Question about some products.

[MattMlt]

Hi Guys,

Currently i am looking to buy 3 products,

1) Something that helps my finches reach the breeding condition in the best way possible and also gives newly hatched chicks a kick start in their growth, i was thinking about Breeders Blend, but i heard different opinions about this product.

2) Something that keeps the water clean without any bacteria and prevents the green stuff from growing.

3) Something that helps hens during breeding with egg laying, that reduces risk of egg problems.


Can you give me some ideas please ?

P.S. I am currently giving my finches a soluble mix of calcium with the water, so obviously if you can give me names of products that go well with the soluble calcium , would be great.

Thanks

[nixity]

Hi Guys,

1) Something that helps my finches reach the breeding condition in the best way possible and also gives newly hatched chicks a kick start in their growth, i was thinking about Breeders Blend, but i heard different opinions about this product.

Would you consider something like sprouts in lieu of a powdered protein product? If so - freshly chitted or "soaked" seed (sprout is really a misnomer) is packed with natural protein which helps bring your birds into condition because of the high protein content.
Here is my "how to" on sprouting:
http://www.gouldiansgalore.net/sprouting.html

Breeder's Blend will work if and only if you follow the instructions. Most people try sprinkling it on hither thither and then feel disappointed that the product doesn't bring about their expectations. There are very specific directions on the product about when to begin feeding, how to feed, and at what frequency. If you are lax about following the directions you will not get the results you are expecting/hoping.
A lot also depends on the birds, too. If the birds themselves are not properly primed to be brought into condition, nothing you do will help, but might make things worse.

2) Something that keeps the water clean without any bacteria and prevents the green stuff from growing.

This is a crap shoot. If you are leaving water sitting stale for days at a time you are going to have a difficult time keeping your water clean. Sparkle will help stave off bacterial and algal growth but within reason. I usually recommend it for "weekends out of town" where the water may not be changed for two or three days, but no more than that.
The best advice I can give to make sure you water stays fresh and your drinkers stay clean is to rinse and re-fill daily, and at least weekly, soak your waterers in a bleach and warm water solution. I have it set up so I always have plenty of clean drinkers (over stocked, if you will) so that when I go to soak mine, I already have cleaned, dried drinkers to set up to replace those that are soaking.
A big issue with stagnant dirty water is pseudomonas (whenever you see or feel that slimy film on the drinkers, that's pseudomonas!) which is a nasty bug that can make your birds extremely ill.

3) Something that helps hens during breeding with egg laying, that reduces risk of egg problems.
P.S. I am currently giving my finches a soluble mix of calcium with the water, so obviously if you can give me names of products that go well with the soluble calcium , would be great.

If you are already providing a soluble water Calcium product (which product?) then you should be okay with laying hen potential issues, as long as it is not just a straight up calcium. Whatever you decide to use should also contain D3, or be sure that your birds are getting the appropriate amounts of D3, because without this, they can't properly absorb all of the calcium they need.
If you are using "Calcium Plus" this already contains D3 as well as Magnesium which is also important.
You can also provide crushed egg shell which is a great natural source of soluble calcium that the birds love!

Hope that helps!

[MattMlt]

@ Nixity

First of all thanks a lot for your tips.

I tried giving them sprouted seeds, but they didn't even try them, that's why i was looking for a substitute.

As for the water, i don't leave it unchanged for long, i change it twice a day, before i go to work and when i come back.

As for the calcium, i asked if there where any products to prevent egg problems, cause i've been reading about so many products that i thought that maybe the soluble calcium that i'm giving them is not enough.

[CandoAviary]

I use a calcium product called calciboost. It has a long shelf life and contains vitaminD and magnesium. I suppliment my breeding hens lightly as my water and diet are high in minerals and calcium. Good muscle tone is important to keep hens from becoming egg bound and I believe this is the more common problem. Out of shape hens...too young or old hens... and they just can push the eggs out so putting the hens into same sex flights in the off breeding season will insure they get lots of excercise. Just a larger flight cage will help and place perches far apart so the bird must fly...also you can hang millet spray form the top of the cage so that they have to excercise for their treat
http://www.allbirdproducts.com/newprodu ... boost.html

I offer a dried eggfood to the breeding birds and parents feed this to chicks. Also it is a great weaning food for the fledglings as a transition food to seed. This brand is my favorite and the birds prefer it over others
http://www.abbaseed.com/Seed_Products/92A/92a.html

I sometimes add boiled egg to the mix but be careful with sprouted seed and boiled eggs as they will sour if left to long in the cage and give your birds food poisoning. Most of my gouldians will eat the ABBA eggfood in it's dried form.

I change my water tubes daily and never use a cleanser. I bleach the drinkers once a week. I change the bath water daily also.

[terrig]

Hi!
There are so many numerous products that I've tried over the years to help bring your birds into condition with varying degrees of success. Variety and abundance of food are highly important, full spectrum lighting so colors are seen as they should be during breeding, and humidity. Supplementally, the most important in my mind would be vitamin E and protein to trigger breeding. It's best to let our birds free feed on supplements to bring them into condition. I like Spirulina, it is an aquatic plant that is higher in protein than soy, more Vitamin A than carrots and higher in iron than beef. I also use Redpalm oil on my sprouts once a week to start up the breeding. This is the source I use for Vitamin E. I also love and use Abba products, both the nesting food, soak seed mix, and their Red Palm together or seperate. Awesome compay! I have also used AviGlow redpalm oil, both are excellent products.

Clean water is best obtained by frequent changes and cleaning bottles daily:) However if going out of town for the weekend...I have found Morning Birds Sparkle to help. If looking for more natural sources, apple cider vinegar and Grapefruit seed extract both claim to retard bacterial and fungal growths.

If you are supplying water soluble calcium then... you still need Vitamin D3. Without D3 your hen will not be able to absorb the calcium and your efforts and money are lost. Full spectrum lighting helps but so little that it is only helpful with supplementation. Abba 1900 seed contains D3. Morning Bird Hearty Bird Vitamins D3, and a bazillion other vitamins supplements also contain it. You just need to be sure to add D3 the sunshine vitamin to keep those girls healthy! I like to add Vitamins a couple times a week. Too much of a good thing can be dangerous too. I would never suggest vitamins daily.

Good luck!
Terri
www.glamgouldians.com