Can finches digest cellulose?

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nopEda
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Can finches digest cellulose?

Post by nopEda » Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:36 pm

Can finches break down cellulose and get nutritional value from it? As heartily as they chow on greens, it seems they might. I feel sure that geese can. Maybe most if not all birds can?

nopEda
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Re: Can finches digest cellulose?

Post by nopEda » Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:34 pm

nopEda wrote:Can finches break down cellulose and get nutritional value from it? . . . Maybe most if not all birds can?
It looks like birds in general can:

"Like mammals, birds do not produce the enzymes that allow them to digest cellulose so they can only do so by housing these bacteria."
http://www.earthlife.net/birds/digestion.html

So apparently they can break cellulose down into sugar like they can starch, and get nutritional value from greens like they can from seeds. Good to know.

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L in Ontario
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Re: Can finches digest cellulose?

Post by L in Ontario » Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:53 pm

Good research!! Nice post. =D> =D>
Liz

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okiebirds
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Re: Can finches digest cellulose?

Post by okiebirds » Tue Aug 16, 2011 12:34 am

Interesting bird fact of the day :)

In ancient times amazonian indians would "colorfeed" their captive parrots the fat of catfish and pirahna to alter the colors for ceremonial head dresses.
Stan
GOULDIANS...we have a few :)

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