FINCHforum

have never come across a chart with this information on it. easiest way I can think of to find it out would be to contact a supplier of buld bird seed tell them you need the info as you want to work out your own seed mix. they should be able to email it to you.

These figures are from a "A Guide to Gouldian Finches"

The order for each is Protein, Fat, Carbohydrate, Fibre, Moisture, Ash.

White Millet - 11.8, 4.0, 59.9, 8.0, 12.0, 4.3.
Japenese Millet - 12.6, 4.8, 60.8, 8.6, 11.5, 3.7.
Canary - 15.2, 5.4, 57.7, 5.1, 11.5, 5.1.
Panicum - 10.9, 2.9, 55.2, 14.3, 12.8, 3.9.
Niger - 18.9, 37.1, 19.2, 9.8, 8.0, 7.0.
Linseed - 18.2, 38.6, 20.0, 12.1, 7.9, 3.2.
Rape - 19.2, 45.0,17.6, 5.9, 8.0, 4.2.
High Protein Baby Cereal - 19.0, 5.5, 58.1, -, -, -.
Egg (hard boiled) - 12.5, 11.6, 0.7, -, -, -.
Foxtail Millet (fresh) - 9.6, 3.21, -, 31.8, -, 8.9.
Foxtail Millet (grain) - 13.6, 4.6, -, 9.3, -, 4.0.
Wheat - 14.4, 1.8, 3.7, 2.8, -, -.
Groats - 17.6, 6.9, 3.6, 2.8, -, 2.3.

Experiment and let the birds decide, they know better than us. Seriously.

Thanks Matt for the information. Good to know what nutrients are in each seed.

I think Geordie is right....these birds are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for and they are only going to eat what they want. It's interesting though that in some of of cages, the same species won't eat canary seed, and in others that's mostly what they like.

Ace, how large of a cage do you have? There are warnings on a lot of species that state that if not given enough exercise, they are bound to get heavy....Gouldians are one of them.

All of the parrot finch family are prone to getting fat. I know a lot of people don't believe in austerity diets, but this is the best remedy for overweight finches. All breeding season we let them feast on soft foods, live foods and fatty seeds to rear their young, but if we continue this in periods when they are not breeding, of course they will get fat. Obviously having larger aviaries for more exercise helps the problem.
For two months after breeding, my birds are fed their regular finch mix and all the grits etc. No soft or live food is given at all. Greens are fed only sparingly a few times a week.
An austerity diet defines a natural breeding season and brings the birds into peak condition when they need it.

Matt.

Matt, that is very interesting indeed.

I now know why all Gouldian breeders around here provide niger seed in the breeding season but none in the off season.

Good to know

I dont make any sort of green food available during the austerity period. have found that it makes them realise quicker that there isnt enough food around to raise any more young. took me a while to stop feeling like a big bully though now my birds have two months a year like this.
a week before I put any nests back into the aviary I start making green food and live food available again, with a small amount of nesting material on the ground, the males sure do sing & dance in a hurry