FINCHforum

Besides the eggfood (wet and dry), soak seed, sprouted seeds and the usual fruits and veggies, I would often give my canaries multigrain bread sprinkled with petamine to feed to their baby chicks. I would use "Oatnut" or "Healthnut" bread by Arnold Bakery.

With my new java babies, I'm wondering if I can do the same. I know that there is a lot of controversy in offering bread due to it's sugar content, but it's always worked well in the past - right into helping out in weaning. Any thoughts? Bob

hi bob,
I have often wondered this as well! Hopefully other forum members can give their opinions.

I have always thought of bread as a filler food and would prefer something with more nutrition like hard boiled egg. Curious also to hear what others think.

I know two people that use bread. One was a vet who has a mixed aviary with parrot finches who feeds it everyday and also from a canary breeder who gives it to young finches as they begin to wean.
The canary breeder swears be it.

I made several batches of various bread this morning and noticed a few fruit flies hanging about the stollen ( has dried fruit in it) I put a slice in for my finches thinking that a meal of fruit flies might be a nice change and the parrot finch pair has already been down to nibble at the bread. I assume its ok?? The PF's are always the first to try out something new. It's always a good sign when somebody likes ones cooking efforts!

I dont have any java's at present but here's what I do .
I find when i add bread ( wholemeal crumb's ) into my egg food mixture it help's to dry up the mix which help's with the feeding . Im away during the day and tend to fill the egg food cup's up for the rearing pair's .
I dont put too much bread into the mix , it is only a filler and does contain some sugar , have never had any breadcrumb's left when I go to top up the feed in the afternoon .
When I first started to keep and breed finche's I used much more bread in the mix but figured out fairly quickly that it's a poor substitute for good feeding and reduced it to a minimum just enough to dry the mix for my way of feeding .
Regards , Mick M.

Ive given my birds bread before. I mixed multigrain bread (one with the seeds) in with egg food, to dry it out a few times. My birds ate it up.

My birds get a slice of whole wheat bread in the aviary every evening. I soak the bread in water and they love it!! I have heard that it was good for me, but weather it is or not, they look forward to that treat each evening!

I honestly think it's a great idea, but not as much ..i consider bread as being "junk food " but not and then is fine

My javas are not interested in bread, only Bonnie, my female zebra is nuts about bread but only when it is fresh. I have also noticed that bread goes off very quickly in UK and also ferments easily so I am reluctant in giving it to Bonnie while she is feeding the chick. In normal conditions I am only giving it to her as an addition, only to spoil her once a week or so.

I've never given my finches bread however I did used to give my parrot pieces of toast every now and again as a treat. I like the sound of giving them whole grain bread so will give if a try and see what happens

Thank you all so much for all the input! I think I can safely assume that a quarter of a slice of a "healthy" multigrain bread every couple of days is fine as a supplement to help feed the chicks. The brand I'm using has sugar way down in the list of ingredients and does not contain any high fructose corn syrup.
I sprinkled a piece with the petamine this morning, placed it in the cage, and the parents went right for it. If it's the same as with the canaries, they will only eat it while it remains soft and fresh - maybe two or three hours. I don't believe they will "overdo it" with the bread as long as I provide the egg food and other rearing foods. Thanks again. Bob

Bob , I also used to give some bread to my Cockatiel's when they were rearing chick's , half slice slightly dampened , they took it right away when offered .
Quick question ; What exactly is Petamine , what does it contain , who make's it ?
Regard's , Mick M.

Mick,

Petamine is a high protein breeding and conditioning supplement that has been available in the US for nearly 60 years. It is mainly a powder with some seeds in it. I believe they may have recently stopped making it, but you can still find it online and at a few small family pet shops. When all else failed to bring birds into breeding condition, you could almost always rely on Petamine. It is also good to strengthen chicks. It has the unmistakable smell of black licorice. Here are the ingredients. Bob

Ground Yellow Corn, Canary Grass Seed, Rape Seed, Casein, Flax Seed, Nyjer Seed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Soy Protein Concentrate, Calcium Carbonate, Wheat Germ Meal, Lettuce Seed, Soybean Meal, Ground Anise Seed, Vegetable Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Steel Cut Oat Groats, Poppy Seed, Cod Liver Oil, Iodized Salt, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Sesame Seed, Pyridoxine, Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, di-Alpha tocopheryl Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), Zinc Oxide, Cholecalciferol(Source of Vitamin D3), Manganous Oxide,Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfate (Source of Vitamin K), Biotin, Folic-Acid, Vitamin B 12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplemet, Niacin Supplement

Guaranteed Analysis:


Crude Protein (min) 21.0%
Crude Fat (min) 13.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 8.0%
Moisture (max) 11.0%

Bob .
Thank's for going to the trouble to reply with such detail
Quite an amount of ingredient's in this product .
I have come across a product called Breedmax , a canary buddy swear's by it .
Will look into it more and see if it compare's well with Petamine , may start using it .
Thank's again .
Regards , Mick M.