re: New at Feeding Finches

my2sonz · Post by **my2sonz** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:48 pm

Does anyone know if there is a list of good fruits or veggies to feed finches. Also, is there a list of foods NOT to feed finches. ANd whether or not they can be served raw or have to be cooked??

Can anyone explain to me if grit is necessary for finches because there seems to be some controversy surrounding that.

Thanks

Toni

Post by **Sally** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:08 am

At the Finch Information Center, linked at left, there is a whole article on safe and unsafe foods to feed your finches. I do all the veggies and fruits raw, usually just chop them up into smaller pieces.

There is a lot of controversy over gravel or grit. I personally don't use gravel, but I offer all my birds oystershell grit, and they pick at it every day.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:02 am

instead of gravel, which like I dont use, try some beach sand. crushed oyster shell and cuttlefish are great though.

that fruit & veg list is great

my2sonz · Post by **my2sonz** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:34 pm

Sally wrote:At the Finch Information Center, linked at left, there is a whole article on safe and unsafe foods to feed your finches. I do all the veggies and fruits raw, usually just chop them up into smaller pieces.

There is a lot of controversy over gravel or grit. I personally don't use gravel, but I offer all my birds oystershell grit, and they pick at it every day.

Thanks so much for the information. I will certainly read the article and see what I need to get for my finches.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:12 am

Good luck with the fruits. There is not ONE fruit that I am able to get my finches to eat. But the LOVE greens, mealworms, eggfood, corn on the cob , grated carrots and sweet potatoes, oyster shells, miracle meal and they really love charcoal. I make it available all the time.
Oh........ and rice. They love cooked rice.

birdgranna · Post by **birdgranna** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:09 pm

Charcoal? Why? Do you use the kind you buy for BBQ's?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:07 pm

Oh my no! I get it from the pet store. It is good for their digestive system.

Post by **Sally** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:04 am

The one thing you will find is that all these birds are just like kids--they have their own likes and dislikes! Even within species, some will eat one food, where others won't touch it. The only thing to do is keep trying all sorts of things till you figure out what they like. My finches don't like fruit much either, but there are some species that really need fruit, like Lavenders. Of my finches, the Gouldians (natch) are the pickiest eaters, and my Stars will try absolutely everything--they may not like it, but they will at least try it.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:41 am

They say you can introduce a "teacher" bird into the aviary to get finicky birds to learn from watching. I thought societies would be a little ope-minded. Mine won't even eat millet spray. So much for them teaching anything. Maybe I need someone to teach them first.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:01 am

My finches copy each other. i had my 4 white zebra finches in there cage alone and they didnt know what to do with the millet or bath, as soon as i putthem in the flight cage they saw a few finches eating the millet and they look at it for a minute and started to eat it and they learned how to take a bath with the others.

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:37 pm

The charcoal for BQ's has additives that are harmful to birds.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:58 pm

Anything from the Avocado is poisonous.
Paul.

Christopher Smith · Post by **Christopher Smith** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:03 pm

poohbear wrote:Anything from the Avocado is poisonous.
Paul.

Although this is a common belief, I don’t think it’s true of all birds. I have a large avocado tree in my backyard and I see birds eating both the fruit (starlings, crows) and the blossoms (conures).

I’m not saying that it is safe for all birds. I’m just pointing out my observations.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:55 am

I agree with a couple of these posts. Some of my finches eat things that the other won't. Societies are the least picky!

Grit isn't really necessary. I have eat, but don't really feed it to them.

Most of my finches do great on fresh seed, pellets, eggfood, greens, cucumbers and some veges and fruits.