FINCHforum

Its time I got some millet. I will be buying a 5lbs box which do you think is better:
Higgins or California Millet?

Or if you have another brand

Thanks everyone I'm a tad broke since I'm saving up to move so nothing too expensive ;)

Can you ask for a sample or buy a smaller amount first? I've bought millet from several different suppliers/sources. Some, the birds eagerly gobble down - some, they snub their noses at. Doesn't matter how much it costs, just whether it tastes good. Bob

chirpy

Definitely get the California Golden Spray Millet. I order mine off of Abba Seeds website and for the 25lb box it was only about $12 for shipping and it got here in 3 business days. The spray is very large, long stems which make it easy to hang and they don't break very easily. I know people who have tried to order the off brand of California Golden Spray Millet which it says it may have some broken pieces and when they got it, most of the sprays were little pieces and they really couldn't even use it. I think those off brands are sold on Amazon a lot. Good Luck

I like Nemeth Farms. You can get that at Bird Supply of NH and I'm sure lots of other places.

30 Seconds to Bob I had no idea you can get samples.. Sadly I don't have time, I have to go away and I don't think I'll have time to have samples sent here and then decide and then buy a box. Next time though ill do that!

ppg5tu I have bought California millet before and they were monster huge that my finches were scared lol but I also see Higgens and they seem he same price. I guess if they like the California and there was nothing wrong with it ill just get those. I hate those useless ones lol. I hate the tiny pinky thickness ones from the pet shop thy are expensive for what they are!

Martie il google them right now and see ! Thank you!

I felt the California millet sprays were too big and tight so the birds didn't get it all. I have purchased Higgins and found it too small - although it's been some years since I've tried it so it may have changed in the meantime. Nemeth is kind of mid-sized and my birds seemed to take to it a lot better.

Bob's point is excellent. Getting samples and trying them at home with your own birds is the best way to decide what works for you.

Martie that's true California is very tight.. Like bulby clusters. Though thy don't seem to mind it and they can all hang off one since its so fat!
I went to nemeth site and it doesn't say how much a 5lbs is.. Do you happen to know? I shot them an email but I'm curious

I use the Golden Spray Millet, but lately, my finches do not like it much. They used to love it. So, I broke the bank and bought some local millet from the pet store and they ate it all up. LOL. Who knows, maybe they get bored with the same type after a while...

chirpy

Yeah I've never had any issue with the millet size or tightness. We always hang ours in the middle of the cage from the top and the birds love to hang and go at it for long periods of time. I think it really encourages the foraging behavior in our gouldians and shafttails. Not sure what kind of finches you have but ours as well as most of my friends in the area who have finches love this brand. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Chirpy, You're right - it is amazingly full and most people/birds love it. It just didn't work all that well here. Nemeth (Be sure to get their Golden Harvest millet) is in Canada, so you need to buy it from a shop here in the States.

Glamorous Gouldians carries it - and the price is $19.95 for a 5-lb box.

Bird Supply of NH carries it, too - Their price is $21.99 for a 5-lb box. They also offer 1-lb and 1/2 lb bags if you want to try a smaller amount.

Thank you Everyone! It looks as though I have some looking around to do. What I hate (I'm cheapskate lol) I hate paying for shipping over $5... I was looking at some sites and their shipping was $17 for a 5lbs box which was something like $22... I wish I had stores near me that I can buy bulk from!

I buy the 5lbs box of California spray millet(comes in a yellow box) and my gouldians just go gaga for them. My parrot finches pick at it but they are not as crazy for them. They are long and thick clustered, but that's how I like them. I hate the short little ones I get from the pet stores. I get the California millets from Terri's Glam Gouldians website from Brighton, Michigan. The shipping isn't too bad, but that is probably due to the fact I also live in Michigan. I spent like 22 or so for shipping I think but that also including an extra 10lbs worth of her seed mix and soak mix, plus 2lbs worth of ABBA mineral mix, two bundles of coco fibers, and some other misc things.