Which vegetables to feed finches and carrots are bad?

[finchbob]

http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/safe_toxi ... _foods.php

The information in the link above stats that carrots are among the vegetables which are not good to feed your birds, is this true? Some websites even some dried carrot supplements for birds so I find that a bit strange.

I recently bought a dehydrator and plan to make my own vegetable mix for my finches. I'm going to buy vegetables, slice them into tiny tiny pieces in an electric chopper and then dehydrate them so they can be stored for months in an air tight container, and fed to the birds reguarly.

Now, anyone have any recommendations on which vegetables I should add to this mix? I have gouldians, masked grass finches, hecks, cherries, bichenos, zebras and societies. The vegetable mix would be fed to all of them.

Carrot was one of my choices, but i'm not so sure now after what i read in the above article. I think broccoli, sprouts and cabbage would be good to add, what else?

[debbie276]

I would give the birds the greens of the carrots and eat the carrot myself. Article also has broccoli and cabbage showing up several times. Everything in moderation. Guess that's why they are seed eaters and not vegetable eaters.
I wonder if dehydrating them would make the food too hard for them to want to eat? Have you tried feeding them dehydrated food before? I'd be very interested in how they like it dehydrated, please be sure to post a follow up.

[lovemyfinch]

I feed my finches grated carrots, I beleive that the FIC states that they can be given in moderation as with most vegetables. I find that mine eat what they need and leave what they don't. I don't beleive that they would eat enough to hurt themselves as long as they have a variety.

[ac12]

I have been giving mine chopped carrots. Not every day, but maybe every other day. Not all will eat carrots.

http://www.finchniche.com/f-finchfood.mgi

[CandoAviary]

I don't feed my finches carrots but I do feed the tops. Like Debbie says, I eat the carrots myself. I have found that it is one of the crops that I can grow year round here and be able to offer it fresh. The parrot finches are the ones that eat them mostly. The goulds and zebras don't eat to much of any type greens.

[Finch Fry]

I feed carrots (the orange part) daily, some eat it, some dont. Never had an issue.

[mickp]

if you want your gouldians to eat green food let the plants go to seed and then make that part of the plant available (the seed head)

[batuhan]

Hi All,
In generally birds ,more generally finches are seed,greens and espicially during breeding season insects eaters.
the birds eat seeds,greens-tree buds,fruits etc. in their wild life..
some specialists do not recommend to give the finches parsley,spanich and wheat.
but except wheat,I give all kind of greens-vegetables,some kind of fruits such as apple,fig,berries,wild fruits,wildlings,wide variety of seeds,and some insects and always fresh water
AND of course full of LOVE....to my birds
(Do not FORGET please,sunlight very very very important for the birds)
The question is :which vegetables to feed finches and carrots are bad ?
The answer is : The best and easiest way is :follow the nature:what do birds eat in nature ?
and : what do experts-specialists recommend ?

batuhan

[mickp]

there are so many experts/specialists when it comes to birds that the idea of asking is daunting and also in my opinion a waste of time. I believe that you are much better of to ask questions of people who have been breeding birds for a while. have found that these people dont try to confuse you by using big words and have learnt by trial and error over a period of years. whereas the so called expert has probably been to university for a couple of years & read a few books.
I know which one I would trust.
in the area I live in I am lucky enough to know people who have been breeding finches for between 30 & 60 years. the oldest member of the finch club I am a member of has been breeding birds for 60 years (he is 80 now) and he has a 5 acre block of land covered with aviaries another member has just become a qualified avian vet at the age of 74 and he says all it really taught him was how things work under the birds skin