SEEDS

[tonysr09]

What are the better quality seed mixes out on the market today for zebs? I currently use Premium Canary and Finch and Twin Peaks herb salad. They also seem to like canned mealworms.



Tony

[Finch Fry]

I personally think any seed mix that states "complete diet" is a good mix of finch seed.

Make sure to offer millet spray and eggfood with shell daily, or at least during the breeding season. Aside from that, some multi vitamins, cuttlebone, and random veggies and mineral suppliments now and again should be all you need.

Sorry for running off the topic of seeds, but you mentioned mealworms so it seems like you might only be offering seeds and mealworms, which could be problematic.

[ac12]

One thing to watch for.
MANY of the commercial mixes at PetSmart and similar stores have pellets and other stuff in them. My zebras would eat "maybe" half of it (the white seeds), leaving the pellets and dark seeds behind. I end up wasting half the seed mix. Try different brands to see which ones your finches eat the most of.

Millet is like drugs, they seem to go nuts over it. So don't overdo it or they may not eat the other seeds.

Here is the feeding section of the FIC
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/index.php

gud luk

[tonysr09]

Harrison's offers a mash (ground up ) product for finches. Is the Lafeber's the same consistency or more like small pellets if so does this make andy difference. Didn't find a pellet type for Kaytee.


Tony

[FinchDegg]

just to add, a friend of mine gave me a little ground up oyster shell, they went nuts for it, devouring it asap, givin me a reason to order some lastnight ... 2kg bag for 5 GBP here (and free postage which makes a change )

[B CAMP]

I use the little finger trays and mix crushed oyster shell,charcoal and have in each cage ,some cages had to put in larger container cause they eat so much

[Nagdabit]

Lafeber's is very similar to Harrison's, maybe even a finer consistency from what I remember. We've used both in the past and our guys didn't really seem to bother with either all that much. Wow, meal worms? Our guys wouldn't have anything to do with them as well. Sounds like your guys are getting a fairly well rounded diet. I'd definitely look to include an egg food of some sort, along with crushed egg shell or a very finely ground oyster shell. Never tried the charcoal, gonna have to look into that.

[tonysr09]

Lafeber's is very similar to Harrison's, maybe even a finer consistency from what I remember. We've used both in the past and our guys didn't really seem to bother with either all that much. Wow, meal worms? Our guys wouldn't have anything to do with them as well. Sounds like your guys are getting a fairly well rounded diet. I'd definitely look to include an egg food of some sort, along with crushed egg shell or a very finely ground oyster shell. Never tried the charcoal, gonna have to look into that.

What do you find your birds? Brands would be helpful.

[tonysr09]

Off topic: When I preview posts my signature is there but when I submit I isn't there. Duh?


Tony

[Nagdabit]

While we do recycle egg shells from our own personal usage, our guys consume more than we use, so we supplement our supply with the Hatched! egg shell product, which we purchase from Tiffany. As for egg food, there are several quality brands out there. I've heard good things about Quicko but we've always used the Cede brand. Mostly because it's what the store we frequent sells, but our guys really do like it and newly introduced birds seem to warm up to it pretty quickly.

[cindy]

I serve seed, ABBA92 egg food mixed with ground Roudybush pellet, Miracle meal, Orlux fruit pate and hatched egg shell.

I also serve Herb Salad on the side.

I get my fruit pate, Miracle meal, hatched, and Herb Salad from Tiffany.

The Roudybush I ordered nibbles but now I am going to get the small rods from Petsmart since I grind it anyway.

The ABBA92 egg food I order from Red Bird Products.

I also serve in a seaprate cup a mix of ground oyster shells with shaved cuttle bone and mineral block. I also hang a cuttle bone.

I tried the Lafeber finch pellet, they did not eat them...I found grinding the Roudybush they eat it if mixed.

[tonysr09]

Nagdabit ran across Hatched curing web search. The site I ran across also talked about over feeding calcium which could be as bad as to little. Have you heard this? And is Tiffany a person? Have also picked up some Quiko I'll see how they like it.
I will also try the Lafeber for finch and see how they like that too. Will cut back on the seed and see what happens.

Cindy the only Roudybush I could find out this way is the berry bush for larger birds. I do use the herb salad. I actually got that from the person I bought the birds from who swore by it and they seem to like it too. I do have cuttle bone in the cage which they like.

I did try making a soft egg mix which came out OK I guess but they never even went by it hence the Quiko I hope they like it. Most of you have so many birds with what I have this food is going to last awhile.

Thank you both for the info it has helped a lot.

[Sally]

Tony, I don't know how far you are from Marine City, MI, but hermanbros/seed.com has an excellent selection of seed, both bulk and mixes. I used to use them, but shipping was killing me, and now my bird club has a deal with Hagen, so that is the best deal for me (my birds seem to really like their basic finch mix, too). If you aren't too far, shipping might not be too bad, and you can order small quantities. IMO, the main thing with feeding our finches is to offer as big a variety as possible, so that seed is not making up the bulk of their diet. Adding veggies and eggfood is so good for them.

Yes, I have read that you can overdo the calcium, but I think this becomes a problem mostly when you force-feed the calcium, as in putting liquid in their water. When you just make it available free choice in the form of cuttlebone, oystershell, etc., I really don't believe they will eat enough to harm them.

And Tiffany is one of the forum members--nixity--and also an online vendor.

[CandoAviary]

I have ABBA seed sent from New Jersey.I get SEED, mineral grit, cuttle bone, eggfoods, nest, nesting material, water bottles, cage banks, some meds they carry tons of stuff...here is there site
http://www.abbaseed.com/Seed_Products/s ... ducts.html

This company is where I get much of the other seeds,eggfoods, greens, fruits
http://www.foryourbird.com/

Medications and suppliments I buy from here
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/

Once you find a product/name brand you like you can google that name and find distributors near you. Or for comparison shopping, pricing and shiiping cost to your area.
There are some members on here that sell products....look at the bottom of their post and you will see their web sites.

Happy shopping.

[tonysr09]

Sally, thanks for the site suggestion. I know shipping costs are really out there. Not that I buy a lot of seed and such, but there are times I don't buy the things I want because shipping at times almost doubles the cost. I'll check out Herman Bros.

On the positive side I have put Quiko's Egg Food and Lafeber's premium diet for finch and they are eating both. Have put the seed into two smaller cylinder seed dispensers so seed is available but not as much so as the others which are in larger dishes Herb Salad included. So far so good. What is Tiffany's site?

What are the seeds that would be good for finches if I were to buy them separately then mix?