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Thank you So much for the information.jonvill wrote: Anna is correct, feeding (cantaxanthin) color-food will change the gold bars on the goldfinch's wings orange but if you wait till after the new wing feathers come in you can get away with it.
I prefer to feed greens (dandelion, kale and romaine) to my birds daily so that they can produce the red masks naturally.
If you can get them to eat carrots then you will benefit greatly.
Cooked carrots are better than raw carrots and they won't turn the gold wing bars orange. You might try a cooked carrot shredded and mixed into the eggfood.
Great thanks for the information.jonvill wrote: Anna is correct, feeding (cantaxanthin) color-food will change the gold bars on the goldfinch's wings orange but if you wait till after the new wing feathers come in you can get away with it.
I prefer to feed greens (dandelion, kale and romaine) to my birds daily so that they can produce the red masks naturally.
If you can get them to eat carrots then you will benefit greatly.
Cooked carrots are better than raw carrots and they won't turn the gold wing bars orange. You might try a cooked carrot shredded and mixed into the eggfood.
Hi Andiok,andiok wrote: both Anna and jonvill gave you the right info which i totally agree.
on goldfinches/linnets and red fronted serins the best way to rich a perfect red is by adding natural carotenoids. both Canthaxanthin and betta caroten are carotenoids that are found in different plants. this is what a wonderful bird like goldfinch needs in his diet in order to create a red mask but in the same time not to ruin the beautiful yellow in his wings.
one thing to remember is that the only time that goldfinches can get the perfect red mask is when they molt. if not molting the carotenoids will do very little/nothing to the red feathers.
another big factor on the red mask is if they molt outdoors under sunshine.
now i will list you some plants that we use back in europe to get the goldfinches a perfect red mask
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)
Dandelion
Carduus
Portulaca oleracea
Carots
Red peper
etc..
good luck with your bird
Thanks, I'll add those to my canary diet tooandiok wrote: both Anna and jonvill gave you the right info which i totally agree.
on goldfinches/linnets and red fronted serins the best way to rich a perfect red is by adding natural carotenoids. both Canthaxanthin and betta caroten are carotenoids that are found in different plants. this is what a wonderful bird like goldfinch needs in his diet in order to create a red mask but in the same time not to ruin the beautiful yellow in his wings.
one thing to remember is that the only time that goldfinches can get the perfect red mask is when they molt. if not molting the carotenoids will do very little/nothing to the red feathers.
another big factor on the red mask is if they molt outdoors under sunshine.
now i will list you some plants that we use back in europe to get the goldfinches a perfect red mask
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)
Dandelion
Carduus
Portulaca oleracea
Carots
Red peper
etc..
good luck with your bird