Pellet vs. Seed?

[CandoAviary]

Bill,
I was not trying to discourage you in using it. Sorry if that is how I came across. It is a wonderful product...of course I am a big fan of Mike Fiddler and Save the Gouldian Fund. This is what they feed. I was just repeating what he says about the seed.
If you read the ingredients you will see that it contains pretty much the same seeds as other mixes. The difference is the fact that it is fresh.
Even though the seed you have sprouts... when you get your package do a little experiment and plant a little of both. I bet the Birds R Us seed outgrows the other. I have actually conducted this experiment. I have ordered and tried the product. Good stuff, just not economical for me

[B CAMP]

I understood what you meant

[cindy]

I have not ordered my bulk seed from them. I go down to the feed store and order it there and add to it with seed from either Misty, Lady Gouldian or Herman Bros. Pet Products. I order a blend for waxbills in the 25 lb size from Herman Brothers. I also ordered from Lady Gouldian for other supplies and decided to sample a 5 lb bag of their seed blended for African finches. My birds went nuts for it.

I am always on the hunt for good seed to fit all species needs since there is not a good supply in our area.

Bill, there is a company in Tampa near Ybor called Smelt Feed and Pet Supply. They do some of the bird shows. I used them years ago when I had my aviary in Ft. Myers, they carry cage bird supplies including a special blend of finch seed I think it is called Taylor. I used to be able to get bulk cuttle bones, millet and seed from them along with nest boxes and supplies etc. I may call them and see if they carry the pellets etc.

[diinin]

Well i just don't know about the pellets,i have a nandy conure that eats the zupreem colored but they have some shaped like bananas in the mix won't eat them at all unless i don't refill the bowl.
I tried a sample of Birds R Us breeding/moulting blend a few weeks ago only gave to a few goulds to see if they liked it well i put in the D cups it was like they never had any thing to eat for days never had that result from any new food i put in cage, have since ordered a bag,it cost more than others but the way they went for it i don't think it will have as much waste.

I feed those same Zupreem pellets to my maroon belly conure, mixed half/half with the natural colored ones. But she also gets tons of other stuff, including some seed, nuts, veggies, fruits, and whatever we're eating that day. So I'm not totally against pellets.

For my finches, though, I feed Fidler's Birds R Us, the whole program, and have had the same results you did, Bill. Before that I tried several different brands (Abba, Dr. Harvey's, Goldenfeast, Harrison's pellets, something from Petsmart), and the Fidler's outshines them all by 1000 miles.

First of all, Fidler IS different from others. They have seed types in there that the others don't have, and it looks completely different, like it was just taken from the plant. It's SO fresh, looks and feels fresh. I was so excited when I first saw their seed that I was running around the house showing everybody. I'd never seen seed like that. Not to mention, it sprouts in like 24 hours. My finches absolutely love it. NONE of it goes to waste, which is unlike any other brand I tried. (Harvey's was the worst--as beautiful as it is, they hated it, and I just can't see that stuff getting thru a seed hopper either).

I also really like that you can alter the Fidler diet for breeding and molting seasons. For the off-seasons, it's a low fat diet, unlike many seed mixes. I use the soft food to gutload my worms (live food isn't even necessary on this diet, but my birds love them, so I feed them).

I would never feed pellets as an exclusive diet. No animal that lives as long as birds do should be subject to such a monotonous diet. I also prefer a little more natural (NOT into the holistic thing though). I only have 6 finches, so we don't go thru seed very fast at all. It will expire before I use it all. So even though there's a lot to buy in the beginning with Fidler's, the only thing I'll have to buy for the next year will be the everyday Premium Seed Mix, which is inexpensive. It's actually very cost effective because they are eating every last speck.

[sierranomad]

It's SO fresh, looks and feels fresh.

I only have 6 finches, so we don't go thru seed very fast at all. It will expire before I use it all.....the only thing I'll have to buy for the next year will be the everyday Premium Seed Mix

Some of what you buy is kept for a year? The quality is still decent, and the birds still love it when kept for that long?

[lovemyfinch]

I personally use the food saver. Removes all of the air and keeps everything fresh.

[sierranomad]

Yes, I was thinking about those machines that take all the air out of bags. Seems like a good investment if it allows you to buy in bulk and maintain the quality of your birds' food.

[Sally]

I have been freezing my extra seed supplies, especially seeds that are oily and will go rancid quickly. In fact, I recently bought a small refrigerator for the bird stuff--I can keep my meds, supplements, veggies, cartons of eggs, etc. in the fridge part. I got some large square plastic containers at Walmart that hold quite a bit and stack well in the freezer. I used to store the seed in ziploc bags in the freezer, till one of the bags split open as I lifted it out, and I spent what seemed like days cleaning seed out of every nook and cranny of that freezer, not to mention what spilled on the floor and went underneath!

And I think I grossed out my adult nephew when he asked what was in some containers in my regular fridge, and I informed him that I had both mealworms and whiteworms in there. Now at least the worms are not sharing the fridge with my dinner.

Never thought about the food saver--that sounds like a good idea.

[diinin]

It's SO fresh, looks and feels fresh.

I only have 6 finches, so we don't go thru seed very fast at all. It will expire before I use it all.....the only thing I'll have to buy for the next year will be the everyday Premium Seed Mix

Some of what you buy is kept for a year? The quality is still decent, and the birds still love it when kept for that long?

I'm going by the expiration dates on the stuff I ordered. I expect that when it starts out that fresh, it can sit around for a lot longer. The soft food is stored in the frig once it's open. I may put some of it in the freezer eventually, but so far haven't seen the need to.

[sierranomad]

Thank you. I'm going to be getting some birds as soon as my aviary is done, and in the meantime am trying to get a plan together on food, etc.

[CandoAviary]

I used to store the seed in ziploc bags in the freezer, till one of the bags split open as I lifted it out, and I spent what seemed like days cleaning seed out of every nook and cranny of that freezer, not to mention what spilled on the floor and went underneath!

Some of my bags split too...even the freezer zip locks so I started recycling my gallon milk jugs and bleach jugs. I wash, rinse and dry.... I have a handy funnel that makes it a snap to fill. It is a scoop and funnel in one. I like the jugs...... free, recycled, and when I am in a hurry I can just pour from the container

[Kathryn]

Seed for us. Birds R Us Gouldian Pro Breeding & Moulting Season Finch Food. Everyone loves it!

[blueribbontoes]

I, too, use and adore the Birds R Us seed blends. In fact, I have to order more this week! I order in bulk and freeze the excess, and still get excellent sprouting results. I feed seed in a dish on the floor of the aviary. The birds also receive Zupreem fruity pellets in a bird feeder. They eat the pellets,and forage for the seeds.