FINCHforum

I've searched posts for information, but I can't find anything specific on this. I bought some Sunburst organic raw spirulina powder. I've been sprinkling it on their seed every day now because they are molting heavily. Does anyone know exactly how much I should be giving and how often?

ann

I'm not sure as I haven't used it.

Al I can find so far, is just what your doing "sprinkling it on their food" without any instructions as to how much is enough, and how much might be too much.

Where did you buy yours from?
Here's an article with some information on it, but no amount measurements either. Maybe you can get in touch with the company and get some answers from them.

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/product_spirulina.php

Here's another bit about it through a thread from the Forum...

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... na#p367385

And here is a recipe by one of our forum members (@debbieloo) as to how to make "Birdie Bread" for the kids (which contains spirulina, as well as other goodies).

"I also make "birdie bread" with Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. Here's my recipe:
1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 doz. extra large or jumbo eggs; reserve shells
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. powdered milk
2 or 3 drops of orange extract
1 tbsp. poppy seed
1 tbsp. sesame seed
1 tbsp. chia seed
1/2 tsp. anise seed
1 tsp. dry (not liquid) bird vitamins (I use Prime)
1 tsp. spirulina (dried, powdered green algae stuff)

Prehead oven to 350 degrees F. and grease a 9 x 13 cake pan. Crack the eggs
into a large bowl and beat well with a fork. Stir in the cornbread mix, wheat
germ, powdered milk, orange extract, and seeds. Pour into cake pan and bake
for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely. Meanwhile, rinse the eggshells well
and place on a paper towel in the microwave. Microwave for 3 minutes to
sterilize. Crush to a powder in a food processor. Dump them out onto some
waxed paper or paper towel and combine with the vitamins and spirulina (dried
green algae stuff), and anything else you want to throw in (I sometimes add a
bit of any other supplemental type products I have on hand, such as "feather
fast", bee pollen, etc.) Once the cornbread is cool, slice into sections and
process in the food processor till finely crumbled. Dump it all into a large bowl.
Stir in the ground eggshell mix. Freeze in a large ziplock bag (2 gallon size). To
use, remove the amount you wish to serve, microwave for maybe 15 seconds to
defrost, and serve to your birds. They love this stuff, and it makes great egg
food for them to feed their babies. Mine have raised many clutches on the stuff!
No worry that it will go bad either, like boiled egg. Plus, it smells great cooking.
My husband inevitably comes wandering through the kitchen with his hopes up
for a homebaked dessert....."

Have fun.....

ann

I bought some of this - either that or granulated kelp - but it really doesn't serve any purpose not already met otherwise. I bake it in my corn free egg bread - about 2T for a large batch. When its gone I won't get any more. It's one of those things I bought just sort of off-the-cuff and have since researched, finding it not to be very useful after all.

My finches wont eat it when free fed, but the budgies will eat it in very small quantities. Between their lack of interest in it and the fact that it doesn't add anything significant to their diet there's no real reason to bother with it.

spirulina is way too high in protein for birds... almost 5 times their daily requirement needed. Too much protein taxes the kidneys. plain boiled egg grated and offered for no more than two hours once set down is sufficient. (fresh egg starts to spoil after 2 hours at room temperature. finches require 12% daily.

If using pellets check the protein on the pellets also... typically egg food should only be used when birds are molting or feeding young. They make dried also, if you can't change the fresh egg food out every two hours try the try.

cindy

Hi Cindy, and welcome back.
You've been missed ,