Too Many or Not Enough Choices for Feed/Supplements

[Malzmom]

Hello All,
I am a newbie of sorts and have tons of questions as I have posted some of my health issues here.
In reading about all that is fed and NOT fed to our "children" I have some questions that I am totally confused about as I know others are too.

First, I live in an area that is a Petco/Petsmart only. Where should I go, (I suppose online) to purchase all the wonderful seeds/minerals/vitamins, etc. that I think I should be feeding? I read about these things and not sure where I should start.

Thanks so much!

[Sally]

Do I ever sympathize with you! It is sooo confusing trying to sort out all the various feeding programs. If you have only Zebras, it makes it a bit easier, as they don't need insects like the African waxbills, nor extra iodine like the Gouldians. You will also find that everyone has their favorite brands. The online stores are the best places to purchase supplements, but again, they are usually selling one brand of supplements, and so they believe theirs is the best. If you do a search for Morning Bird, Bird Cage Company, Quicko--these are three of the biggies. If you do a search for your species of finch, you will find sites for individual breeders, often with their feeding programs.

It also depends on just how much you want to spend for all these extras. People who are breeding finches need many more add-ons than those that aren't. Check in your area for feed stores that may also carry pet supplies--they will often carry good seed mixes. The one problem I have with my local PetsMart/Petco is that they carry only small bags of finch seed, which is not economical. It also can get expensive to mail-order seed, with shipping added.

You have Zebras now, I believe. They will do fine with a good basic finch mix or pellets. If you do the basic seed, they will need some vitamins, if you do pellets, they are already included. I just have never cared for the seed mixes with colored bits added (vitamins), but many people love them. They need a cuttlebone and oystershell grit. The best thing you can do for them, in my opinion, is to give them fresh veggies/fruits every day. You will have to experiment to see what they like, and most of it needs to be chopped very fine or grated. I do put greens (romaine or kale) in the cage in large pieces or whole leaves--the birds get extra exercise and stimulation working on these. If you are not doing any breeding, they really don't need eggfood except when molting. And all finches, even the insectivorous ones, like spray millet as a treat, just not on a daily basis.

[Malzmom]

Thanks Sally, good advice. I am doing everything you mentioned so I must be on the right track.

I would like to add another pair of finches to my males, another two males. Some say not to have just 4. The two I have love each other, sleep in their nest and play together. I thought bringing in another pair with the nest they will quarantine with would be fine, some say it won't work that the new ones could fight with the older ones and want6 their nest....
Should I just stick with the one pair? I don't want to take out the nest from the cage, the older ones have had it since I put them together and I think it would be unfair to take their nest just to introduce two new guys to the cage.
Any thougths?

Thanks.

[Sally]

The one thing I've learned about finches is that there are no hard and fast rules--there are always exceptions. With the size cage you have, I just don't think you would have a problem, as long as they are all males. I was forced to double-up cage occupants, in much smaller cages than you have, and I have some weird combos, but I had to move birds around several times to find out what was going to work. I do have two pair in one cage, a pair of Cordon Bleus and a pair of Strawberries, and they get along great. Other combos didn't work. Be sure to read the article on curbing aggression that was referred to in another post, just in case.