FINCHforum

Hi: What is the latest opinion or experience on feeding ripe figs to finches? I searched this site and know that some consider them poisonous and others feed them when they are in season. My tree is filled with these fruit and if they're good for the birds, I'd like to feed them. There is a little white sap that I would naturally avoid, but the fruit itself is very nice. Do you cook them? Does the variety of fig matter? Thanks for any thoughts you might share.

Some species of finch eat figs, like parrot finches. Others may not as most are seed eaters or grass eaters. If you want to try figs, just cut one and put a small piece in the cage. I would not give it to them daily, but as a treat sometimes.

I don't see the harm in trying. Just offer the flesh and not the skin.

Please let us know what your birds think of it. We have a fig tree that should hopefully produce fruit this year

Well, I tried it. Removed the skin and stems, providing only the ripe fruit and exposing the flesh/seeds. They checked it out, turned up their beaks, and went back to the romaine lettuce. Oh well.

More for me to eat...

What shall I try next...

Like Rox said, it does no harm to try it out. I feed overripe pear to my parrot finches. I tried giving the ripe fruit, but they don't go for that. It must be on the overripe side.

Keep trying. They may refuse it at first, but then finally give it a try and like it.

Lol, birds can be incredibly suspicious of new food. Keep trying and maybe they will learn to like it.

I think I will definitely give it a try if our tree bares fruit this year

I know the Parrot finches love figs. I'd suspect that the Gouldian would be less keen on fruit as they are primarily seed eating. The ripe figs stimulate Peales PF to breed, if I recall correctly.
None of my PF were interested in fig. They like paw paw and corn on the cob the most followed by cucumber.

So I guess they didn't like them! lol. Good to know that you could possibly give them. Isn't it amazing how they can have such a varied diet? I think so.

Confession time:

One of the things I enjoy doing is going to the bulk grain section of Whole Foods to buy an ounce of this and an ounce of that, just to see how the birds respond to the seeds or grains. Some of those are super expensive and the cashier always looks at me oddly, because all I have is a couple of tablespoons of the product. In some cases, I'm sure the plastic bag weighs more than the seeds...

Some of the seeds will sprout (like chia), others are unlikely candidates ~ but I'll try them out anyway.

I have a fig tree in my aviary. On purpose I will leave some figs for the finches. Never had any problems. Some finches will show interest but others not. They prefer them nice over ripe before they take it. Eventually only the dry skin hanging there.
Try it!!!!!

Thanks for the advice. I was concerned about it going "bad", so didn't leave it to the point where they were over ripe. Will try it again, but leave it longer this time... Who knows ~ perhaps some insects will be attracted by the scent of figs and fall prey...

finchick
I do the same thing! LOL. I get about one cup and give a little to each finch cage/flight. If they eat it, I buy more next time. So far, they love the oats!