I see how it is guys, Romaine over Kale huh.

[chirpy]

My finchies used to go absolutely BONKERS over kale. Like seriously, they apparently needed kale, would "die with out it thank you very much witch lady with the hands that intrude in our space.."
I was at the supermarket (cant' find organic so i wash VERY WELL) for kale and it was limp and looking sad so I read that romaine is fine.. so i opted for that. They devoured it, picking at it all day...

Saw Kale, and very fresh! the next time around gave it to them.. they are like... " WHY... did you change it to this hard stuff?"

Now I have both I gave them - both romaine and kale.. they won't touch the kale anymore - well hardly! is this how it is..? I have read that Kale should be given from time to time not always so romaine is fine to stick by to put in their cage daily? they dont' seem to like other things - broc they are OK with.

[dcompt]

Yes. Mine would bargain away their eyeballs for romaine. The only thing that comes close to it for them is corn.

[chirpy]

dcompt OMG corn same here!!! they go CORN CORN CORN! but I dont know how 'safe' it is for them.. it gives me tummy upsets! so I dont let them have it for long ... whats your intake on corn?

So i got a little little handful of zupreem from the petshop I went to today (first time) and they hve a dispenser a nice selection and zupreem (colored) was there so instead of buying a big bag I got some of that (like 50c worth LOL) they seem to enjoy it FOR NOW.

[Musetta]

I can't get mine interested in corn or peas or carrots. They do love Romaine...although at least half of it gets spirited away to their nests. And oh my gosh BROCCOLI! But only if I take the sprouts off the top and serve those to them without the stems. Broccoli is the only thing they will polish off in a serving. It will be interesting to see what the RCCBs and OCWBs like.

[dcompt]

I think corn is ok for them - a lot of people on here give it. I do it maybe once a week if I have it. Recently I bought some fresh ears on sale, whacked them into smaller pieces - harder than it sounded with my pathetic kitchen knives - and tossed it in the freezer. Now their corn treats are mostly dependent on when I think to thaw it. If I have mixed veggies, they get it in that too, but they love to gnaw on the real thing.

[chirpy]

Musetta they LOVE it.. to the point Mcfatty fat Roseanne will stand on top of it and almost shoo Rocksteady away like its a mountain! and they somehow roll it all over the cage as well.. I need to find a way to mount it or so they cant.. OH a dish might help! duh! do you give broc fresh or boiled, steamed?

@dcompt Yes I should freeze some while they are in season.. though there are always the frozen ones.. hmm.. LOL my knives are crappy... my husband goes to culinary school I should use him.. he also wants a butcher knife but i dont know they are scary!

[Perfex]

Mine love kale, we grow it throughout the winter and were still picking it 3 weeks ago until the bugs took over. Now I'm feeding Swiss Chard (silverbeet is what we called it in NZ) they love that too. I have lots of PF's and they eat everything. Even the oversized zucchini from the garden. They are great for teaching other birds to be adventurous.

[cindy]

I get the bags of chopped kale mine love it, add grated carrot and it is even better. Mine always love romaine!!!

[30 Seconds to Bob]

I grow kale (amongst several other veggies) to offer to my birds. Kale is one of the simplest things to grow and is naturally resistant to pests and disease. One kale plant in a three gallon pot will feed my birds for a year. I just pick a leaf or two when I need them. Collard greens - the same way. Bob

[chirpy]

Perfex hmm I have never given them swiss chard before.. I wonder if I can find it at the grocery store..?? I never honestly looked! Do you give zucchini fresh..? i guess when you heat it up it turns into mush! what about eggplant? since you can give them cucumber, zucchini... hmm i never read that you cant.. not that i will since i dont know!

@cindy is grated carrot, with a cheese grater or those very fine ones you would use to grate chocolate with ----- like fine shavings.

@"30 Seconds to Bob" I love the look of kale in a garden aren't they so pretty!!! my friend had them but she rooted them all out, are they very easy togrow? well now they wont really eat it since Romaine came to the scene... well i like kale anyway so i might!

[cindy]

Chirpy, that type of grater is what I use!! Perfect for little bites!!

[chirpy]

cindy LOL i was using a cheese grater and im like.. THIS IS .. HUGE for them!
then today I remembered in my husband knife kit (he goes to culinary school right now) he has those fine graters.. DOI! I will use it on them tomorrow! maybe that will encourage them to eat it rather than HUGE big shavings..
have you ever given them cheese?

[Musetta]

I have given mine cheese. They ate it/made a mess with it. I use fresh (raw, uncooked, straight out of the fridge) broccoli. We have an Asian market right around the corner from us that sells small heads of broccoli, so I don't waste it when I buy it. They actually sell lots of veggies for super-cheap, but I don't like going there by myself because it is always really crowded.

[chirpy]

Musetta I read that you could so I gave them some chihuahua cheese I always have some because my daughter loves it and my husband is half mexican and needs it... I dont like cheese lol its not processed as much as most cheeses so I thought itd be ok and they actually LOVED it.. its funny that birds eat cheese! -- well to me anyway!

Oh, I know what the asian markets are like. I am Japanese.. and I KNOW THAT SCENE they just run over you and there is so much yelling involved LOL like 'whaaaa-atttt!" I feel like I am So in the way!

[Musetta]

ME TOO! Constant basket-dodging! Husband goes there all the time bc he loves to cook Asian food and of course he loves the prices. And crowds don't bother him. He just went today but I was off with the fairies and didn't think to ask for more broccoli! Maybe next time...