Gravity Feed Hoppers with husk catcher

Post by **Sally** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:26 pm

All of my birds, including the small waxbills, use these seed hoppers. Isn't it funny how birds still have their individual personalities. Even my Goldbreasts, which are the smallest, use these. Of course, I always have a dish of seed in the cage when the birds are new, but my latest pair of Fire finches went right for the hopper (of course, they are domestic parent-raised, so they may have been used to hoppers from early on).

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:57 pm

Okay - thanks Sally - I'll get them all trained sooner or later. I didn't try too much with the Waxbills as I presumed they are too small. I'll get them going again this weekend. Thanks!

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:52 pm

Got my goldbreasts and stars going on them. Zebras refuse them.

I didnt have the heart to try to starve my zebras into using it this weekend. Any other ideas to try to get my zebras on these???

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:28 pm

Chris
Try putting the hopper higher in the cage than the other seed trays, so it is easier to get to.
I think that is how I got some of my more hesitant zebras eating pellets.

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:05 pm

unfortunately, they do not have hangers to be hung on the inside of the cage. Only at slider doors and they are all located closer to the bottom of the cage

I suppose I could rig one with some wires or something. Its worth a shot.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:16 pm

I have seed hoppers and my finches use them without any problems except for my java finches. They dont even go near it. My waxbills and strawberries use it as well as all the other finches in the flight. I had trays with egg food and vegies next to the seed hoppers and i guess thats how they figured out where the seeds were.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:53 pm

My single male Fire Finch is now converted to using the seed hopper as are my Strawberry Finches. YAY! I've also just ordered 5 more hoppers!

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:56 pm

Liz
What trick did you use to convert them?

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:10 am

I saw the first post on these feed hoppers, and figured I just had to try it out. Found them at the local pet store for $10.0 CDN.

My zebra's hesitated in the beginning, but after about a half hour the male tried it and then the female followed.

The ones that I bought can be hung on the inside if you absolutely have to. Love the idea of less waste.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:36 am

First I sat their seed dishes right infront of the hopper. That didn't seem to do much so I removed their seed dishes and just left the hopper. That didn't do much either as I saw the Strawberries go to the millet spray by their perch. So I removed the millet spray and cut off a 1-1/2" piece and stuffed it into the hopper. They kept pulling it out - I kept stuffing it back in. Finally I saw them eating the seed out of the tray beside the millet spray! That's when I removed the millet spray and they kept going back into the hopper to eat. I also removed every single seed/husk that fell into the catch-tray twice a day so I could moniter and see if they were indeed eating from the hopper and how much.

Hope that helps. You can also put their eggfood infront of the hopper - anything to entice them over near it to get used to it.

Edit: When I removed their seed dishes - I did it only for 2 hours at a time (before bedtime). I would replace them at lights out so they can eat if they have to. I also have nightlights around so they can see where they are.