Eggfood

[Jan]

What about fresh Rosemary?? It grows great in my area & I have ground some up in the proccessor & free fed it in some of my flights but the birds don't seem to really go for it alone?

[dfcauley]

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.

Great!!! (I am going to have to hide to do this...my husband is a little selfish when it comes to our pecans)
But they are wonderful.... right Sally?????

[Jan]

You really should consider writing a book with all this information & experience you have It would save me having to ask every question in the world, one at a time

[dfcauley]

You really should consider writing a book with all this information & experience you have It would save me having to ask every question in the world, one at a time

I agree!! A wealth of information!!!

[annague]

Donna you have me laughing! My husband always steals pecans when I cook with them (if I leave the bag out). He likes to eat them in great big handfuls.

I can see why your husband feels that way, too, to be honest. I love pecans! Lucky you, to have a tree.

[annague]

I just wanted to add, for anyone who may be interested. I went to a local Healthfood store and looked at all the different types of nutflours (and other flours to compare them).

I did find almond flour but it was about $13 for 1 lb. Approx 6 gms of protein for 1/4 c.

Interestingly, the chickpea flour was ALSO 6 gms of protein for 1/4 c. but was less than $4.

I looked at the quinoa and it contained only 1 gram more protein per 1/4 c. serving than cornmeal. (4 grams as opposed to 3). Most of these products contained only the main ingredient and (occasionally) a natural preservative.

I also found TVP (textured vegetable protein) flour which is made of de-fatted soy nuts. It had 12 gms of protein for 1/4 c. so was the highest protein flour I found.

Can someone tell me the issues with soy and birds?

[debbie276]

Can someone tell me the issues with soy and birds?

Just a few articles I found doing a quick search:

Sexual development in Wild Life, as in humans is controlled by the Endocrine system, a group of organs, tissues and cells that secrete hormones. The hormones interact with other cells initiating chemical biological reactions with far-reaching consequences. Male hormones are called androgens and female hormones are called Estrogens. Some chemicals disrupt the endrocrine system and one of these chemicals is found in Soy bean products. Therefore the only safe dose of this hormone disrupter of the endocrine system is zero. In birds these chemicals in any form or amount decrease fertility and progressively get worse within just a few generations. Evidence suggests these sex characteristics once imprinted may be irreversible.
As in all animals iodine is required for thyroxin synthesis. a deficiency in the diet can result in decreased secretion of the hormone. Other factors can also stimulate the appearance of thyroid dysfunction. Many plants provide goitrogenic principles that inhibit thyroxin cynthesis even when iodine is adequately supplied. One of these plants is known to be soybean.
http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/index ... icle_22/92

There are many recent studies done on animals. They noticed that birds fed soy developed their adult plumage at 2 months instead of the normal 18-months. At first this was a real plus because the young chicks could be marketed better with their full adult color. Then they noticed that the early maturing, soy-fed birds aged prematurely and died young. This caused much consternation among bird handlers, for they also noticed a great increase in growth disorders, thyroid problems, infertility, and tumor growth.
http://reliableanswers.com/med/soy.asp

Soybeans. This warning only applies to raw soybeans (Glycine max) fed as a regular diet. Geese fed raw soybean meal exhibit reduced growth, pancreatic enlargement, and other adverse effects. This may be due to the high concentration of trypsin inhibitor in the raw meal edamame, which are fresh soybeans blanched in the pod at least 5 minutes in boiling water and thoroughly cooled. Processed soy meal is a frequent ingredient in formulated diets. However, if you feed large amounts of soy meal without supplementation, birds are less fertile as a result of a low serum thyroxine level due to goiter. This may be overcome by supplementing the meal with iodine (97). Tofu and unsalted roasted “soy-nuts” are probably no problem (21).
http://caiquesite.com/Foods/dangerous_human_foods.htm

I have a feeling the soy debate will be around for a VERY long time.

[annague]

Debbie you did a fantastic job with that thorough research.

So... no soy products for sure. Well ground nuts and perhaps chickpeas appear to be the most viable alternative for a dry-out agent (other than the dried insects)!

[kenny]

hi
unfortunately i am biased and only use E M P eggfood because it is made locally to me in the uk,however you can buy it on e-bay if you so wish

ken

pic of eggfood

w.jpg (2.81 KiB) Viewed 697 times

[lovemyfinch]

Message for Fardad. This morning I decided to add a tiny portion of all of these nuts as well as 3 tiny pieces of Rosemary (it is organic but not extract) to the eggfood. I have honestly never seen such empty plates. Everyone from young to old, molting or breeding, just loved it.
Thank you so much from myself and all the fids. If they are happier, I am happier

[annague]

Everybody loves nuts!

[lovemyfinch]

Yup, that's what my hubby says everytime I come home with a new fid

[L in Ontario]

Ha! I can't wait to hear what he says when you get back home on May 22nd!

[lovemyfinch]

Ha! I can't wait to hear what he says when you get back home on May 22nd!

Now Liz.....that's not even funny

Oops honey, they all followed me home.

[L in Ontario]

Ha! I can't wait to hear what he says when you get back home on May 22nd!

Now Liz.....that's not even funny

Oops honey, they all followed me home.

Truer words were never spoken since they won't be 'in front' of you on the way home!!