What's in your seed blend?

[cindy]

Nancy, I am most interested in seeing how the birds like the brown top. I am going to take before and after pictures of the dishes of seed...we can get a good idea what they like the most. Bet they all kick back and loosen their belts after snacking on the new seed you are bringing!!!!

[Foosa101]

Me too!

[Chichireeo]

This thread is really getting interesting now! With all this talk of growing fresh seeds. It seems not a fair comparison between two seeds if one is much fresher than the other, and depending on the source and the processing they used and how long it's been sitting around.

I tried zooming in on my green singer with binoculars but his beak movement at the seed cup is too fast for me to see what seed he is eating.

Nancy, I searched online for browntop millet but all I could find were agricultural links. Can you direct me to where I can buy some for my bird?

Sometimes I see seeds being sold for gardening. But I don't know if they are safe for birds to eat, as they may have been chemically treated?

Another question about growing millet (which I am going to try next summer!) - is there a problem of wild birds eating it all up?

[Foosa101]

This thread is really getting interesting now! With all this talk of growing fresh seeds. It seems not a fair comparison between two seeds if one is much fresher than the other, and depending on the source and the processing they used and how long it's been sitting around.

I tried zooming in on my green singer with binoculars but his beak movement at the seed cup is too fast for me to see what seed he is eating.

Nancy, I searched online for browntop millet but all I could find were agricultural links. Can you direct me to where I can buy some for my bird?

Sometimes I see seeds being sold for gardening. But I don't know if they are safe for birds to eat, as they may have been chemically treated?

Another question about growing millet (which I am going to try next summer!) - is there a problem of wild birds eating it all up?

You can purchase farm fresh millets from where I work (www.hancockseed.com) as we are the actual growers and producers of it along with many other seed varieties but you could also try your local farm and feed store but I cannot say if they have been treated or not but that will save you on shipping.

As for growing millet and wild birds.....if you seed it THEY WILL COME!! But, in all honesty, they will not be detrimental to your crop as millets germinate very quickly (under ideal conditions 3-4 days with moisture) and the Browntop matures in 65 days. Cut seed heads when the stalk is brown as well as the seeds. You can determine if the seeds are mature by lightly shaking the stalk and seed shatters. Plant when the nightly temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees and after the last possible chance of frost. In southern climates we say it is best to plant after April 15th.

[cindy]

Nancy, it was very nice to meet you. Thank you for the seed, I can't wait to try it out on my birds....the owls will be the true test!

On the way home we went a different way then we came, it is beautiful where you are!

[Foosa101]

It was a pleasure to meet you and your hubby and thank you for coming all the way out here. Glad you enjoyed the trip and I hope the rain didn't catch you.

Bill really likes the Societies, as do I, and the males song - he as far to say that he wanted it as his ringtone for his phone. He's such a goof.

Hope you have two have a wonderful evening!

[cindy]

Glad the societies are going to have a nice home with you and Bill. I think the male's song would make a great ringtone!!! LOL!!

Nancy, where you work and live in such a beautiful area. It reminds me very much of the countryside and rolling hills of up north. It is hard to believe it is part of the same county I live in. Our area is flat and built out, yours has green hill and lots of trees, houses spread out.

I was so very nice to meet both you and Bill. Thank you again for the seed. I put the three different seeds (dove pros millet, Brown top, Japenese) in separate dishes for the owls...they all took turns in each dish, tails in the air.

The zebras, shaft tail, GSingers and lavendars got a mixed small bowl....I don't think the Black Cheek zebras left the bowl since I put it in their cage. The Green singers went right to it. The only thing I would add is a dish of red millet and and one of the large off white millet (like in parakeet seed). I'll update you tomorrow as to what is eaten.

[cindy]

So far the zebras eat it all...the domestic owl cage like the Japenese millets the most then the Brown Top, the dove proso was touched but not much. The flight with domestic and imported at the Japenese and Brown top at about the same amount then the dove proso was eaten in an amount more than the other flight but not as much as the first two types. Owls all went back in forth eating pellets and seed all night.

My BC zebras finished it in one night, this moring they were given divided dog dishes and the young and parents are in the seed section most, pellets on the other side, pellets are nibbled on first and last...seed in between.

The green singers like pellets but did eat the Japenes millet most. And it is a darker seed.

[Foosa101]

This is a quick post but I will post more later.

I am glad to hear they are liking it and, you know, the Dove Proso is supposed to be the birds favorite choice but not my birds and obviously not yours either. Japanese and the Browntop are the top favorites. I am still waiting on my Red Millet and German Foxtail to come in then we can see how those work. Also, I forgot to give you the oats, soybeans, and peredovic sunflowers that mixed and chopped - they were in the front seat of the car on the floor board , but that was more for like a treat anyway. I'll get it to you when I get the other varieties in.

Here's something funny for you. The societies got me this morning!! You know how my original pair of Gouldians are back in the nest, and I know there are eggs in the but she hasn't started incubating yet, however, this morning when I was still half asleep, I heard the male society singing his little tune.....and I woke up thinking "I HAVE BABIES!!!"....then I woke up and came to my senses.

[cindy]

Funny....the societies are early risers...the male loves to sing!! Don't worry, something tells me you will have little ones very soon!!!

Not to worry about the other seed, I can either come see you, meet you next time you have a Wesley Chapel PetSmart run or we can UPS it.

[Foosa101]

Sounds good to me. I just put the aforementioned 3-way blend in my RH flight to see what their opinion was of it. So, I'll let you know if it is even worth it. Also, I wanted to tell you that the long strands of coconut fiber that you gave me was a hit with my RH male. I took a small amount and cut it in half and placed it on the bottom of the cage...within one minute he had one in his mouth and took it to the nest, came back got two pieces and repeat, then he came back again got four pieces....and had some trouble getting to the nest. He was struggling with all that additional weight. Determined little guy! I wasn't able to wait around to see how many he tried to carry after that....I am hoping he figured out that multiple trips with just a couple of strands is a lot easier that one trip with the whole wad between his beak. If not, he is going to be one buff little finch..power flyer

[cindy]

I am glad they like the coco fiber, if you need more do let me know, I will bring more when I see you next.

[Foosa101]

I didn't put a lot in there b/c I have read that they will get so busy building that they will cover the eggs. So, I am going to hold off on adding more...just wanted to see if he liked it and it was very obvious that he did. Thank you!

[cindy]

Nancy...I have been feeding the 3 seed blended with pellets on the side...this is what is happening....it all disappears!!!! the seed is eaten along with the pellets.

The zebras love it as do the owls. I can't wait to get the red millet and the other seed you are sending.

Now the Lavendars have ABBA seed they came with when I adopted them...I gave them a bowl of ABBA, a bowl of pellets, and a bowl of the dove porso, Japenese Millet, and brown top millet mixed...well they ate pellets and the 3 blended seeds, nothing but hulls left. The ABBA seed was not touched.

[Foosa101]

Glad to hear they are loving it! I mixed a huge batch of everything and tried to take pictures of each of the individual seeds but they pictures weren't that great but I will try again this evening. The Red Millet and the German Foxtail should be arriving Monday or Tuesday and then I think we will be set. At least for now. I still want to experiment with other seeds.

Also, if anyone in the U.S (sorry but there's a lot of additional paperwork that cost $$$ to export outside of the country) would like to try a sample of this I will ship it to you for free - just PM me with you physical address. I can ship it Wednesday of next week. I am not trying to promote business or make money off of this...I am just try to help everyone out.