Caution on Hemp Seed

[ac12]

Found some hemp seed at the local Whole Food.
Just put in with the egg and canary seeds for their lunch.
Now to wait and see if anything happens.

Although I did catch the gouldians in the nest, so the deed may have already been done.

[annague]

Been using the hulled hemp seed from the Health Food store -- the birds love it and things are getting interesting!

This is the brand made in CA and I thought I would try some sprinkled on my cereal, too. (Sometimes I think I feed my birds better than myself!)

[lou]

Hey act12,
get it from a feed store that carries pigeon feed or try jedd's pigeon supply's it's cheap
lu

[L in Ontario]

I still have to get out and pick up some of this to try though most of my finches are breeding wonderfully at the moment - there are a few pairs that are just not interested. I may try a bit with them in particular.

[annague]

I would like to say that I think it worked wonderfully for my Parrot Finches -- 5 babies so far since I used it.

[L in Ontario]

I would like to say that I think it worked wonderfully for my Parrot Finches -- 5 babies so far since I used it.

Love hearing results like that! How much and how often do you give it to them? On their eggfood?

[annague]

Hi Liz, you know, I don't measure it super carefully but I give them about a half-teaspoon to 1 teaspoon in their eggfood every day. (It's about 1 egg total for my 12 PF's and 1 canary -- split for morning and evening combined with Mike Fidler's Soft Food, Cornmeal and wheatgerm oil.)

[lou]

I have read some where to give soaked hemp (24 hrs soaking time) to sitting canaries/finches, makes them sit tight on the nest. I've tried it and it works
lu

[MLaRue]

Anna,

You are using the MF softfood as well? Could it be that and not the hemp seed? That softfood is pretty good stuff all by itself...

Misty

[annague]

Good point. But, I was noticing some positive changes in my birds before I even added the soft food in -- so, I think the hemp IS doing something (of course the soft food can't hurt!)

[Pukasand]

I use Mike's softfood all the time. I was giving my birds the hemp, but two species (Strawberries and Euro. Goldfinch) layed eggs that were very, very teeny... about the size of 1/4 pea. That's the only thing I can think of to compare them with. I feel the hemp may have encouraged egg production, but not fertility. I have since stopped the hemp and using the old 'fingers crossed' method. This seems to be one of the bi-yearly breeding season for them anyway. Just my observations and feelings on this.