Basil

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:02 pm

Hi everybody!
My zebras love basil. I put a little twig of it with a few leaves in the cage and they just go nuts over it. Usually with new foods they are afraid to go near, but not this time. I was unable to locate basil on the safe/unsafe foods list. Does anybody else feed their birds herbs of any kind?

Post by **Hilary** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:24 pm

Haven't tried basil! Some will pick at parsley - that's the only herb I've tried so far.

zookeeper · Post by **zookeeper** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:59 pm

Basil is fine, just don't overdo it.

Most herbs are safe, as a general rule the stronger the flavor/scent the less you should give. The strong smelling & tasting ones may have some chemically active compounds which you wouldn't want to give in excessive amounts to a teeny little finch.

plantsandbirds · Post by **plantsandbirds** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:08 am

I'm glad someone brought this up!

I have a small indoor herb garden and have given my finches some sprigs to nibble on.

They like to carry the sprigs around, dip them in their water dish and toss them out of the cage!

I have given them some dill (their favorite), sweet basil and burgundy basil.

They like mint, cilantro and parsley.

Of course, I give very little sprigs and not every day.

My finches also like the grass hay sold in pet stores for hamsters. I toss some in the cage for them to play with.

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:36 pm

Here is a pic of Bean tearing into a basil leaf. Yummie!

plantsandbirds · Post by **plantsandbirds** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:58 am

Bean has "green basil beak". ha ha

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:59 pm

He definately does have basil beak! This was taken the morning after the basil mauling. The evidence remains.....

plantsandbirds · Post by **plantsandbirds** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:37 am

Aw...he is very cute!

zookeeper · Post by **zookeeper** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:38 pm

He is so handsome with his green lipstick.