FINCHforum

I was poking around the Finch Info Center and came across the following blurb under Harmful Foods:

Poultry feeds (chick starter, chicken scratch, etc. grow large amounts of Pseudomonas, E. coli, & Klebsiella)


I raise button quail, and unmedicated layer ration makes up the majority of their diet. Their food is stored in the same closet that my finch foods are stored in (and all the birds live in that room).

This isn't harmful is it? Can someone please explain this idea that layer ration "grows" e. coli? That doesn't seem to make sense, because my quail have been eating it for years and are very healthy.

I have used unmedicated gamebird starter to supply extra protein to my eggfood (read about it on some other forum). I've never had a problem with it.

my finches pick at the quail crumbles all the time, no problems ever

Kate, the problems with the finer poultry foods are that there is so little gap (air) between the particles that they provide an environment for mold growth. The additional moisture then causes bacterial growth which can be harmful. This does not happen that easily with seeds as there is a lot of air around the seeds.

That being said, it all depends on your own condition and storage of the feeds. I feed some chick starter to my quail and doves, I store this in an air tight container which I shake and mix quite often reducing the risk of mold. Like Mickp and Sally I have never had any problems either.