FINCHforum

SPROUT AND FRUIT FLIES SUCCESS!
The fruit flies are propagating, and the Cordon's eat at least 100/day, the little piggies.
The sprouts - I just am harvesting this first crop. SUPER easy - I used the Victorio 4-Tray Kitchen Seed Sprouter from Amazon. In less than 3 days - seeds to yummy spouts! (now someone PLEASE tell my birds they are yummy!)

Looks yummy to me!

"Hey birds, give it a try, sure is yummy"

That looks good!! I am sprouting here to!!! Whole lentils and quinoa. I have done pigeon mix also!!!

Sunbay; I have that 4 tray sprouter (bought it at a thrift store). I only use one tray at a time; I see you're sprouting from all 4. I should try that; I could just freeze what was too much for my birds. Usually 1 tray is sufficient for a day. mmmmm you've got me thinking.

you can refrigerate sprouts for up to three days, freeze the rest.

They'll learn to love them. Give them time.
My out door aviary finches have fruit flies. I use half a skinned pineapple in a dish inside of a very small cage. There's a constant supply for my BBFires who are nest building.

Paradise Aviary wrote: Sunbay how are you cultivating the fruit flies ? And are they the wingless type ?

Hi, There are various internet resources for cultivating and raising Fruit Flies. (these are D. Hydei, a little larger than the D. Melanogaster. They DO have wings, but they are useless - they do not fly.

I will dump some live ones in ziplock bag, and place in the freezer for a minute or 2. Stuns them, and slows them down.

OR - I buy the "Fruit Flies Only", put the whole thing in the freezer (last delivery they arrived all dead due to the heat), and dump them out several times per day. The birds don't seem to care if they are fresh or frozen.
Those that eat them: Cordons, Forbes, Societies, Gouldians occasionally, Owls and the Blue Dacnis. But the Cordons have it all over everyone else!

Here is where I get mine:
http://www.buyfruitflies.com/shop_culturekit.html

I think the sprouts went a day too long - got a new batch started, will pull them at 36-48 hours this time.
Having fun with this.

Trying to grow my own wheat grass too. I think I have too many seeds in the mason jar - smells yucky. Will dump those and start again. Not for sprouts, but to grow it into grass - put in small planters in each aviary/cage.

Lauren to plant soak the wheat grass here is something from sproutpeople.com

http://sproutpeople.org/wheatgrass.html

there is a guide on their site for just about anything you can sprout and grow!!!