Caution on Hemp Seed

[Sally]

I can't remember everyone that I have told about using hemp seed, so I will post it here.

I use Doug Taylor's Green Day diet, and he recently started adding ground hemp seed to his eggfood to increase protein, and thus breeding.

I have been using the hemp, but inadvertently was using twice the amount Doug has been adding to his eggfood. He adds 1/4 cup to 24 eggs--I was adding 1/4 cup to 12 eggs.

Now my breeders are in overdrive, which sounds like a wonderful situation to be in, but the truth is, the hens are laying eggs like crazy, but tossing babies so they can lay again. I have jacked them up to the point that they just want to produce, but not raise.

I have a Strawberry pair with at least two babies in the nest. I noticed that the hen was in and out of another nest in the cage. Today, I got a peek with a dental mirror, and she has laid two eggs in the new nest. Now I have to watch to make sure the live babies in the old nest still get fed. I thought about taking the new nest out, but I worry that she might toss the live babies so she can use the old nest for new eggs.

Anyway, I wanted to let all know about the hazards of over-supplementing. Now I've taken all my birds off hemp, and I will let their hormones return to normal, then gradually reintroduce the hemp seed. Lesson learned.

[CandoAviary]

Hemp is widely used in the canary breeding world and it can make the cocks go mad Like bodybuilders on steroids

[Sally]

You're right, Candace! At first I was thrilled that I had cage after cage with nesting birds--it was like one huge nursery in my breeding room. But then the tossing started, and hens laying more eggs before their first babies fledged. And I just lost an Owl hen that was one of my favorites--I thought she was eggbound, but after two days of fighting to save her, I lost her anyway. I think now she might have had a broken egg inside. I haven't had an eggbound hen in two years, and now this!

[Pukasand]

The ratio I had gotten was 1 tsp. per egg. Since my Berry hen had been eggbound in the past, I think I will cut it way back. Thanks for the update, Sally.

[nixity]

I hate to keep harping on this but apparently no one seems concerned - grinding hemp is akin to grinding flax.. it goes rancid fast because the hull is what prevents the excessive amount of fats from breaking down; once it's broken, they begin to degrade fast and if you are going to grind it it needs to be used/consumed and/or discarded within 30-60 minutes.

I've told Doug this but apparently he doesn't find an issue with it.

http://www.vegtalk.org/archive/hemp-oil-31-1566.htm
"Shelled hemp seeds and hemp oil can go rancid quickly. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. The oil should be kept refridgerated."

http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/he ... h-oil.html
"Ground seeds are also susceptible to rancidity"

[Sally]

I keep the whole hemp seeds in the freezer, and only grind a small amount at a time, which then is kept in the fridge. I have not had any problem with any of it going rancid, even when it sat all day as an ingredient in the eggfood. It was still a very small amount of the eggfood.

The hemp is definitely jacking them up though. The Strawberry hen has started her next clutch even before her first clutch is feathered. I have seen two babies in the nest, and the male Strawberry is feeding them--he even spends a fair amount of time in the nest with the babies, just sitting with them. But I will have to keep a close eye on them and be ready to handfeed if the babies are not fed. At least they are old enough to make their little cricket noise when begging, and Daddy doesn't seem to mind me peeking with the dental mirror (and I have to shine a flashlight on the mirror to light up the inside of the nest). He flies out at the first sign of the mirror, but it doesn't seem to upset him, and he goes back in.

So they are getting the normal eggfood with sprouted seeds along with their finch seed mix, and I will probably continue with the spray millet. I had started giving some of the Strawberry pairs live food (mealworms and whiteworms), but I think I will even try to back off that right now.

Detox is tough, but they've gotta go cold turkey!

[Pukasand]

.

[bluebutterfly213]

In the winter I give my birds hemp seeds, not ground, the parrot finches love them. The other birds do eat them but not to the extent the parrot finches do.
I only give maybe a teaspoon maybe twice a week mixed in with the normal seed.

[monotwine]

Interesting thanks for sharing. I had no idea that hemp stimulated egg laying. Live and learn. I have it in my doves seed mix which the finches help themselves to, but in very low quantities, so it aught to be ok.

[Kathryn]

Are hemp seeds and marijuana seeds the same thing?

[lea]

Are hemp seeds and marijuana seeds the same thing?

i don't think so

[Ursula]

Are hemp seeds and marijuana seeds the same thing?

i don't think so

Marijuana IS a type of hemp... There was a discussion in the forum some time ago about the difference and which you can and can't plant legally.

[lovemyfinch]

I have a question....can the hemp and flax seed be fed whole?

[Ursula]

That's the old post I was referring to... http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7488

[lovemyfinch]

I think I may have found something that may help avois any hemp seed going rancid from being crushed. When I went to pick up a few things at the grocery store I wandered through the health food section. I actually found hulled hemp seed. It is actually home grown , kosher and organic certified, right here in Canada....Manitoba to be exact. They state that it is a delicious source of Omega 3 & 6, and an excellent source of protein. Actually tastes a lot like sunflower seeds but softer. I am going to try it in the veggies of some of my slower to go pairs.

And I will take heed, less is more.