FINCHforum

I see that some people feed their little birds hay - not sure if they heat it or if it's only for nesting...

If they do eat it, wondering if this would hurt them. I don't think my horse will miss a cube or two

http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/forages/ ... enutrition

Appreciate any advice.

jmc

Not sure about others but I only give hay for nest material not to eat.

Same here. I line my breeding cages with hay, partly so they can use some of it for nesting material, partly for a soft cushion in case of falling/tossed babies, but also I see them foraging in it for seed heads. Since the hay is baled fresh and the cubes are processed, I don't think they would have any use for them.

Not trying to go off topic but what kind of hay? Timothy? Alfalfa? Can you use any hay?

Having experience feeding both finches and horses I would not offer those cubes to my birds. I agree about hay for nesting use or to line cage bottoms but not as a source of food. The only food item that I use for both is whole oats or oat groats. My cockatiels, bourkes, parakeets and some larger finches love them.

Dayna wrote: Not trying to go off topic but what kind of hay? Timothy? Alfalfa? Can you use any hay?

Dayna, since I have lots of breeding cages, I buy a bale of hay, which lasts me a long time. What I used last year was a mix of timothy, brome, and orchard grass. That is not the type hay that is normally available here, we normally only have coastal bermuda or alfalfa. I loved that mix to use as bedding, it was softer than other hay, so I hope I can find it this year. In your area, you probably have timothy, so I would think that would work.