FINCHforum

Hello all,

I'm getting up a birdseed and supply order and want opinions on what brand of egg food mix to purchase.

I've heard good things about Skippo (not sure if spelling is correct) and Cede, but I've never used either.

I've been using Quicko and have not been happy with the texture (has large chunks).

If you know of a good brand or a particular variety of a brand (i.e. tropical finch, etc.) that works well, please let me know. I will be using it for budgies, canaries, and (hopefully) soon some gouldians or societies.

Thank you for your time and help!

artgecko - I've used both CeDe and Quiko since 1982. I always mix it with hard boiled egg and sometimes add pulverized freeze dried blood worms. None of my birds seem to like the blood worms - if there are larger, recognizable pieces, they leave them behind. So lately I have gone to mixing the hard boiled egg with regular Quiko and some Quiko Goldy. All my birds love that combination.
Iso

I use Higgins protein egg food. My Javas seem to like it.

http://www.abbaseed.com/Seed_Products/N ... en_92.html
Abba Seed (New Jersey) has an egg food that is popular.

If you're feeding a balanced diet, you may not need a commercial egg food. Balanced means seeds, greens, sunflower chips, mineral mix, and chopped boiled egg. I've raised a lot of birds on just that.

Perhaps add liquid calcium + vitamin D3, two or three times per week prior to egg laying. http://www.morningbirdproducts.com/prod ... mplus.html

artgecko I happen to like Volkman's Gourmet Egg food, but I don't feed it by itself, I mix it into my homemade egg food to dry it out a bit. My birds will leave behind large pieces, so I do grind it up a little in a blender or food processor to make the pieces smaller.

Any of the egg foods mentioned in this thread are probably good, all made by well-known companies.

I also like Skipio's products, I also add these to my homemade mix. I don't feed any egg food just plain by itself.

Thank you all so much for your input!

I typically mix the commercial egg food with boiled egg and shell, crushed spray millet, some calcium D3 and mineral powder, and some kelp powder. I will also add in some shredded (food processed) veggies to the mix as well.

On days that I don't use an egg, I'll do the same mixture, but with just the veggies.

I will investigate some of the types you guys mentioned and see if the sellers I typically use offer them.

Thank you again for your time and help!

Here is a simple idea. If you're using fresh hard boiled eggs anyway, you can skip the processed egg food and just mix in some whole grain corn flour. (I use Bob's Red Mill. It's cheaper on Amazon.) I've also used brown rice flour and ground flaxseed meal. It just depends on what Ive bought for cooking and have extra of. The birds seem to like this just as much, or more, than when I was using Higgin's Proteen egg food. (I found the Higgin's to be ok, but only cost effective in the 20# size. I don't need that large a quantity any more.)

You can mix in any whole grain. Grind it up shells and all in a small food processor if you have one.

Finnie That is a good idea. I had not thought about using my own grains.. Would something like quick oats work?

OK guys, I had another thought. I purchase an organic chicken layer crumble for my feeder colony (insects) and I was wondering fi it would be a good addition for egg food? I know that laying hens need many of the same minerals and nutrients. This is a non-medicated food and I'm assuming it would process (in a food processor) down to a fine size.

I will post a link to one of the products I use below and the ingredients are listed there.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/produ ... lets-40-lb

I've tried layer mash (some call it crumbles) again and again, thinking it would solve all the nutrition problems a Canary could ever run into. But, they would never eat it. Even mixed with foods they liked, it just sat there.

I've tried lots, like Cede the best.

Dave Huh... I'll maybe give it a try and see.. but I'm guessing if yours wouldn't eat it, then mine probably won't either. I wonder if they don't like all the corn in it.

Let us know. I don't think it is just the corn, as I put a teaspoon of corn meal with copped egg, to help dry it out. They eat that up.

I think quick oats processed with the hard boiled eggs would work fine. I have used Purina Flock Raiser crumbles in the past in my egg food. I can't remember which birds liked it or how well. Probably not very well, or I would still be using it.

Cede is the one I use. My guys prefer the canary blend - they won't eat the extra stuff in the finch blend. My parakeets eat it too. None of my guys will eat actual egg. They don't seem to like "wet" foods such as eggs and fruits.