FINCHforum

OK questions for you all
I am curious to see the responses here.

1) How many of you mix your own seed blends? And for what birds

2) Do any of you give seed in separate dishes and let the birds pick what they want example: (canary seed in its own dish, red millet in its own dish, white prosso in its own dish, etc, etc)

3) How many of you just buy commercial seed

I buy a mixed from a store that mixes their own blend for finches.

All of the above? I mostly use the commercial seed blends, but I also buy some individual types. These I generally mix in with the commercial brands to thin out the ratio of stuff in the mixes they don't like. I have read here that sometimes birds will avoid a kind of seed at one time of the year and eat it at another, but that hasn't been my experience. What they don't like, they don't like, and that's that in their opinion. I have also just ordered a "house blend" from one of the online finch suppliers that sounds like it might be a mix they will readily take to.

I would prefer commercial mixes without pellets, but they are less common. I feed pellets, but do it separately. They seem to eat them better if they are in a treat dish than if they are mixed with seed. Maybe they think it's bound to be better if it's in a little dish

I have societies, who are greedy little pigs, and not too fussy, except for the few things they have made it quite clear they Do Not Want.

Hi Dee,

I buy a large bag of exotic finch seed blend, when I go to the local bird shows. I notice the nutritional values seem to be higher than the commercial seed at a store. The finches seem to prefer it, because they eat more of the seed and leave less waste/uneaten seeds. I also buy a large bag of millet. I serve the seed in one container and the millet in the next. When I give them eggs, egg shells, or greens, I put that in a separate container as well.

I buy large bags of premium seed blends but also offer some of the specialty mixes and various supplements in individual dishes.

I buy a commercial finch seed mixture that does not contain pellets. Normally, the only other seeds they would get would be spray millet or sprouted seed. Then of course they get veggies, eggfood, eggbread, etc., but these I consider supplements.

I used to mix my own seed blend then was forced to buy an expensive premium blend (only thing I could find in bulk before I went on a trip) and it has a lot of what I was adding, so then I went out and found a plainer seed mix and mix the two together to make it last longer. I feed sprouted seed/ hard boiled egg in a separate dish, otherwise everything is in same dishes. My neighbor feeds her gazillion options in a gazillion little dishes.

I buy a premium blend from ladygouldian.com. Just seed, no pellets.

dcompt wrote: I feed pellets, but do it separately. They seem to eat them better if they are in a treat dish than if they are mixed with seed. Maybe they think it's bound to be better if it's in a little dish

That's too funny. Just yesterday I noticed the same thing in my birds. I had been mixing Lafeber's into their seed and it seemed I was finding it all still in the dishes when I emptied them. What a waste of money! I decided to offer it separately and now I see them chowing down on it. I think you're right - if it's in a little cup they think it must be good stuff!
When I get over the shock of the shipping charges (which basically costs as much or more than the seed), I intend to offer a few select seeds to supplement the basic canary/millet mix that is the bulk of their seed consumption. I am curious to see what they eat when they have options, so I will offer the added seed separately to see how it goes.

Thanks for the responses

For me I have been buying store bought seed, but also mixing my own. Mainly for when my gouldians are in breeding mode.

I have been thinking about mixing my own blends for my birds because I am really tired of the waste. Especially from my Firefinches.

They prefer the smaller millets, especially the red millets. I have had them empty an entire seed feeder just to get the seeds they want, leaving a huge messy pile of uneaten seed on the bottom of the cage
Waste of $.

I was wanting to put out several little dishes of seed to gauge how much of what seed they consume. Then make the blends accordingly.
Yes, I know diet fluctuates throughout the season. But that can be adjusted during that time.
Im going through so much seed, and most of it is wasted uneaten seed. Its very frustrating.

I dont buy seed mixes with pellets in either. I find that a waste of money, and those pellets are rock hard.

I am going to be mixing my own blend.
The breeder that I used to buy my blend from is no longer in business. And the mix that I was substituting, they don't eat about a third of it, all the dark seeds.

Hi Dee,
I buy my seed off the internet from a recognised bird seed supplier who apparently mix theor own blends. I dont seem to get a great deal of waste and they sont seem to favour any particular seed. The blend also has added vitamins and minerals.

I alos give them red millet sprays every day whcih they eat with huge gusto Perhaps I gove them too much millet so they dont eat the other seeds?????? Hmmmmmmm now you have me thinking......

Not sure I would have the confidence to mix my own blend or the patience to research it all and test different blends on the birds. All too complicated and time consuming for me (too knackered after work ha ha ok so I'm too lazy ).

I buy a premium seed and a basic, "no frills" seed and mix the two together equally. For the canaries and the javas, I also offer extra hemp and oat groats once or twice a week. During breeding season, I do soak seed, sprouted seeds and egg food. Bob

I buy finch seed mix, parakeet seed mix, soak seed mix and siskin/goldfinch mix, all from ABBA seeds. I use that for years now and am very happy with it. I don't have much wasted seed.

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

Question for those that have waxbills, especially the RB Firefinches, What seed blend do you give them?

I have had it up to here with the wasted seed. I just filled their feeder, only to find that they dumped it all on the cage bottom. Thats about 2-3 cups of seed wasted

I need to think of something quick.