FINCHforum

I'm new here and was wondering if there are any tips on separating empty seed shells (husks?) from uneaten seeds so I don't end up wasting my birds' feed dish when I clean up? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I know of three ways of separating the husks or shells from uneaten finch seed.

a) Remove the dish from the cage and give it a gentle shake back and forth / side to side. This motion will move most of the empty shells to the top of the dish. I guess the light weight manouvers the shells on top of the full seeds. Then I simply scrape or push the empty shells off with my fingers into my disposal container.

b) Do the same to get the shells/husks to the top of the dish and then lightly blow the shells/husks off. This would perhaps work if you are outside due to the empty shells landing all over the ground. My birdroom is indoors so I don't use this method.

c) Use a seed hopper. These are available from various online sites. I got mine from www.ladygouldianfinches.com This does separate the husks from the uneaten seed quite well but do't expect to keep your floors cleaner unless you don't use anything but these seed hoppers. I have too many other dishes of food available in the finch cages and still have a very messy floor in front of each the finch cages.

Would love to hear of any other methods!

My birds are on screen porch so its just a step away from outside and I don't have to clean up hulls
I take a straw and just gently blow hulls off top, then I stick straw into the bottom of dish and again very gently blow all the powder that collects under the seed, It works after you learn how hard to blow,don't inhale the seed hulls are hard to get out of your throat

I also use the blowing method off my porch. But I saw this machine one time at a bird fair that was really cool. You put the seeds into it and it vaccum out all the husk and gave you back all the seeds. I would love to have one, but a bit pricy. It would be great for someone with a really LOT of birds.

Donna, I have the same seed hopper from LGF.com and I find that the birds waste a lot of perfectly good seed. Is that true with your birds?

I think the idea of a straw is a good one. Usually when I blow the hulls off, I get a lot of it in my face and eyes.

I store all my waste seed in a bucket and wait for a breeze. Then simply pour the seed slowly from the bucket into another bucket below. The breeze blows away the husks and the good seed falls into the bucket below. Repeat a few times and the seed is as good as new.

Hey, thanks for all the input! I also tried blowing the seeds and got some of it sticking to my face, esp my eyes! Guess I just have to blow gentler of use goggles!

atarasi wrote:Donna, I have the same seed hopper from LGF.com and I find that the birds waste a lot of perfectly good seed. Is that true with your birds?
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I did not purchase this machine because of the price. So I am no sure how it works, but it was demonstrated for me and it looked like a great machine. Just pricy.....

atarasi wrote:Donna, I have the same seed hopper from LGF.com and I find that the birds waste a lot of perfectly good seed. Is that true with your birds?

I think the idea of a straw is a good one. Usually when I blow the hulls off, I get a lot of it in my face and eyes.

I have 10 of these seed hoppers in use every day from LFG and I find almost NO seeds in the catcher-tray whatsoever. I see very few full seeds (less than 5%). I think they're wonderful.

http://www.thecanarysnest.com/seed%20cleaner/index.html Here is an idea, I haven't tried it yet but have plans to. So if anyone gets to it before I do let me know how it works.

i have seen this concept here used with with great success using the shop vac, hooked up to a wooden box using pvc pipe. the box has small holes drilled in that can be covered with a removable plate which adjusts to control suction so that only hulls are sucked up not seeds.

might have to give this a try as well. at present I am going through 20 kilograms of dry seed a month. about once a week I throw it on the aviary floor and let the birds pick through it. not an option though for those with their birds indoors in cages

Welcome to the forum JHitchcock.

JHitchcock

Welcome to the forum. do you have a picture of the box and etc.
Good luck with all the storms

I used to use a vacuum winnower.they are great,I get back half the seed.and give the rest to the wild birds.I got sick off emptying the vacuum and winnower though,so bought this one http://www.wapoultryequipment.com/WAPE/WAPE.html
i changed the alligator clips to a transformer.costs quite a bit $300.but I will have it for years,the more birds you have the quicker you get your money back.Winnowers are also great for separating mealworms from husk.which ever way you do it its a great saving to the wallet.