Finches from Petsmart

[annague]

Elissa, it is a disheartening reality that our finches don't normally live very long. Actually it's a shame all our pets are relatively short-lived -- we get so attached. However, I did see a youtube post from a guy who claimed his RCCB was 15 (or it may even have been 20 years old) before it passed. So... maybe...

[epriddy]

I agree, yesterday when my father akined finches to goldfish I took afront. You know-- oh, one dies, flush it and get another one.
Not the way to go IMHO.

So maybe I'll feed the little guys spinach everyday and they'll be strong like pop-eye

This morning I was putting together the birds plate of food (other than seed mix, etc) and when I was in the other room my dog picked up my entire container of mealworms and took it outside and ate them??

I guess that means another trip to Petsmart for me.

[tt101]

I agree, yesterday when my father akined finches to goldfish I took afront. You know-- oh, one dies, flush it and get another one.
Not the way to go IMHO.

So maybe I'll feed the little guys spinach everyday and they'll be strong like pop-eye

This morning I was putting together the birds plate of food (other than seed mix, etc) and when I was in the other room my dog picked up my entire container of mealworms and took it outside and ate them??

I guess that means another trip to Petsmart for me.

NO DO NOT FEED SPINACH MORE THEN ONCE A WEEK AND EVEN LESS WHEN BREEDING, spinach contains a chemical or vitramin that inhibits or steals calcium from the bones which will shorten their life span greatly.

[epriddy]

Ok. Rt now i have lettuce and kale i think.

Funny post on this thread today....my mealwrom container got completely eaten again!!!

[tt101]

Lol that dog must love his mealworms but kale is also bad, all dark leafy vegetables deplete calcium levels in birds. They can be fed in moderation but please be careful not to feed too much. You should read up on feeding to know which veggies to feed, which not to feed and which to feed in moderation. I was very surprised when I heard about this aswell. Oh and lettuce is also not very vitamin or mineral rich. It's pretty much just water weight.

[cindy]

Try romaine and finely grated carrot (wash and peel first).

This info on the FIC will help you by giving you options for a varied veggie diet.

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

[epriddy]

I re-read that page. It seems like everything is on the ok list and then on the not ok list right after it. LOL.

I do feed in moderation. I have a alot of romain lettuce right now as well as come cucumber. They get mealworms everyday (not tomorrow) and not all of my finches will eat mealworms.

I'd say pretty much everything is in moderation. The birds seem to be in overall excellent health, so I think I must be doing something right.

[cindy]

I thin if you stagger veggies/food items and don't give them back to back then it should be ok. I use a schedule, it is easier to remember what you give them.

[epriddy]

i have high quality cat and dog kibble. should I soak it the night before and mash it in with the eggs and seed?

[cindy]

Do not feed dog/cat kibble/food to finches...it is balanced to meet the nutritional needs of dogs/cats not birds. Feed finch pellets if anything.

A long time ago old time bird breeders used this method, dog kibble for protein when there were no other alternatives. They also threw fish heads into the cage to draw flies which laid eggs on the fish head eventually producing maggots for the birds to eat. I think through out the years there are better, cleaner products to feed your birds, designed for your birds.

Dog kibble and cat foods contain ingredients that are meant to benefit your dog or cat specically...this is why vets tell you not to feed cat food to your dogs and visa versa...the foods are designed for those species only. Skip the dog/cat dry kibble...for a good pellet for finches like Zupreem, Roudybush or Lafebers to supplement your birds' diet.

[Albinosilver]

This is sorta irrelevant, but is dog/cat food not good for all birds? Or only finches?

I heard that many people feed it to baby birds (The bug eating ones) like starlings/robins. Is that okay?

[epriddy]

oh ok, it said that on the page.

[cindy]

It is a very very old time way...there are more balanced foods/supplements to give birds.

Let's put it this way, my avian vet did not recommend it, stick to things designed for birds.

[tt101]

I know I seen that list too an I thought wow everything ok is not ok lol. Problem is I don't know how to feed hard veggies other then grated? You are doing a good job dw about it, just wanted to give you a heads up because I myself had no clue when someone on here told me.

[cindy]

Grating I found was best with foods like carrots. I scrub and peel the carrots first since sometimes the organic is not readily available.