Live Food

[mrski]

I've been reading up on feeding live food, but almost everything mentions needing it "for successful breeding." I'm beginning to wonder if it is necessary when finches are NOT breeding. Specifically, I'm wondering if my new Cordon Bleus need it, since I'm not hoping to breed them, and how often. Would a mix of greens, seeds, sprouted seeds, and egg food be a sufficient diet?

[Sally]

A diet of seeds, sprouted seeds, greens, and egg food should be fine for non-breeding Cordon Bleus. If you do decide to breed them, then live food is almost always a must, since breeding Cordon Bleus normally feed their young exclusively on insects for the first week. Since hens can always become egg bound even when you don't plan to breed, be sure to keep a small bottle of liquid calcium on hand, it can be a lifesaver.

[lovezebs]

mrski

Probably not necessary if not breeding, but they do so enjoy the occasional juicy mealworm as a treat .

[Lucille]

I used to breed mealworms, but the finches seem to enjoy the freeze dried ones I bought at Walmart. They are from the Kaytee company, and 7 ounces, around 4 cups, I think were only around $8.

[lovezebs]

Lucille

I buy the same freeze dried mealworms at Walmart. So so much cheaper than the tiny bags you can buy at the Pet shop.

These are the mealworms which I use in my eggfood. I crush them and mix them in, along with crumbled spray millet.

My guys will not eat these whole.

However, the live mealworms, are very popular with my Parrot finches, Stars, Owls, Pearl headed Silverbills, Shafttails, and many of the tiny Waxbills.

I have actually seen Gouldians, and even Societies occasionally partake of live mealworms .

I am once again experimenting with a container of flightless fruit flies. I've poked a tiny hole in the cover, and placed the container in the Waxbill flight. The idea was, that they would come out one or two at a time and get snapped up and eaten.
Well...... although I have some little birdies perched on top of the container, grabbing these guys, I'm also finding them here there and everywhere . The ones I see, I grab and toss into the fish tank (very popular). The others, get vacuumed, washed down the drain, eaten by the dogs, etc.
Not quite sure if I want to do this again .