FINCHforum

This summer I've been giving my birds (30 Canaries in a 4' x 12' aviary) about every kind of vegetable matter that I can find. Even peelings and ends of fruits and vegetables from our kitchen. No avocado: I've always read that birds shouldn't get this.

I've thrown garden weeds in there, and they rustle around in the weeds a lot but I'm not sure what all they're actually eating. Dandelion yes, plantain some, grass seed heads yes, pigweed yes, wood sorrel no. I'm not two sure about blades of grass, but I think they pass on that.

Only two human vegetables / fruits were voted down by my birds--Tomato and Cantaloupe. I was surprised by the rejection, because a). Canaries will eat anything and b) they eat other foods with similar textures.

Do other bird species eat these two items?

Dave

My guys have sampled Cantaloupe, but not too keen on it.

I have not offered tomatoes.

I've had one finch that's liked tomotoe it was a female zebra finch

No longer have

My male canary eats both, my female passes.

Tomato should not be given uncooked... too acidic and it can irritate the throat and gut.... cooking it decreases the acid.

Cantaloupe is high in water, sugar and if given use it sparingly... most finches will not eat fruit. Greens (not water filled), sprouted/chitted seed and millet strands, dandelion, wheat grass (avoid yard clippings) can be used. Dandelion and wheat grass can be grown indoors also.