the things we do!!!

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:14 am

I spent hours today collecting seeding grass for my birds,Filled half a chest freezer full for the coming months.Wont my other half get a surprise next time she opens it to find it half full off frozen grass!!Its ironic that I keep grass finches but am allergic to grass.Boy am I suffering now.Pass another tissue please.The things we do for this hobby we love.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:05 am

Good on ya, Gomer! I've got to get my act in gear this weekend and grab bunches too before the winter claims it all. We've already had our first snowfall!

Thanks for the reminder and for the tip of freezing them. I didn't know that either.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:43 pm

Huh?....What???

I am going to show my ignorant side here and ask what are you talking about. What is seeding grass? I wanna go pick some now too....point me in the right direction!

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:49 pm

Seeding grass.....the clue is in the words

i.e. grass wot is seedin'

Finches love wild grass seed when it's green...thats what they live on in the wild...just make sure you don't collect any where people walk their dogs,or close to traffic fumes.

phoebefinch · Post by **phoebefinch** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:08 pm

poohbear wrote:...just make sure you don't collect any where people walk their dogs,or close to traffic fumes.

or where pesticides might have been sprayed!

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:48 pm

check out this site for some good info.http://www.finchsociety.org/fsa/grass/grass.htm
This probably wont have grasses in your country but will give you some good info.Usually abundant in spring.but different types seed alot of the year.I have a 12m x 18m Area i planted with native grass.Also planted in aviaries some nest in them some strip the leaves for nesting.this year I am reaping the benefit's,I still collect some out and about for variety.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:23 pm

Gomer....thanks so much for the helpful website! I have it bookmarked and half-read already.

The pictures are just what I needed to know what you are talking about. It looks like we have many of those grasses around here. The only thing I was picking this summer was some hay seed and dandelions.

Can't wait to go grass picking! $\:D/$

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:09 am

a few months ago I was out collecting pampas grass heads for the birds, they love using the seeds as nest lining. have to get more soon as they are ready. another car pulled over and the driver gave me a lecture on taking a plant that is considered a noxious weed here, when I said it was for my birds he changed his tune quick smart and began getting some for himself. been wondering what his parrots thought of it

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:35 am

mickp wrote:when I said it was for my birds he changed his tune quick smart and began getting some for himself. been wondering what his parrots thought of it

Something else new - you give Pampas grass to your parrots? Do they eat the seeds? I have a few parrots and never knew they might like any grasses??

What kind of parrots do you have?

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:49 am

when I had budgies they used to eat a little of the seeds but the finches love it as a nest liner, some prefer it over feathers

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:47 am

I will need to do the same thing this season. Last season I got by with what I had growing at home, but I have more aviaries now. I will leave it a couple of months until the green panic is in full swing before I fill my freezer. My wife would toss anything bird related out of the freezer if she spotted it, so I have my own freezer headed out into the shed for this purpose shortly.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:04 am

sounds like you will need a few solar panels on the shed roof soon Matt,
plus tv and beer fridge in the shed

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:18 am

Beer fridge is no good it gets filled with meal worms.Liz I don't think pampas would be any good for parrots.finches use it as a supplement for feathers.Although I'm shore the would enjoy ripping them apart.pitty the person cleaning up though.parrots like many seeding plants.Especially apple seeds they will eat them before the apple as i'm sure your aware off.they love rose buds as well.newzealand spinich seeding.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:48 am

I thought apple seeds were poison for birds?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:56 am

Yep - I make sure to remove any / all seeds from pieces of apple when giving them to my parrots as I'd heard the seeds contained small amounts of arsenic.