FINCHforum

I have a nice harb garden every year, and part of my current daily routine for the birds is going out and cutting leaves from my various cooking herbs to give to the birds. I haven't found anything about herbs on the 'Safe, Toxic, and Unsafe Foods' page, so my question is this... are there any herbs that should be given in moderation, or not at all? Currently my guys are being offered oregano, sage, parsley, dill, and basil daily, and rosemary and lavender occasionally as they're slower growing plants. My crested society boy LOVES dill, and will pick out the pieces first thing, even if I cut everything up into tiny shreds! I also grab some dandelion leaves from the yard and add them to the mix. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy, poking around my yard with a pair of scissors and a tiny bowl every day!

Kiishka

Hi Kat.
My guys enjoy parsley and dandilion greens, but not sure about the rest. I know that several members feed an 'herb salad', but I'm not sure what's in that mixture, maybe look that up for what it contains.

~Elana~

Kiishka
Kat, I found out that chives aren't good for finches, but haven't read anything negative about the herbs you feed your birds. Lucky birds to have such herb bounty!

Don't worry about what your neighbor thinks. We all, to some extent, do crazy things for love of our birds. My neighbors have seen me harvesting grass seeds in nearby fields. Talking about crazy

Kiishka Not sure about the herbs (never heard anything negative though) but as far as you running around with scissors and a bowl, I just got a nice visual, and it made me literally laugh out loud, so thank you, and like vennparis said, who cares what they think... as long as your birds are happy thats all that matters!!!! And I do give my birds the "herb salad" but i'm not sure exactly what's in it (you know the bird mix makers they never want to tell you everything, as then you will make it and not buy their product!!) but keep us posted if you find anything out!!! Thanks!

And I do give my birds the "herb salad" but i'm not sure exactly what's in it (you know the bird mix makers they never want to tell you everything,

This is the list of things in the herb salad
http://www.twinbeaksaviary.com/chosenherbs.html

and here is what each one does
http://www.twinbeaksaviary.com/herbsalad.html