FINCHforum

Hey all.....
So my finch parents rather eat the guinea pigs food than egg food.... Sigh!!! I have tried everything from mixing seed in the egg food to not putting seed in the cage, all that I have left is taking seed out all together for 24 hours, which I won't do with the babies around.... frustrating, its like my daughter all over again!!!

It wont be easy at this stage with the hatchlings around. Since its their instinct not feed anything they have not tried before in case it might be toxic.

Actually they should learn it before they breed and with the hatchling around i dont think its advisable to put in a trainer bird.

Hopefully, someone would have a better advice for you. All the best.

How did they get started w guinea pig food?

But as was mentioned, don't change their food while they have chicks. They may toss because they think there isn't enough food for them and the chicks.

This is similar to the situation I have right now. I have a pair of zebras that did not feed their chicks much of egg, miracle meal and pellets, and one of their hatchlings died, and I almost lost the other 2. Seems that they decided that they did not want to eat what they used to eat. I finally had to give them seeds, which they eat. Since then, they have not touched the miracle meal, which they used to scarf down, and they eat the egg at less than half the rate that they did before.

IOW you give them what they will eat, to keep the chicks alive. Then convert their diet when the chicks are weaned and separated.

I formulated an egg food, took a recipe I got off the internet and then changed the recipe a bit, I have been giving it to them since about a week after they arrived, and they would really touch it, so I mixed some seeds in and they just picked out the seeds, funny lately I have been noticing its been disappearing so they have decided that its not so bad But they still like the guinea pig food... My daughter has 2 from school at the bottom of the cage, they get mainly fresh food, but mixed with the pellets and special guinea pig dried fruit and veg... So my zebbies love something in the mix!!! I also think they are eating the ants at the bottom of the cage!!!

Lauravdm wrote:I formulated an egg food, took a recipe I got off the internet and then changed the recipe a bit, I have been giving it to them since about a week after they arrived, and they would really touch it, so I mixed some seeds in and they just picked out the seeds, funny lately I have been noticing its been disappearing so they have decided that its not so bad But they still like the guinea pig food... My daughter has 2 from school at the bottom of the cage, they get mainly fresh food, but mixed with the pellets and special guinea pig dried fruit and veg... So my zebbies love something in the mix!!! I also think they are eating the ants at the bottom of the cage!!!

I know that this is off topic, but guinea pigs should not have any dried fruit or veggies because it is full of sugars that can lead to weight problems in the future. Also, they need a plain pellet, no seed or anything, just pellets. However, they need fresh veggies every single day. I have three sows in a C&C cage.

Brittany...
Its a special food for Guinea Pigs, that I bought from the pet shop and it suppose to be very good for them... But I will keep and eye on the weight, but it doesn't have any added sugars or salt... Also The guinea pigs do only get pellets and fresh food no seed... so I have no idea why my birds love it so much

Laura, I don't have much more to add re the feeding. Finches eat what they want out of whats avail.
HOWEVER I feel I must add that you stand to have your fledglings eaten by the Guineas if they land of the floor. GP's won't think twice about eating a baby bird / adult if they can snatch it fast enough. Seen it myself with lovebirds and guineas housed in an aviary together.
Preferably seperate them.

Have you tried placing some egg food in the guinea pig food... doesn't hurt to try maybe when they will go and have some of the guinea pig food they can taste the egg food and they get use to it then. Once they have accepted the egg food slowly start removing the guinea pig food.

Monique.... Well all my babies decided to take a flying leap at me today!!!
But my husband has requested we get rid of the GP, as they were given to us and they are killing his grass and he is not happy about it... So I think I will give them to my pet shop!!!

Shame poor little Guineas. It would be for the best if you cannot keep them seperated. My husband adores GP's and used to breed them. They do keep the lawn rather short though

How are all your babies doing?