Eggfood

[G8love4finches]

Does anyone use or has anyone considered Quinoa as a protein booster for eggfoods?....Would it be good for birds, and how would you have to process it before feeding it?....I was just curious

[annague]

Yup. All the handfeeding formula's have corn as the main ingredient except for LeFeber's (rice is main ingredient so some better because more easily digestible but still, doesn't add protein).

One thing I know -- feeding fresh and non-processed is best. Wet items are not a problem until they've been sitting for a while so feeding egg is not a problem as long as it doesn't sit long enough to get bad.

Very intriguing thought process you have going on, Misty, with regards to the corn (and wheat) -- I agree that no, none of that is any good for birds -- OR people with gluten problems

I'm not sure about quinoa but isn't it another grain? Aren't we feeding egg to increase protein?

[wellingtoncdm]

What about adding whole grain brown rice flour?

[cindy]

I use ABBA92 dried eggfood with greens or without. I also use boiled egg mashes with a potato masher. I tried adding oils, grated veggies but they would not touch it. I tried the cornmeal and they turned their beaks up at it!!! They just like things plain and simple.

I recently learned some birds are prone to gout...from to much protien. I noticed if I offer dried eggfood and boiled egg to my owl gold breast flight, one male owl has issues. His foot swells...decrease it and feed greens and Herb salad, it goes away. I am watching this...it seems to follow a pattern.

[G8love4finches]

The reason I asked about quinoa is that it is very high in protein....Vegetarians use it to boost their protein intake

[Jan]

thoughts on sunflower & or hemp seed? BTW, like your recipe, going to up my dried insect % from 10%

[cute finch boy]

i use my own spin on Doug Taylors GREEN DAY DIET.... its a little different from his original... and just makes my life a little bit easier.

first mix has:
carrots
collards
broc
cabbage

then the second is hardboiled eggs with shells
couscous
cornmeal
and FISH FOOD!

if im in a BIG rush (working a doubleshift) then i mix the two together....

but i always keep a cup of Protein 25 or Volkmans in the cage.

waxbills and other bug grubbers get fishfood added to the dry eggfood as well....

[Jan]

thanks... agree on the high fat content of both of them.. My % of these seeds is more in the 20% range.. My Australian finches are addicted to it, lol.. But it does seem to helping with many of the Africans also

[Sally]

Watch the hemp seed. I was adding 1/4 cup ground hemp seed per dozen eggs, and shortly after I started adding this amount, my hens went into overdrive with the egg production, but they were more concerned with laying than incubating. It was nothing to find 20 eggs in a BCCB nest. I was trying the ground hemp along with Doug Taylor and several others, but I unknowingly was adding twice the amount recommended to the eggfood. Also, Doug said that in Europe, breeders have discontinued using hemp seed except for serins and siskins, as they felt it led to liver problems and fat birds.

[dfcauley]

I have to ask about the nuts.... First, I have never fed any type of nuts to my birds.... I didn't know they were good for them.

Also, do you put them in a processor to powder them or purchase them like that?

Sorry if my question sounds dumb....

[Jan]

I use a food processor and course grind them smaller then a finch seed but not all the way to a powder.

[annague]

Fardad, I was thinking about adding nut flour instead of cornmeal to my eggfood and was intrigued (and feeling a little proud of myself I admit since I know you have been so successful ) to find out you feed ground nuts to your birds! Now I will definitely do that.

I do have a question: is Rosemary extract the pure oil extract of Rosemary? (A liquid)?

Why do you use that particular herb, Fardad? What do you think it does for your birds? Just curious -- I like to understand the reasoning behind things.

BTW: For those who may not know -->you can buy ground nut flour if you have access to a Health Food Store or a good grocery.

[dfcauley]

I use a food processor and course grind them smaller then a finch seed but not all the way to a powder.

Thanks! So what kind of nuts do you get? Meaning... unsalted, roasted, plain??? Don't mean to be ignorant. I have tons of pecans in my freezer from my trees.

[annague]

Wow, Donna -- raw pecans? Scrub them up and grind them to a powder -- you have organic pecans that would be a fantastic protein for your birds added to your eggfood! You definitely don't need anything else IMO. Wish I had something like that.

[annague]

I LOVE the smell of Rosemary--!!. That clarifies things, thanks, Fardad!! I'm a regular at the Health Food Stores in the area so I'll give them a look and see if I can find some. It would be nice to have a rosemary smell around the house instead of egg.