Clover?

[DanteD716]

Is clover safe/good for birds?

[Martie]

My birds get dried red clover all the time. Not sure what kind you're talking about?

[DanteD716]

Red clover. Thanks Martie! I was thinking of serving it with lettuce and carrots for a nice salad.

[Martie]

Sounds lovely!

[DanteD716]

I just finished1 I chopped everything up bite size besideas the lettuce, and froze some carrots and clover for saturday when I return home with new birds!

[fabulousfinch]

Hi Dante,

You might consider offering White Clover instead. Red clover is a different species of clover and is high in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens compete with estrogen receptors for natural estrogen and can negatively impact fertility during the breeding season.

While phytoestrogens can have beneficial effects in humans, there are documented problems that can occur in grazing and granivorous animals eating red clover, in particular: cattle, quail, and sheep to name a few.

White clover is every bit as nutritious as red clover and low in phytoestrogens, so you get the nutritional benefits without the risk of higher levels of phytoestrogens. I would try to stay away from offering plants that are high in phytoestrogens to your birds, as you can find alternative plants that are low in phytoestrogens and just as nutritious. Plants high in phytoestrogens include seeds that are included in bird seed blends, so they are present in the diets of birds already, but usually more limited than other seeds in a blend. It will probably turn out to be a species specific thing, where some birds tolerate/require more phytoestrogens than others. There are also many kinds of phytoestrogens, so some will probably turn out to be fine, while others not so fine for avian species.

I just worry when I see folks chopping up copious amounts of foods high in phytoestrogens and adding them to their finch's diet. If someone is having a bad breeding season, one thing to look at is "have I added something new to the diet that is high in phytoestrogens." It may be the culprit.

Well, this posting got out of hand Bottom line, phytoestrogens = powerful compounds that we don't know much about and should be fed in moderation with a critical eye. If you are trying to increase the level of phytoestrogens in the diet, then that is fine. If you are just trying to add more diverse nutrition to the diet, then look for plants low in phytoestrogens to avoid a wild card that could add complications hard to identify and understand.

Bill

[monotwine]

My birds love white clover. I add a bit of it to their salad every so often when I get my hands on the leaves during winter. Its a weed here that invades lawns.

[DanteD716]

Bill, thanks for that info, it was truly helpful!

Monique, glad to hear they like it, I will try it.

[Sojourner]

My birds love white clover. I add a bit of it to their salad every so often when I get my hands on the leaves during winter. Its a weed here that invades lawns.

OMG, this is not strictly bird-related, but I had to comment - white clover is NOT A WEED. In fact prior to the advent of giant tanker trucks full of poison that pass themselves off as "lawn services", white clover was routinely included in grass seed mix because :

It fills in holes in the lawn when there is a problem with the grass itself but is easily outcompeted by grass in a healthy lawn

It outcompetes most lawn weeds (except crab grass? Whatever the pernicious spreading one is - and that one it at least slows down)

It fixes nitrogen

Deep roots help to break up the hardpan that is common around construction (created by heavy equipment rolling all over the place and the heavy clay commonly used as "backfill" after the developer scrapes off the top soil and sells it)

Increased aeration, tilth, and fertility means you don't have to water as often or for as long - in fact I don't water unless we're in drought conditions.

It's PRETTY

When I move into a new place I overseed with white dutch clover ASAP. I never otherwise fertilize my lawn. No weed killer. Healthy green lawns that I virtually never have to water. Unlike my weed 'n feed neighbors, my lawn abounds with butterflies, fireflies, birds, and worms (which also help aerate the soil and increase tilth and fertility).

White dutch clover - not a weed, but an important part of a healthy lawn.

[monotwine]

and that is the definition of a weed.... simply a plant that is growing in the wrong place. No reflection on the plant itself.

Clover has multiple nutritional uses and is highly sown and cultivated for agricultural foraging. I don't dispute that at all.
Here being a "weed" means its easily available to us finchers looking for it.

If you asked a turf / green keeper what they think of Clover or Oxalis....
Just depends what you are willing to accept in your own garden / grounds / situation.

I cultivate a patch of declared (by our legislation) weeds, cause my birds love chickweed. It is what it is.