FINCHforum

So soaked seed is served wet and by itself? I'm confused. I thought bacteria would begin to grow on wet food.

Soaked seed is rinsed well before serving and I allow it to drain on paper towel to remove a lot of the moisture. It will spoil so you want to offer it in small amount that will be readily consumed or removed after an hour or so....depending on the temperature. (I have outdoor nd hot indoor aviaries here in FL)
It can be mised with eggfood, fruits, veggies, or served alone.
Also offering it in a shallow single layer is safer than a deep dish serving. This way the seed is exposed to the air better and most likely will dry out before spoiling.

I've always left mine all day and I do not have any problems with it.
I do offer it in a shallow terra cotta dish spread out along the dish, and it is always dry by the time I get home - so this probably has something to do with why I don't have problems.
Not to mention I rinse my seeds in Sparkle + Water, and Sparkle prevents these sorts of things from developing in the water.

I know individuals who do not use anything other than fresh water, too, though, and do not have problems.
I don't strain mine out on paper towels - just rinse and strain them in a coffee strainer, shake out as much water as possible, put them in a tuppeware dish and pop them in the fridge until use.
They are damp when served

star, you will notice that everyone has a different method of doing things, not that any one way is better than another, it's just what works for that person. My soak seed mixture is allowed to soak for 24 hours--pm to pm--then rinsed in a wire strainer and left to drain all night. The next morning, I mix the soaked seed into my eggfood mixture, it is placed in little terracotta dishes and left in the cages all day. It tends to really dry out, so maybe that is why it stays OK.