Oven Dried Veggies

[Domenic]

Is it possible to chop up some veggies like carrots and bake them in the oven to dehydrate them for my finches? I don't have that many birds, so veggies I put in the fridge tend to get nasty before I use them and I end up with a lot of waste, so I'm looking for a solution that lasts a little longer.

I was thinking about oven-drying my eggfood too, but I don't think the birds would like it much.

[ac12]

Domenic
We go to the grocery store early, before 9am, and get veggie cuttings from the vegetable man. These are the cutting when the trim the veggies. These are free, so I don't worry about not using them all up before they go bad. I chop up about 3/4 cup at a time, and put them in a plastic container lined w paper towels to absorb the moisture.

The trick is to get to the grocery store while the veggie guys are still there.

[L in Ontario]

I put brocolli and carrots in the processor and chop extra fine; then mix with fresh eggfood (hardboiled egg and shell) and pre-soaked soakseed. Mix it all together and put into ZipLok baggies. Then I freeze them and take out to thaw and use as needed. I make large batches (30 eggs) at a time and freeze in individual baggies.

[JRs Gouldians]

Then I freeze them and take out to thaw and use as needed. I make large batches (30 eggs) at a time and freeze in individual baggies.

You can preserve an egg for around 30 days by freezing it? I didn't know that.

[B CAMP]

I do about the same thing only boil eggs once a month and freeze in baggies then thaw and mix in my sprouts and etc and feed

[L in Ontario]

Then I freeze them and take out to thaw and use as needed. I make large batches (30 eggs) at a time and freeze in individual baggies.

You can preserve an egg for around 30 days by freezing it? I didn't know that.

I don't know about 30 days as my stock never lasts that long.

[JRs Gouldians]

Huh. Learn something new everyday...

[L in Ontario]

And of course the egg has been hardboiled already and mixed with the veggies and soakseed; then portioned out into baggies.

[WhiteMagicWoman]

This is good to know -- thanks! I was chopping a few greens for my birds every morning and realized that I was making them their food before making my own lunches for work. This will make things a lot easier.

Spoiled birdies... lol

[Ursula]

My sister used to make dried fruit pieces, but she used a "dehydrator" and not the oven...

Maybe this link helps? I just googled it, maybe there's other instructions out there somewhere too...

http://farmgal.tripod.com/Dehydrate.html

For some time I also used to freeze my eggfood, but it tends to be mushy when thawed. I only keep it in the fridge now...

[Neysa]

I freeze my eggs too and just keep a few days supply in the fridge at a time. Was mixing up the veggies on a daily basis.....now why didn't I think of freezing them too?

[monotwine]

I also started freezing my greens a while ago after visiting a breeder and saw how it was done.
I just blend together broccoli and carrot & cabbage coleslaw mix in equal proportions then add whatever other finch edible seasonal veggies are avail in smaller proportions, I mix well and place in a container in the freezer.
Every eve I take out a portion of frozen veg to defrost over night and in the morning add my dried commercial egg food and insect pâté'. The defrosting veg have enough liquid in it to fluff up my egg food. Birds have never turned their nose up at it.

After chatting to another breeder last weekend I see you can freeze soaked seeds at the stage you want them to be eaten, one just needs to make sure they are well drained or you will get soaked seed popsicle. I will try that next. I always assumed the soaked
seeds needed to be fresh.

Live and learn.

[L in Ontario]

I also started freezing my greens a while ago after visiting a breeder and saw how it was done.
I just blend together broccoli and carrot & cabbage coleslaw mix in equal proportions then add whatever other finch edible seasonal veggies are avail in smaller proportions, I mix well and place in a container in the freezer.

Every eve I take out a portion of frozen veg to defrost over night and in the morning add my dried commercial egg food and insect pâté'. The defrosting veg have enough liquid in it to fluff up my egg food. Birds have never turned their nose up at it.

After chatting to another breeder last weekend I see you can freeze soaked seeds at the stage you want them to be eaten, one just needs to make sure they are well drained or you will get soaked seed popsicle. I will try that next. I always assumed the soaked seeds needed to be fresh.

Yes you are right that the soakseed can be frozen (after soaking, rinsing and mixing with the eggfood and veggies). It's all in the name of saving time and having fresh foods ready for the fids every morning! Don't forget to add the hardboiled egg as well.

And of course the egg has been hardboiled already and mixed with the veggies and soakseed; then portioned out into baggies.

... and then frozen!