Adding to a seed diet

Shy2 · Post by **Shy2** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:56 am

My lonely little strawberry finch has only ever been given niger seed. The previous owner had it for four years, and that is all it got for seed. They did provide the millet sprays.

I have since added a really good seed mix, and he is now eating that, but has left the niger seed alone. I have two dishes in the cage so that he could still have his familiar food and get used to the new stuff. I offer the millet spray, and he seems to love that.

Is this bird too old to add something else to his diet? What else should I try, and how long do you think it would take before he starts eating?

Thanks

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:58 pm

"I have added a really good seed mix and he is now eating that"

"How long do you think it would take before he starts eating?"

Bit confused here ....is he eating it or not? If he's ignoring the Niger I'm not surprised now he has a choice.
You did the correct thing weaning the bird gradually onto a new diet.

How someone can have a pet animal for 4 years and not know the correct diet is a mystery to me.
Paul.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:03 pm

I am surprised the little bird lived 4 years only being fed that. And that he is healthy is really surprising.
I am sure this sweet little bird will be escited now to be getting a variety.
Hooray for you!

Post by **Sally** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:54 pm

They're all different in their likes and dislikes. Check out the nutrition info at the FIC, there is a list of safe foods for finches. You just have to try out each thing to see what he likes. Greens (romaine, kale, dandelion) are usually liked. Mine all like cucumber--if you make a salad, just give him a slice. It is so sad that he had mostly niger for all that time--I know some of the wild finches love niger, but they have other things to eat, too. Thank goodness they offered spray millet.

Shy2 · Post by **Shy2** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:37 pm

Sorry PoohBear, I guess that didn't make much sense did it?

"I have added a really good seed mix and he is now eating that"

"How long do you think it would take before he starts eating?"

I meant how long would it take before it would start eating new treats like cucumber as Sally suggested? Should I just keep offering it daily, until he tries it?

He is eating the new seed mix quite well actually, and the spray millet is going fast too. I turn it around every other day, and he is almost picking it clean.

I am surprised the little bird lived 4 years only being fed that. And that he is healthy is really surprising.

I think this is why it's mate died. I work in a nursing home, and it belonged to a resident there. The family would bring in the food, and a volunteer would come clean the cage, and change food and water daily. Part of the problem was that the resident kept his room in darkness all the time. After the one little bird died, the family was worried this one would die too.

But I assure you, this little bird has the best home now. We love him. I could sit and watch him for hours. Well I do sometimes, as his cage is beside our computer, so he gets lots of attention. With two adults and three teenagers there is always someone on the computer. I also bought him the biggest finch cage I could find, and he sits in the corner of a room with windows on both sides. I change his bath water a couple of times a day, and he LOVES it. I think he goes in there three or four times a day. I truly believe he is happy in his new home. I just wish I could find him another female. But seems to be an impossible task.

williep · Post by **williep** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:19 am

A bird is never to old to teach it to try new foods.

Like sally mentioned, just keep providing a few different things on a daily basis and he will eventually try it. It took my birds about 2 weeks to get used to their new diet.

I like your idea of changing his diet gradually so it looks like you are already on the right track, just continue to be patient