FINCHforum

I am making up a veggie platter for my finches and would like to know if giving, warmed, shelled edamame (soybeans) mashed is ok maybe twice a week. I would like to add it to the shaved broccoli, romaine and shredded carrots or mix it with couscous.

cindy wrote:I am making up a veggie platter for my finches and would like to know if giving, warmed, shelled edamame (soybeans) mashed is ok maybe twice a week. I would like to add it to the shaved broccoli, romaine and shredded carrots or mix it with couscous.

Not sure about that, but I had a good question to arise this weekend.
Does couscous have any nutritional value???

dfcauley wrote: Not sure about that, but I had a good question to arise this weekend.
Does couscous have any nutritional value???

It's not nutritionally void - but you do have to feed a whole grain version - not just plain white cous cous.

It actually has a decent amount of protein, and also contains necessary elements like calcium, phosphorous, etc.. not as much as other foods, but it's not just empty calories like, say, white bread

Tiffany...the second part of your response was that in regards to the edamame. My veggie eating reptiles ate this in combination with other veggies years ago. They did very well on it. When I brought my pair of uromastyx lizards in for the store owner and their vet to look at they said that they looked extremely healthy, good color and the body weight was great.

I offered the edamame mashed along side of a veggie mix this morning. I used a 1/2 a teaspoon per bowl, I am curious in a few hours to see who ate what.

No sorry - I was just replying about the CousCous - I don't know anything about Edamame :\

Well, I fed the finches the veggie mix with about a 1/2 tsp of crushed soybeans on the side. The ones that ate them are the Black cheeked zebras, the owls and the green singers. The Green singers ate almost all of the veggies also.

nixity wrote:

dfcauley wrote: Not sure about that, but I had a good question to arise this weekend.
Does couscous have any nutritional value???

It's not nutritionally void - but you do have to feed a whole grain version - not just plain white cous cous.

It actually has a decent amount of protein, and also contains necessary elements like calcium, phosphorous, etc.. not as much as other foods, but it's not just empty calories like, say, white bread

Really?

The original plain kind has 8 grams of Protein - less than seed no? But full of carbohydrates 46 grams and has 5 mg of salt - I guess I just don't see the purpose of feeding it? I don't have a box of the whole grain version just the plain kind.

cindy wrote:Tiffany...the second part of your response was that in regards to the edamame. My veggie eating reptiles ate this in combination with other veggies years ago. They did very well on it. When I brought my pair of uromastyx lizards in for the store owner and their vet to look at they said that they looked extremely healthy, good color and the body weight was great.

I offered the edamame mashed along side of a veggie mix this morning. I used a 1/2 a teaspoon per bowl, I am curious in a few hours to see who ate what.

I'm curious too

MLaRue wrote: Really?

The original plain kind has 8 grams of Protein - less than seed no? But full of carbohydrates 46 grams and has 5 mg of salt - I guess I just don't see the purpose of feeding it? I don't have a box of the whole grain version just the plain kind.

The whole wheat actually has 1 gram less of protein - 7g, but it has fewer carbs and no salt, and I'm not sure exactly how the 7g translates into protein percentage.

The salt on your package might(?) reference the seasoning packet included, which I obviously never use if I'm cooking for the birds.

The average proso millet is 12% protein - but I'm not sure how 12% compares to 7g when you're talking about comparing the nutrition of the couscous vs the seed.

I wouldn't/don't feed it solely as a food source (or offer it frequently, either), more like as a treat
Like spray millet

I just pulled out my bag and it has 13g of protein, 5g of fiber, 3% calcium and 14% iron.. This is based on a 100g portion.

lovemyfinch wrote:I just pulled out my bag and it has 13g of protein, 5g of fiber, 3% calcium and 14% iron.. This is based on a 100g portion.

Are you talking about proso millet or couscous?

nixity wrote:

lovemyfinch wrote:I just pulled out my bag and it has 13g of protein, 5g of fiber, 3% calcium and 14% iron.. This is based on a 100g portion.

Are you talking about proso millet or couscous?

Sorry, I was talking about couscous.

Oh okay - I'm not certain how many grams (total) a box of the Far East brand I get is.. I'd have to check..

I just thought of something - not too long ago I ordered a new dry egg food to mix with the fresh eggs I make for the BCCB waxbills, and it specifically states "no soya" (no soy) on the blend.

I don't want to really quote, because I don't remember the conversation exactly, but I believe the reason it specifically states that it does not contain soy revolves around it not necessarily being good for birds.

I asked Eric if he could shed some more light on Soy for me (he is all into the whole health thing) and he explained to me that the bio-availability of soy protein is not as efficient as proteins acquired from meats, eggs, milk, etc., and that generally speaking the reason why men do not consume soy protein is because it can increase estrogen production - so this might translate back to the birds in terms of the increased estrogen having negative health/hormonal side effects in the birds?

Evidently - the specific amino acids present depends on the exact soy beans used (amino acids are the building blocks of protein). I tried to see if I could find the scientific name for "Edamame" to see if I could relate it back to the amino acids present in the study I'm looking at - but I think the ultimate concern is the effect on estrogen in the body.
There may be something else to it, too.. I'm not sure. I'd have to poke around more and its past my bedtime ;)

Also - I just realized the Mike Fidler soft food actually contains couscous There is so much on going research related to diet, and so much money and research already invested in the diet used at STGF, that I have to believe it's there for a valid reason

It seems the birds get enough of the protiens they need with the dried egg food mix I give and I started giving boilded rgg especially to the ones with chicks. I thought I would try the soybeans, some liked it some did not touch it.

I personally eat soybeans, drink soy milk and use tofu. I can not eat eggs or drink milk. My bone density is that of a 35 year old, I'm 52. I discussed this with my doctor, he contributes it to the diet, heredity and exercise. Estrogen helps with bone density.

I am not sure I would offer soybeans on a regular basis to the finches but give it once in a while, the proteins they are getting from the eggs and dried eggfood mix is plenty.