FINCHforum

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?

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

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.

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.

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

Bean has "green basil beak". ha ha

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

Aw...he is very cute!

He is so handsome with his green lipstick.