Question about using AeroGarden

[spector]

My sister, who I love dearly, apparently doesn't see the irony of giving an AeroGarden to someone who lives on ten acres and who already has 1/2 acre set aside as a vegetable garden. She is a typical "suburbanite," and loves her Aerogarden, so I think she was just trying to share something she enjoys with me.

Now that I have this thing, which just sort of takes up space and is kind of noisy, I have been thinking about setting it up with the "grow your own seed" insert and putting finch-friendly seed in there (millet, parsley, cress, etc). The light on it can be set to go off for as long as you like, so I can program it to match their lighting, and I thought it might be fun for them to rip out whatever grows.

Before I undertake this plan (and spend $40 on the insert), I was wondering if anyone has thought of a downfall to this (other than the Aerogarden getting pooped on) that I haven't considered? I figured that I don't have to worry about them chewing through the cord, like I would with the "big guys," and the extra full spectrum light can't hurt. The foam inserts might be a problem, but they are covered by a thin cardboard circle, and if I wait until the plants are big enough, that should discourage the finches from trying to eat the "bedding." The water reservoir is covered, so they would have no access to the fertilized water running through the roots.

Any thoughts/opinions appreciated!

[Sally]

I'm not familiar with the Aerogarden, but one time I decided to grow wheatgrass for my finches. I put the seeds in little clay pots with organic soil, and once the grass was about 2-3" tall, I placed the pots inside the cages. Those birds attacked the pots, and in no time at all, had pulled up and devoured or destroyed all the wheatgrass, then they kicked dirt all over the place. They had a wonderful time, but when they destroyed weeks of patient growing in a day, I decided not to continue with it! I probably should try it again, as they did enjoy it.

[spector]

I mentioned in a different post that I make little "micro-gardens" for my birds. I use bird gravel as the substrate, so no worries about them eating anything in the soil. I start one per week, so there is always a fresh one for them to attack. (Problem is, I now have three cages of finches (added zebras and societies last year, and keep them separate), so I guess I should start three per week! <g>)

[spector]

I'm not familiar with the Aerogarden, ....

It is a hydroponic system of gardening, meant to fit on a table or small surface. You plug it in, and it provides light and runs fertilized water through the roots of the plants. Kind of cool if you don't have land for a garden, although I tried the first kit she gave me (gourmet herbs) and wasn't terribly impressed. They all looked kind of puny to me. I now have cherry tomatoes in there, and after that, I'll try the salad greens kit she gave to me. The nice thing about it is that, even off-season, you could grow veggie and herb plants indoors.