Sprouts

[dunker817]

I'll give that brand a try. I'm determined to feed sprouts! LOL.

[lnlovesorange]

Once you figure it out, You'll never go back. My birds LOVE it!!! It took me a bit, the first kind i tried was ABBA, but turns out that is a little to big for my birds. I guess that is made for larger birds. So then I bought (from glamgouldians) her sprouting mix, she hand mixes all the seeds, and they are MUCH smaller and my Gouldians and zebras love it. But birds are goodlike that, whatever they don't want, or dont' like, they just push out the way and eat what they do like!!! LOL, Just to let youknow, I found that with the smaller seed, they took longer to Chit, so right now i have seed soaking yesterday at 3:30 was a full 24 hours under water and no chits... so be patient, it may take a little longer depending on weather temps, humidity things like that, as long as you use something like the Virkon to kill the bacteria you'll be ok! Good luck!

[debbie276]

Example of chitted seed ready to be eaten. Don't let those sprouts get too long

[dunker817]

Thanks for the all the information. I received my Virkon S in the mail today. It doesn't tell what percent of solution to use. I found a site that has a recommendation for the powder but I have the tablets. The directions call for .5%, 1%, 2% solution. Does anyone know which one I should use? Also, Mike Fidler says not to rinse the chits but this stuff smells like a pool chemical. Can I be absolutely sure it won't hurt my finches?

[Leo519]

inlovesorange says she uses the 1% solution of Virkon S, one tablet in two cups water ..

On a side note, KD Water Cleanser says it can be used for soaking seeds. It also has a slightly "bleachy" smell but says it's safe for the birds to drink, etc. Kinda hard to believe right?!
I got it a few weeks ago to use in their bath water and read the directions again a the other day and noticed it says it can be used for sprouting seeds (I have not tried sprouting yet)
So far I have only used KD in their bath water, with no ill effects.

[Sally]

Also, Mike Fidler says not to rinse the chits but this stuff smells like a pool chemical. Can I be absolutely sure it won't hurt my finches?

I use it without rinsing, and I've never had a problem with it. I think it smells sort of like Tang, for those older folks who might remember it (an artificial orange powdered drink).

[dunker817]

Sally, I remember Tang and loved the stuff. But these tablets smell like an over treated pool! I did some searching on the forum last night after my post and discovered I need a 1% solution. So I got that made. Everyone says no rinsing is required so I won't rinse. I am waiting for my first batch of sprouts to sprout. One thing about the tablets is they take a very long time to dissolve. Make the solution a day ahead of time.

[Sally]

I use the powder, which is orange in color, so it might be different than the tablets. The other possibility is that I have had this tub of powder for quite a long time now, as it lasts and lasts!

[dunker817]

I finally got a batch of chitted seeds today. I checked them when I got home from work. I used the Herman brothers regular finch mix. This morning my finches got a dish fool for breakfast. They took it quite well.

[Leo519]

That's awesome you got this batch to chit
Did your Gouldians try it too pretty quickly or are they still in "watch from a
safe distance" mode?

[dunker817]

All the birds have been eating it. I mixed it in with their regular seed last night and will swap it out tomorrow. I figure to mix it in with their seed every day until they are almost entirely on the chitted seed. I hope it's not too rich for them.

[Leo519]

That's great your trial and error paid off and they're all eating it

[debbie276]

I mixed it in with their regular seed last night and will swap it out tomorrow. I figure to mix it in with their seed every day until they are almost entirely on the chitted seed..

They should not have only sprouted seed. You should continue feeding their regular diet with sprouted seed as a supplement.

[dunker817]

I mixed it in with their regular seed last night and will swap it out tomorrow. I figure to mix it in with their seed every day until they are almost entirely on the chitted seed..

They should not have only sprouted seed. You should continue feeding their regular diet with sprouted seed as a supplement.

Oh. Glad I found out. Is there a ratio of seed to sprouts I need to feed?

[Sally]

Sprouts definitely should be a treat, supplemental to their basic diet. I regard sprouts like I do egg food and veggies, something to round out their diet, make it more varied.