FINCHforum

Hi Can I take some of the canary seed and grow it for greens?
Also how do you feed the vegetables and what is not good for the birds. I have Zebra's just rescued them and want them to be taken care of properly. Thanks

If they are rescues that weren't in the best of shape, then I'd offer them a big variety--a good finch seed mix, veggies, eggfood, a mineral mix. The veggies can be chopped very fine (I do carrots and broccoli this way), or you can use a clothespin to clip greens to the bars of the cage, near a perch. Kale is one of the best greens, also collards, and many finches like romaine lettuce--no iceberg. From there you can experiment with what they might like. Sliced cucumber is a hit with mine. For eggfood, you can feed a commercial eggfood, but cheaper is just to hardboil an egg, then crush it shell and all. Some birds like it dried out a bit, you can do this by adding a bit of nestling food or handfeeding formula or even enriched yellow cornmeal. For minerals, oystershell grit (best with charcoal added) and a cuttlebone will meet their basic needs.

Kudos for rescueing these birds, please keep us posted on how they do. Oh, as far as growing greens--yes, canary seed can be grown in a pot and offered when it is several inches tall at least--wheat grass works very well for this. But I warn you that they will destroy these greens very quickly.

Thanks so much,,,they were in fairly good condition,,the women is dieing of Cancer and wanted them to have a good home.

How much egg is good pre day?? The Female is laying and sitting. The male was not interested in the eggs I gave them,,but she loved em.
I gave about 1/4 tsp spoon.

Tom

Oh, 1/4 tsp. is not very much at all. I am overly generous with my birds, haven't really measured it, but I would guess it is about 1 Tbs. to start and then up it once you have chicks to all she/he can eat.

I also feed about a tablespoon per pair and up it when the eggs hatch.