FINCHforum

Is it OK to just put a hard-boiled egg in a food processor and feed it to them like that plain?? Or should I add other stuff to it? I have a gouldian that has some head feathers missing, and someone said that egg is really good for it.

Boiled egg is an eggcellent ;) source of protein and should be offered several times a week, daily if they are raising chicks. Include the shell in the mix for the calcium it provides. Give them a tablespoon of eggfood at a time as it spoils quickly.

Gouldians require more iodine than most finch species, so get some liquid kelp and add that to your bird's water.

Thanks,

Your the best

If you get the Gouldian started right away on the kelp, the feathers should grow back with the next moult. I bought a bald Gould hen back in Dec. 05. Immediately started her on kelp, within three months she had molted and regained all her missing head feathers.


Also, With ten birds you could offer two-three tablespoons of eggfood at a time. Just remove it after a few of hours.

Cool thanks

You can play with the eggfood if you want, or just serve the mashed egg/eggshell. Some people add chopped veggies, spirulina, commercial eggfood, wheat germ - you name it! I usually play a little with mine.

Hilary

I finally found out that my birds will eat the stuff if I put carrots in with it in the food processor. I end up having a ton left over because it hardly looks as though it's been touched. If you want some, I'll drop it off for you. Just let me know.

I've just had success with some varieties of egg-food for my gang. I tried the suggestion of adding a little wheat germ and did a variety with some chopped spinach and one with a dab of honey.

I put the different varieties in an inverted container lid and every one is hopping around trying the yummies!

you can also buy mineral blocks which are a pinkish colour and they are full of iodine

ken

Thanks Ken! Those mineral blocks are a good idea!

i sometimes grind mine up and spinkle the stuff over the seed so that they have to ingest some of it

ken

How do you go about mashing the egg shell, and how small must the pieces be before they are OK to give to your birds?

Keith

I use a little coffee bean grinder which makes the egg shell into a fine powder. I've also mashed it with a fork or rollong pin into small pieces which some will eat that way.

I place the shells in a zip lock freezer bag and use a rolling pin to mash them into tiny pieces.

Coffee grinder sounds like a good idea. I'll have to try that. I've been using a mortar and pestle. Just be sure to dry the shell by nuking it for a minute or so in the microwave and then leave it out for a bit to dry even more.