Canary eating issue +

[Louys]

My young canary is picking only the niger seeds from the mix and will not touch any other seed. He/she eats cooked eggs and some veggies as well, so he is eating pretty well.... I think.

I don't know what to do with all the leftover seed. I tried to give some to my Gouldian, but he is not interested (he mainly goes for millet, no veggies or eggs...... another challenge to deal with)

Should I buy niger seeds for my canary and use very little of the canary seed mix or should I insist on giving the mix? BTW the mix was given to me by the breeder.

Also, I was at the pet store today..... no niger seeds. Can I give my canary niger seeds sold for the wild birds?..... I have three feeders in my backyard.

Thanks

[Sally]

Be careful with offering too many niger seeds. The black seeds are oily and can lead to a bird getting fat if they eat too much of them. You could try just offering plain canary seed without the niger. Yes, I think the niger sold for wild birds would be OK, but again, moderation is the key.

[Louys]

Thanks Sally. He eats a lot of eggs( actually only yolks).... isn't that fattening as well. He/she is very young though.

[Dave]

Usually canaries will eat anything and everything. I once offered 12 different foods, all in separate dishes. Even the seeds were separated by type. The canaries hopped from dish to dish to dish, taking something from each.

Like Sally says, if your bird eats mostly niger and eggs, then it will get fatty liver disease and won't live as long. You may have to ration the favored food.

Greens should help, canaries usually tear into greens.

Some free-flying time will help, too. I don't know if it is the exercise or the excitement of being out of the cage, but good things happen when a bird gets some free-flying.

[lovezebs]

Louys

Agree with Sally and Dave, too many fatty seed, lead to a fat, unhealthy bird.

My guys (Canaries, finches, and Budgies, all eat a a mixture of Canary, Finch, Budgie seed mixes (all mixed together ) and are all happy and healthy.

I would definitely not offer only one kind of seed. That would create an unhealthy imbalance. I would offer a healthy mix, and leave it for a bit. When he gets hungry, he will sample some of the other seeds as well.

Reg. only eating egg yolks (that's not good either). I put my hard boiled eggs through a large garlic press to make a mixture of both white and yolks.

As to your picky Gouldian, offer your eggs and veggies first in the mornings. Leave it for a while before offering seeds and millets. Eventually, he will try some.

[Louys]

A lot of helpful information...... Will work on them....thank you.

[lovezebs]

Louys

You're most welcome.