Cando's mineral mix

[CandoAviary]

I made up a bunch of fresh mineral suppliment today to dish out to all the birds and thought I'd share my recipe.....

First I start with my indestructable grinder and ingredients.

And some baked egg shells that I recycle from my breakfast and all the boiled eggs I feed the birds.

grind for 10 seconds

Start Mix

Poor in ABBA mineral grit

grind smaller...10 seconds

Add to mix

Add charcoal to mix.... if it was coarse I would grind to fine size

Add sea salt and minerals

Add mineral powder (morning bird)to the mix

Recycle broken cuttle bones

Grind to a coarse powder...10 seconds

Add to mix

I added hatch brand eggshells because I didn't have enough of my own

Stirred

And served.... I think they liked

[L in Ontario]

Looks yummy to me too! Nicely done!

[MLaRue]

What kind of grinder is that Candace - I can't tell from the picture.
I've been using my normal food chopper but sure my husband would like it back Yours seems to have no problem grinding!

[CandoAviary]

It's the Ultimate chopper. 750 watts... as strong as many of the large food processors. I have had this one for years and it has held up well...even though I grind oyster shells in it
http://www.ultimatechopper.com/
I bought it to make homemade peanut butter..and pistachio butter in.... but now is used exclusively for the birds

[cindy]

I do basically the same thing but don't include the egg shells. The birds love it!

[lovemyfinch]

Thanks for the recipe Candace, I actually have all of that on hand. One bowl will be a lot less work than 6

[CandoAviary]

Thanks for the recipe Candace, I actually have all of that on hand. One bowl will be a lot less work than 6

That's why I do it...a lot less work
Plus you can also tweek the recipe to include diatomaceous dirt for a natural wormer, include a powdered vitamin suppliment, or whatever else your birds may need.

One note I would like to make is to always have a calcium mix without charcoal because if you are having to medicate your birds the charcoal could make the medications ineffetive.... mush like removing charcoal from a fish tank while medicating, the charcoal absords the meds.

[annague]

Utterly cool and helpful.

Candace, please put in book KEEPING BIRDS CANDACE'S WAY.

I will have to find some of the ingredients but this is exactly the sort of thing I want to know about being a real newbie with the finches.

Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!

[FeatherHarp]

This is so nice of you to post step by step photos of your method. I am printing this out and adding it to my notebook.

[MLaRue]

For those mixing your own mixes - Candace you might want to tell them how much you are using of what - especially something like the Sea Salt....

[CandoAviary]

For those mixing your own mixes - Candace you might want to tell them how much you are using of what - especially something like the Sea Salt....

I never measure I just blend by sight...that's why I added more eggshell at the end. Also the recipe is constantly tweeking depending on if I have breeding, growing, molting, or resting birds.

When it comes to salt I think it would depend on what other foods you are feeding. Many pellets and mixes have salt already in them, so read your bags to see. This ABBA mineral mix does contain some salt already...so it is advisable to know how much salt content is in those other products. (electrolytes also) The amount will vary with what people are feeding.
I have never seen a study on the needs of salt and finches, just some swear by it others warn against it.... so for me it's a guestament.... My birds do good with a little bit of salt and minerals. I like the mediterranean sea salt for them and for me. But too much salt is not a good thing for animall or human alike.
Just tell that to a cow at a salt lick will you I know the wild birds were drawn to the salt licks in the field at a brama cattle ranch I use to live on.... It sort of stuck in my head that birds like salt.

[Sally]

I do pretty much the same thing, except that I don't use sea salt, and I also add plain oyster shell that I buy at the feed store. It's usually sold there to feed to chickens, etc., and much cheaper than getting it in small boxes. The rest is the same--Abba mineral mix, eggshells, charcoal, M.B. trace mineral powder, cuttlebone. I used to buy eggshells from a website that sold dried mealworms, etc., for feeding bluebirds, but they stopped carrying the eggshells. When I make my eggfood, I grind up the eggs shell and all, so I need another source for inexpensive eggshells. I love the 'Hatched' eggshells, I use them to top off the mineral mix.

[MLaRue]

This is a good thought for others - Candace and Sally do you use any liquid calcium supplements in the water?

Roy uses "sea salt" too in his mix -

http://www.efinch.com/grit/grit.htm

[Sally]

I used to use a liquid calcium supplement on a regular basis, but I don't do that any more--I feel like supplements in the water are forced on the birds, where with the mineral mix, they pick and choose what they want. However, when they are breeding, I may add liquid calcium no more than once a week, especially to those that are laying a lot of eggs.

[CandoAviary]

Candace and Sally do you use any liquid calcium supplements in the water?

I sometimes use calciboost or calcium plus if I have an egg bound hen, applied directly to the beak. Though with the mineral grit that I mix, calcium rich greens, and good space for the birds to condition their muscles, I rarely have an eggbinding problem. Thank goodness