Fresh Egg Food

[Jamm972]

Hello friends,
Not sure if thre is a topic on this already. I am going to attempt feeding my birds eggs. I want to hard boil them and then shred/blend in the egg with the egg shell. What I am asking is. Should I just set the whole egg in there or blend it up and split it between all the canaries so none goes to waste?

I do know I'm suppose to change it out and out in fresh daily. I'm just not sure how to serve it.

I already am feeding them an egg/seed mixture bought from the pet store, just don't think the store bought brand is enough to get them by.

Also I herd stories of people blending in greens and fruits into the mix. Pointers?

[debbie276]

I run my hard boiled egg through a garlic press so they come out worm like. Then I mix just a bit of handfeeding formula till its on the dry side. I give about a tablespoon per pair in the morning spread out thinly on a dish so that it will dry out over time before it goes off.
The shell I leave in large pieces and just add them to the mineral mix dish.

[adoumski]

Jamm972 the first 3 days a chick hatches , i will offer boiled eggs only, commercial eggfood and seeds.

As for boiled eggs, u can just cut into quarters and offer them with the shell attached ,
Or what u can do is remove the shell and crush so its like a fine powder. Then mash the boiled eggs until they are almost like a paste, then add the crushed shells to it. (this way u can feed more birds with less eggs used)

I usually add to the above
boiled carrots mashed
Broccoli shredded
Commercial eggfood
Couscous and other days quinoa
Peas

Now i am using perle morbide also.

Note: if you notice your chicks skin is deep red without adding any colour food to the parents, reduce the protein you are giving in the mix.

[lovezebs]

Jamm972

I boil my eggs for 10 min.
Peel them (save the shell)
Put through a large garlic press
Add pulverized freeze dried meal worms
Add store bought egg food mix
Add crumbled Spray Millet
Toss with a fork
Serve

Allow the shells to dry, and crushe into bits. Mix with grit mix and serve separate from eggs.

[Jamm972]

lovezebs adoumski so some one mentioned to me I am using to much food and wasting. I am going to start the hard boiled eggs tomorrow.

Here is what I use and I change it out every 2 days:
1 table spoon of each:
store bought egg dried mix,
gourmet variety diet & fun variety seed mix
healthy support diet omega 3 & probiotics seed mix
fruit blend with all natural fruit flavors
A premixed breeding formula.
1/2 table spoon of song bird treats
1/2 table spoon of high cal grit.
I also have a cuttle bone in the cage and a separate sterile water canister that is fortified with vitamins.

This is the Quantity per bird and I change it out every 2 days. Some cages it is about 75% gone others it only looks like 50% possibly less.

Once in a wile I offer a fresh apple or green leave (about twice a week)

I am thinking I am giving them to much or not enough of one source.

I have 4 pairs that are getting ready to mate. they have their nests all ready and I think they are waiting for the males to show interest. 2 out of the 4 already laid their first clutch with no success. I'm hoping the 2nd clutch will be more successful.

[lovezebs]

Jamm972

I just feed a high quality finch seed mix, with extra Canary seed mixed in, on a regular basis. And spray millet.

My egg mix

Lot's of greens every day :
Kale
Romain
Broccoli
Beet Greens
Some grated Beets
Grated Carrot
Spinach
Cucumber
Parsley
Baby Spring Greens
Red Swiss Chard
Corn

Apple
Orange
Banana
Melons
Occasional Berries

[debbie276]

You might want to read all those labels on the products you are feeding. Some of what I'm seeing on your list sounds like it may have vitamins and minerals added to the product. You also said you add vitamins to the water, you don't want to over do the vitamins. Too much can be dangerous. Personally I think you'd be better off offering fresh clean water without all the additives.

Here's a good chart for Nutrients & Their Sources
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/nutrients_and_sources.php

[adoumski]

Jamm972
it is quite confusing when you first start breeding canaries, especially with diet.
it took me a while and many failed attempts, so since last year leading up to this, i am following the below routine.

the basics that you need to have a good breeding season and healthy birds are simple, (now some canary breeds need more of one thing than other canary breeds)
the basic are:
1- lighting for them to get in breeding condition (12.5 hours for small size canaries up to 14 hours for larger breeds like Norwich) i started increasing the light Feb 1st
2- Diet
-good seed mix
-protein you can get from boiled eggs or commercial egg food (offered 1-2 times a week year round, and increased in frequency as breeding season comes along, till it is offered daily the week before they are paired (i stop once the hen is incubating,and start again when the eggs are 13 days old)
-vegetables/fruits e.g. Apples, broccoli, carrots, kale, sweet potato boiled ... (offered same frequency as egg food)
3-Supplements
-i offer a general vitamin called Omni Vit by Versele laga (one day a week year round, 3 times a week in preparation for breeding and during breeding)
-Vit e, is essential to help with fertility (the one i use is offered 3 times a week starting 6 weeks before planned pairing, i start the males first, 3 weeks before the hens)
-calcium supplement either given as powder sprayed on egg food or in water, same frequency as veggies and egg food.

hope this helps, i will give you my routine

[adoumski]

this is my Routine

week 1 & week 2 (10 hours light ----> 10.5 hours)
omni vit 1 day
eggfood 2 days
veggies 1 day
calcium 1 day

Week 3 11 hours light
omni vit 2 days
eggfood 2 days
veggies 2 days
calcium 3 days
vit e for males 3 times a week

Week 4 11.5 hours
omni vit 3 days
eggfood 3 days
veggies 3 days
calcium 4 days
vit e for males 3 times a week

Week 5 12 hours
omni vit 3 days
eggfood 3 days hens, 4 days males
veggies 3 days hens, 4 days males
calcium 5 days hens
vit e for males 3 times a week

Week 6 12.5 hours
omni vit 3 days
eggfood 3 days hens, 4 days males
veggies 3 days hens, 4 days males
calcium 5 days hens
vit e for all 3 times a week

Week 7 13 hours
omni vit 3 days
eggfood 4 days hens, 5 days males
veggies 4 days hens, 5 days males
calcium 5 days hens
vit e for all 3 times a week
*(some birds like fifes and reds will be ready by this time, so eggfood & Veggies will be daily)

Week 8 13.5 hours
omni vit 3 days
eggfood 5 days
veggies 5 days
calcium 5 days hens
vit e for all 3 times a week

Week 9 14 hours Pairing now is done for larger breeds
omni vit 3 days
eggfood daily
veggies daily
calcium 5 days
vit e for all 3 times a week

some tweaks will be needed according to how your birds are responding, i had a couple who got ready at 12.5 hours of light (this weekend it was) so i moved their dietary routine straight to week 9 scheduled.

[Jamm972]

adoumski thanks for the info. Its a little late to change anything now. but will try my best. Do you leave the seed in there until you change it out? or do you take it out at end of day or 1st thing in the morning?
I do know that hard boiled eggs should be removed at end of day as well as any uneaten greens.

guess I will just use some common sense.

[debbie276]

Do you leave the seed in there until you change it out? or do you take it out at end of day or 1st thing in the morning?

Seed should be available at all times, it doesn't go bad so there should be no reason to take it out unless it is soiled.

[adoumski]

Jamm972 exactly as debbie276 said.

boiled eggs and veggies in hot weather i remove around mid day. so after about 6 hours of placing them.

dry commercial egg food of the ready moisten variety, i leave in the cage for a few days.

[Jamm972]

I guess my main problem is knowing when the seed container is almost empty. Ive been changing out the seed every 2 days with fresh, some of the cups still look full and uneaten. others you see empty shells but still some seed inside. So I may just add seed to it rather than throwing the whole cup away and adding new. Funny thing is each cup in each cage is different. But with breeder cages there is 4 cups.
Should I just condense down to 2 cups now that the canaries are paired up and together?