Milled in BULK?

[yourcharmedlife]

I'm burning through tons of millet and its running me around 40-50$ a month from petco with the largest bags they have. I have 8 birds.

Can you suggest a good company to buy in bulk that is affordable?
Thanks!

[lovezebs]

yourcharmedlife

Personally, I would recommend not feeding so much spray millet. I use spray millet, as a treat, and offer more to parents feeding young (along with hard boiled eggs).

My guys eat a good quality finch mix, mixed with extra Canary seed, Budgie seed and wild grass seeds, along wiith eggs and lots of greens. Spray millet, is offered in limited amounts, and never as their full diet.

[Spreckles]

Thanks to my visit with Debbyloo I can! Herman Bros Seed has a EM FINCH mix bulk and Hancock seed has brown millet in bulk. They are out right now but I am going to order from both places. She had a wonderful buffet for her birds and they are really good eaters.

[paul-inAZ]

posting your location in your profile would help in getting an answer.

I buy bulk seed from a farm/feed store for $1 or less per pound. They carry finch, cockatiel, canary and other small bird mixes in any quantity you'd want from a small bag to 50 lb sacks.

[Sally]

yourcharmedlife

Yes, if we knew where you are located, it would help. I used to buy Herman Bros. seed and loved it, but the shipping got to be too much. Now I am in a seed co-op with a few others, so we buy in large quantities. Feed stores are often a good source of seed, just make sure the bags haven't been sitting around for ages. I have friends who get theirs from a feed store in 50# bags. The feed store that I use if I run out carries many different sizes, plus bulk seed.

[Sally]

paul-inAZ

Since you are in Arizona, have you tried any of Bird Product's seed mixes? I recently ordered some birds from there, and the bottom of the shipping box was covered with an interesting seed mix. I would have liked to have cleaned it out and tried some of it on my birds, but the box must have been knocked over at one time, the seed was all wet/damp and so I tossed it.

[paul-inAZ]

Sally:
I have bought seed from Bird Product, AKA Paradise Earth. Good quality.
Quite honestly, I see no particular difference from the seed I get from the Feed Barn in nearby Mesa Az. He has so many exotic birds the seeds you saw could have been for one of them. Their seed prices however are sometimes 2 to 3 times that of the Feed Barn's for finch or canary mix. I haven't bought in 50 lb sacks and those prices could be more reasonable.

That said, David Calvin is the owner and has an impressive aviary that stocks a large variety of small birds including uncommon, even rare birds at fair prices. His birds live in walk-in flights and not little cages. Far better price and bird condition than any of the usual pet store suspects.

He seems to do much of his business at bird fairs or on-line and on site by appointment. A class operation. A good guy to deal with.

[Sally]

paul-inAZ

Yes, I have purchased birds from David several times now, usually going in with another one or two people to save on shipping. I recently got a pair of Red-billed Fires and a pair of Green-backed Twinspots, along with 2 Strawberry hens for another buyer. All birds were in great condition.

[yourcharmedlife]

Thank you all, I am from Colorado.
I am only offering every day because the baby finches are just now fledgings and they prefer the millet. I will reduce amounts here soon.

[Sally]

yourcharmedlife I always offered plenty of spray millet when I had fledglings, as it seemed to be the easiest seed for them to eat. They would also go through a lot of egg food and veggies. Eventually, they started sampling the seed mix, but I kept the spray millet coming till way past weaning.

[yourcharmedlife]

Thank you that is good to know! I have a egg mixed I offer every other day as well, I boil a egg and crush it with regular dry egg and then feed them dandelion leaves, Parsley, Cilantro other days.

[Sally]

I would offer egg food every day, as it is high in protein, which the babies need to grow.

[jonvill]

Jedds Pigeon Supply carries spray millet in 5# and 25#
They are located in Anaheim, California