended by the vet. Make sure that you also ask how much your chick should be fed, and how often he should be fed as well.

The best method for hand feeding is to use a syringe. The syringe is gently placed right inside of the mouth, and the liquid dispersed. Some breeders force feed the formula, using a syringe with a steel needle, and instantly injecting the proper amount of formula directly through the mouth, and into the crop. This is not advised, as the process of hand feeding should help the chick to socialize as well. Feed him slowly.

After your Eclectus parrot has been fed, he must be burped. This can be done just as you would burp a human baby. Hold him up to your shoulder, and gently rub his back until he burps two or three times. You can also attempt to help your Eclectus parrot burp by using your thump and pushing the air up out of his esophagus, but patting his back is easier and safer. Just be gentle.

For the most part, you won’t run into any problems hand feeding until your chick is about six weeks old. About this age, he starts developing taste, and he simply may not like what you are trying to feed him. At this point, he has become much like a picky child. The key is to find foods that are the proper texture, which satisfy him, all while providing him the proper nutrients and minerals.

In most cases, you won’t be responsible for hand feeding your chick. Most good breeders will hand feed the chicks, and have them weaned before they are adopted. In fact, this is one of the questions you want to ask your breeder, to ensure that your Eclectus parrot is ready for ‘big parrot’ food upon his arrival in your home.

Pellets or Seeds? Seeds or Pellets? Which choice is right for your Eclectus parrot? It seems that half of the experts recommend seeds, and the other half recommend pellets. What exactly is the difference between seeds and pellets?

First, you should know that your Eclectus parrot will absolutely adore seeds of all types. Unfortunately, too much seed is not healthy for him, and furthermore, certain seeds should be avoided altogether. For example, your Eclectus parrot should not eat fruit seeds, as they won’t digest properly in his system.

Many people mistakenly think that if they feed the Eclectus parrot seed that is designed for birds, that there won’t be a problem, and for the most part, this isn’t a problem. However, those seeds are typically oily, and since Eclectus parrots are prone to becoming obese, they aren’t good for him in excess. All things in moderation.

It is important to remember that the Eclectus parrot has a long intestinal tract. Therefore, he needs enough fiber to keep waste moving through that intestine. This is why he needs fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as seeds or pellets. Some experts recommend seeds, because they tend to be more natural, while others recommend pellets because they have more nutritional value, with less fat and calories.

The Eclectus parrot diet should consist of more fruits and vegetables than seeds or pellets. Overall, seeds or pellets should only make up about one fourth of the birds daily intake of food. The rest should come from fruits and vegetables. While experts cannot agree, science itself gives us the indication that pellets are actually healthier for the Eclectus parrots, because they are specially prepared with the vitamins and minerals that the bird needs.

Unfortunately, many breeders start the babies on seeds, and then the owner switches them to pellets. While this generally isn’t a problem, the fact that the bird may not recognize the pellets as food can become a huge problem, causing the bird to starve to death.

Also, when you select pellets for your Eclectus parrot, you should avoid pellets that are colored. There have been many problems reported with the use of colored pellets. You may find that your parrot doesn’t grow as well as he should, or that his feathers lose their beautiful coloring when they molt. His beak may also turn a horrible shade of yellow.

When it is all said and done; only you can choose between seeds and pellets. Talk to your veterinarian about this, and see what he recommends for your particular Eclectus parrot. It could also be that the bird determines the outcome of this debate, as he may show you that he prefers one over the other. Finally, realize that there is no reason why you can’t feed him both seeds and pellets, alternating the two, as long as he is still getting more fresh fruits and vegetables than anything else.

By Grant Carroll

Bird water bottle

For bird owners, it is common knowledge that birds can be expert mess makers. One thing they seem to love is pooping or dunking food in their water bowl. While this is an annoyance to us, it can be a serious health hazard for a bird. Water bottles, however, are a simple and easy solution.

Water is an excellent medium for bacterial growth. When organic materials like food and feces enter water, bacteria have a heyday multiplying. A bacterial population can double its numbers in a mere 2 to 3 hours, which means a water dish that is fresh at 9 a.m. could cause disease by 1 p.m.

The quickest and easiest solution to this problem is to train your bird to drink water from a bottle. It needs to be the same kind of water bottle used for small mammals like hamsters. Birds are intelligent enough that they should learn how to use it in the first day. Set the bottle above a perch the same height as your bird’s body. Once a few drops drip through, a vacuum will be created to hold in the rest. The bottle should pique your bird’s curiosity once you introduce it to them, so they are inclined to try it. If you’re not sure whether or not your bird is drinking, present him with a water dish at the end of the day to see if he’s thirsty. Some worry that their birds won’t be able to wet their food anymore, but this isn’t true. As the birds will discover, they can hold their food in their mouth and drink from the bottle.

Article Source: Grant Carroll