What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
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- Pip
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What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
A care site on breeding Parsons Finch suggests feeding half ripe seeding grasses but I don't know what that is. Can someone explain?
These are some of the ones they list:
African Veldt panic grass & oats, summer & winter grass, clover, barnyard grass, Guinea grass, Newcastle grass, milk thistle and shepherds purse
...don't know about those either.
These are some of the ones they list:
African Veldt panic grass & oats, summer & winter grass, clover, barnyard grass, Guinea grass, Newcastle grass, milk thistle and shepherds purse
...don't know about those either.
Have a pair of Parsons finch, female pair of canaries, pair of button quail, and pair of diamond doves. Also two large dogs, rabbit, and cornsnake.
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Re: What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
Parsons
If I had to guess, I'd say that they're talking about seed heads that are still green, so before the seed is hardened or ready to germinate. You can probably only get seeding grasses that are still green if they grow in your area (so you would harvest them and feed them to your birds before they dried out).
If I had to guess, I'd say that they're talking about seed heads that are still green, so before the seed is hardened or ready to germinate. You can probably only get seeding grasses that are still green if they grow in your area (so you would harvest them and feed them to your birds before they dried out).
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- Pip
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Re: What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
Hmm.. well that stinks. I live in the Sonoran desert and nothing is growing in this heat other than the cactii.
I wonder if there are any alternatives or a way to get something similar.
Thanks for the reply.

I wonder if there are any alternatives or a way to get something similar.
Thanks for the reply.
Have a pair of Parsons finch, female pair of canaries, pair of button quail, and pair of diamond doves. Also two large dogs, rabbit, and cornsnake.
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Re: What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
Parsons
You're welcome. Since you live somewhere dry, you could probably germinate some of the finch seed without it getting mouldy; it won't be adult seeding grass, but it should still be quite nutritious.
You're welcome. Since you live somewhere dry, you could probably germinate some of the finch seed without it getting mouldy; it won't be adult seeding grass, but it should still be quite nutritious.
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Re: What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
I've grown these once in a while. This is not the time of year to try growing anything in AZ but come mid to end of Sept. will be the time to begin. Once the heat is ebbing all you'll need is regular watering. Depending on your location you can get successive crops all winter.
Try planting some of your birds' seed mix or millet. I suppose you could try the exotic grasses you mentioned if you can find the seeds. Just scratch the seeds into the dirt and water. Some will germinate and grow to produce sprays of seeds. Harvest when the sprays show green seeds.
Try planting some of your birds' seed mix or millet. I suppose you could try the exotic grasses you mentioned if you can find the seeds. Just scratch the seeds into the dirt and water. Some will germinate and grow to produce sprays of seeds. Harvest when the sprays show green seeds.
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- Pip
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Re: What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
thank you, paul
I will try that come September.
I will try that come September.
Have a pair of Parsons finch, female pair of canaries, pair of button quail, and pair of diamond doves. Also two large dogs, rabbit, and cornsnake.
- MariusStegmann
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Re: What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
It is mostly called seed in the milk. With other words, the seed is already formed, but is still soft. In the milk seed is a great favourite of all finches.
Marius

- Fernando
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Re: What is meant by "half ripe seeding grasses"?
It is very easy to sow the seeds and harvest them three months later. My birds enjoy them.