FINCHforum

I have newbie questions about my "food and nutrition plan"...for when I get my finches, which will likely be the weekend of the 19th... or so I hope.

So I've been reading about everything I should be feeding my finches in order to keep them healthy and thriving. I'd like to run this by anyone who can give me advice and steer me in the right direction (if I'm heading down the wrong road).

I have:
* Morning Bird Bee Pollen, which I should feed twice a week?
* Organic Kelp Powder, which I should ad to their soft food, I'm thinking weekly?
* Seasonal Blend (seed), which will be their daily food
* Pro Grit Mix, which I should make available every day, but in a treat dish?
* Herb Salad, which I will give to birds that end up in my hospital cage, but I was also going to offer it to the rest of my birds by sprinkling it on the bottom of the flight cage so they can forage for what they want/need (or in a treat dish on a weekly basis). I'm curious what you guys think.
* Insect Supreme, which is high in protein. I'm thinking about mixing small amounts into their daily seed mix, unless someone thinks that's a bad idea??
* Thrive, for sick birds only (hope I don't have to use it)
* Soluvite D, daily (because my birds are going to be inside (with Full Spectrum Lights)
* Various Beak conditioners and cuddle bones (always in the cage)
* Spray millet (as a weekly treat), no pic provided

I'm providing some pics, but pay no attention to the actual labels/containers. I could only add 5 pics though. Anyway, I clipped them from the packages and taped them to my own containers.

Thanks in advance for your advice! It's really appreciated!

Jeanette
[album][/album]

J-Netty
What type of finches are you getting? Are you planning on breeding? The bee pollen, kelp and Soluvite D are not necessary for a daily diet. The full spectrum lights will give them Vitamin D, as will homemade eggfood. They are used during breeding season for some species. They do not need insect food unless they are an insect eating finch, and then, only when breeding. The grit and herb salad can be offered in treat dishes year round and they will pick what they need when they need something. On a daily basis, I give a quality seed mix, grit, and and a variety of veggies, such as, shredded carrots, broccoli, peppers, romaine lettuce. They get eggfood when breeding and freeze dried bloodworms on top. Of course, daily filtered water and cuttle bones. As far as supplements/medications, I keep Amoxitex, Baycox, Ronex12%, Thrive, Calcium Plus, and Probiotics on hand.
BTW Welcome to the forum!

J-Netty
Hello Jeanette, and welcome.
What species of finches are you planning on getting?
This is an exciting time, isn't it?

-Regarding diet for finches in general. I am no nutritional expert, but I can tell you what I feed my guys, who are doing very well, are healthy and happy, and won't stop laying eggs lately ( even though I had not planned on breeding at all ).

-I feed a good quality finch mix/canary mix (have one canary as well). Hard boiled eggs, also the shells (high in calcium) which they eat like crunchy potato chips. A large part of their daily diet are fresh fruits and vegetables. Apples, oranges, bananas, pears, grapes, blueberry, strawberry, and melons. Romaine lettuce, kale, cucumber, beet greens, corn on the cob, broccoli, rappini, grated carrots, carrot greens, spinach, baby spring greens, sweet peppers, parsley, red swiss chard and whatever else looks yummy. NO AVOCADO! TOXIC!
- I will also occasionally feed cooked veggies, such as peas, and mixed veggies.
-They also enjoy wild grass grains, which I pick for them on my daily dog walks.
-Freeze dried meal worms, which I crush into tiny bits. Powdered insect pate, and at times freeze dried blood worms ( the kind that fish eat).
- Cuttle bone, fortified bird grit, liquid multi vitamine which I add to water every second day. Also vitamine, mineral and iodine blocks.
- That pretty much covers it.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them.
Goodluck

J-Netty.....keep using the soluvite. ....my birds are outdoors and I still use the soluvite. ...it's the best supplement I have ever used.....soluvite is king

Soluvite makes gouldians as strong as eagles

If your looking for which foods supply which nutrients check this link

http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/nutrients_and_sources.php

You'll notice hard boiled eggs are a super food supplying many needed nutrients