FINCHforum

Has any of you ever fed fresh and half-ripe ("green") proso millet to your birds? I wonder where I could get that here in Georgia. (I just learned that they plant it here as crops! I should be able to get it then you would think...)

When I had canaries as a kid (in Austria) my pet store had "green" proso millet at certain times (I believe in early summer). The canaries went wild over it and I am wondering now if I can get it here as well. I guess I could also try to plant it myself but I'm not a very successful gardener...

Do you have any idea where I could get that?

You can grow your own millet in a small raised bed or planter in your yard. Where I dump my seed I also get a lot of free sprouts that take root. The birds do love it

What you show in the pictures is the spray millet, not proso millet...

But you are right, I should try growing it in planters... I am just so bad with gardening (and to be honest, too lazy, especially when it's hot outside... )

Just found this: http://www.wildlifeseeds.com/info/doveproso.html

Unfortunately they are selling bags in 40 and 50 pound quantity. That's a lot of millet seed for my birdies.

Check out this link someone posted a while back http://www.ebirdseed.com/page/EB/CTGY/white_millet

I posted that ebird place, I buy the hulled millet for weaning my young but that is not suitable for planting.
Here is a place you can order small quanities from
http://www.abseed.com/graphics/seedlist/prices.pdf

But really all you have to do is plant some of the proso millet from your own seed or wildbird seed. Cheap and easy to obtain.

I have grown all kinds of millets and some things to remmember is it likes well drained soil but not coarse, sandy soil. Acidic soil does not hamper it too much. The Miracle mix labled vegatables and flowers that can be purchased at Lowe's would be a suitable soil to plant them in. Also plant it fairly thick as the grasses will fall over without the support of the other plants. Warning, millets tops ripen before the bottom so seed continually drops. Your wildbirds will most likely beat you to the seed...... unless you cover with netting. I am sure you could bring it indoors to your sunroom aviary once it begans to head....but remember it needs much sun to grow. Have fun and I am sure your birds will enjoy

Ursula,

We have a few local seed vendors here in Georgia - who do you buy your seed from now?

Thanks so much for all the information, Candace!! That's actually a good idea to bring the entire pot into the aviary once it starts having seeds! We have tons of birds outside and they would have a feast. Well, maybe I can grow a pot just for them too... I'll try that soil that you were recommending.

Misty, I don't have a local dealer I buy seeds from. (I only get my cage litter for the parrotlets and spray millet from Fancy Feathers.) Lately I bought seed from various sources online.

Where do you get yours?