FINCHforum

Well how do you know you are hopelessly obsessed with your finches??
You actually buy dandelion leaves from the grocery store, at $3.49 a bunch! Still can't believe I did that!

Like Liz mentioned in another thread, we have had a lot of snow here in western Canada, so it killed off the lovely crop of dandelions in our apartment complex, even though the snow melted, it's too cold still for the dandelions to come up yet. So when I found them in the organic section of my local IGA, I couldn't resist. Hopefully it won't be too long before I can just go out to the yard and pick my own for free again.

Yep, I know Fran. I bought Dandelion greens for my parrots too - over and over and they wouldn't even eat them. They prefer Kale.

How do you treat the dandelions (for parasites, etc.) when you pick them for the yard? Thanks!

I haven't heard of 'treating' dandelions (or any other weeds) for parasites. If there's a bug on it - I would just shake it off. You could wash the greens (like you do with lettuce). And of course you do have to know that your yard is pesticide-free.

I always soak any greens from my yard in a bucket of water overnight.

Then I rinse well and feed away.

Got to admit that I just rinse them off in a bit of water and vinegar, then shake dry, and cut into tiny pieces. Mine like them and kale, but just nibble at it, don't go crazy like my societies used to. But the babies definitely liked the greens better than the parents.

Well, now I have a good use for all those crazy dandelions that seem to pop up out of nowhere! THANKS ALL!

All my birds have loved the dandelions I have picked for them....too bad I couldn't just let them out to "graze" the yard...hehe!

never thought about feeding them to my finches, my bearded dragon loves them though

When harvesting dandelions for the green leaves, make sure to pick them before they flower because flowering makes the green parts bitter. If the flowers are already there, just pick the flowers and offer those in all stages of development. If the flower is already closed just slice them open and the birds will eat the seeds inside.

Don't feel bad Franny. I buy them myself and they have the flowers on them as well. Most of my birds love them except my RH Gould female, she doesn't try much of anything. My husband and I eat them and anything else I give the birds so I don't feel bad

Renee

Do zebra's like dandelion leaves. Just asking cause I have one huge patch at the end of the yard. And because we have a well, as well as a lake we don't use any pesticides. Might as well put them to good use.

So much snow that it killed off the dandelions I'm glad I am in Florida....... cucumbers vines blooming as we speak
I am glad you still find a way to pamper your birds

CandoAviary wrote:So much snow that it killed off the dandelions I'm glad I am in Florida....... cucumbers vines blooming as we speak
I am glad you still find a way to pamper your birds

OK, not fair to rub it in! Anyway, the snow is gone, and it was a warm day today (19C), and there's a wonderful crop of dandelions in the yard again.

As solobirdlover said in another thread, we've had unusually sunny weather here on the wet coast. Not quite to Florida standards, but pretty good for up north.

Never tried it with the Zebras but the bunnies sure do love dandelion greens. Actually there aren't too many things that the bunnies don't like.