FINCHforum

Hello finch folks,

I have a couple question in regards to feeding plants we find in our yards.

So I live in Northern CA and in my front yard, I have a ton of wild oats (Avena fatua) growing. We do not fertilize or spray any chemicals on our yard, to these are grown naturally by mother nature alone (we don't even water them). I was wondering, does anyone ever collect these to feed to their finches? I have gouldians and I'm wondering if it's okay to feed them these wild oats. Or if they'll even accept it as a food source.

Furthermore, I have a lot of dandelions growing as well. Many flower buds are shooting up. How do y'all feed dandelions? Leaves only? Buds that haven't bloomed? Bloomed flower petals? Leaves that have NOT yet produced a flower stalk? What's the ideal way of feeding finches these plants?

Thanks!

For the dandelion, you may offer the leaves, at any stage. I've never offered the flowers before.

You should try offering the wild oats. I would offer it when it is fresh, young and green. The gouldians may accept it as a food source. Good luck. ;)

I have planted oats before to feed my gouldians. The dandelion I feed the entire plant, leaves and seed heads when they are available.
The birds enjoy it all

I feed a lot of wild grasses that are in the half ripe stage. I'm even cliping the tiny seed heads that come up in the lawn and various native grass seeds growing around our property. I've currently got my eye on a field of wheat nearby waiting on it to get half ripe.
The birds to crazy for all of the various grass seeds.
Have fun !

Thanks y'all! I've tried out the oats, they are attempting to pick at it but seem to have difficulty. The grain and pods are rather large for what they are used to. So it'll take some time to getting accustomed to it.

Free food, yay.

I've been picking all the grass seed heads that I can, the owls are loving it

Ebichua wrote: So I live in Northern CA and in my front yard, I have a ton of wild oats (Avena fatua) growing. We do not fertilize or spray any chemicals on our yard, to these are grown naturally by mother nature alone (we don't even water them).

Just a thought - if your front yard abuts a roadway, I would be worried about your local government entity spraying along the right of way, and some people have even warned of pollution from vehicle exhaust. If you are in a rural area with little traffic and a hands-off county government, it may not be an issue for you.
I have a nice patch of Chasmanthium latifolium in my "hell strip". One reason I planted it there is that it can tolerate the salt and heat from the street, but I haven't fed it to my birds for that reason. I've started a patch in the backyard so I'll give that a try when it goes to seed this summer.

Feed all they want, on the wild oats squeeze the seed head, make sure the seed is formed but will give under finger pressure (milk stage) as for the dandies, you can feed all of the plant even root stock
you can slice the root or chop it up. also, give when the flower has dried and you can see duff (white) just snip off the a good portion of the head, make sure the seed is still in the pod. They love this stuff
lou

Ooo, more tips, thanks y'all.

And no, the government/local authorities here do not spray pesticide amongst our gardens/yards. Hence why these oats and dandelions are even growing in our yard.