Fresh seed vs store bought seed...Guess the results?

[cindy]

Tiffany, they were like kids in a candy store...they demolish it so fast!!!

The lavendars are totally ignoring the ABBA finch seed. I guess there is no turning back now!

[Foosa101]

seed types so far...

Thanks for doing this, Cindy. My pics looked horrible and you couldn't view them well.

[cindy]

I think the lighting in the kitchen this morning has made the canary and niger seed look red...the canary seed is light brown and the niger black...I will try to get a better picture in the sun later.

[Foosa101]

So wait, do you grow and harvest the seed yourself? Is it dried or fresh green seed heads? I would LOVE to be able to offer my birds green seed as I've been told it's highly nutritious and the birds love it.. would it be possible to ship that, though? Or would it spoil in transit?

Yes, it is actual dried seed just like what you get in your store bought mixes but it has been tested and it is fresh...like 3-4 weeks old fresh. Well some is but none of it is more than a year old and that beats the store bought stuff by a long shot. We grow, harvest, and produce seed here and have been for 3 generations back.

[Foosa101]

seed types so far...

the japanese and browntop are backwards. the japanese has the little funny looking hull and the Browntop is the seed that has more green seed in it as we just cut it three weeks ago.

Again, I cannot thank you enough for posting these. I got the Red Millet and White in this morning...he didn't ship them via UPS so I couldn't see it coming.

[ranchnanny]

Here is a question for Nancy or Cindy... Since the seed is so fresh I assume that one must supliment with vitamins/minerals is that right?

[debbie276]

Nancy, when I go to the company you work for http://www.hancockseed.com
I'm having a hard time finding the seeds your talking about. Where do I find the millets and the nyger seeds?
Thanks

[Foosa101]

Here is a question for Nancy or Cindy... Since the seed is so fresh I assume that one must supliment with vitamins/minerals is that right?

Well, of course you would want to offer other sources of vit/minerals, as you would with any other store bought seed mix. I am not offering an all around nutrient mixture; just offering higher quality and fresh seeds that don't contain filler or seeds that your birds don't eat.

[ranchnanny]

Nancy is there a vit/mineral that you recommend?

[Foosa101]

Nancy, when I go to the company you work for http://www.hancockseed.com
I'm having a hard time finding the seeds your talking about. Where do I find the millets and the nyger seeds?
Thanks

A lot of them are not listed on our site b/c we (the business) isn't focused on bird feeds, as you can tell, but I work with growers all over the world and can have the seed brought in. However, you can always email me and I can order it for you or have it brought in or shipped directly to you.

Most of the other that I mentioned, like Red Millet, German Foxtail, White Millet, and Nyger would only be available in 50 lb. bags through our site. This being the reason I am doing this experiment. I, personally, would purchase the desired seeds and mix them accordingly and then ship them to you. Otherwise, if you were to purchase through the site, you would have to buy 50 lbs. of each variety and mix them yourselves. Not fun and expensive.

So, if we can rule out what seeds certain birds do and don't eat then I can do custom blends for certain breeds and offer them.

My Hubby and I are starting several websites, at the moment, but only one is e commerce site (or store) and, should this work out, I can offer these blends (in a range of smaller amounts plus 50 lbs.) on there if this something a lot of people and birds like. If not, then I will be doing mixes for myself and Cindy and should you want some you can PM me and I will get it to you at cost. Then you could just call me at work and I can take the order over the phone.

[Foosa101]

Nancy, when I go to the company you work for http://www.hancockseed.com
I'm having a hard time finding the seeds your talking about. Where do I find the millets and the nyger seeds?
Thanks

If you have any questions about the seeds....just ask me.

[Foosa101]

Nancy is there a vit/mineral that you recommend?

I offer Avitron once or twice a week in my birds water along with the following in addition to seed:

Raft - Fruit Mix - seem to like it ok
Raft - Veggie Mix - not to fond of it
Higgins - Leaf greens & Herbs w/ Bee Pollen
Egg shell
Fresh spinach or kale - once or twice a week

Then I make this mix:
cuttlebone
grit
oystershell
egg shell
charcoal
F-vite
Kelp powder

I also offer three different dry egg food mixes that I blended together my birds didn't seem to have a favorite.

In addition to this I also, on occasion, sprout my millets, alfalfa, white clover, and purpletop turnips for them to browse. I rotational take them out of the cage and do not offer them for long lengths of time. I also use sterile soil so I am not introducing any microorganisms to my birds and/or cages.

I would like to hear other opinions as to what all I am offering my Gouldians and should I be leaving anything out. I also have a plethera of medications should any occasion arrive that I might need them.

Sometimes, I feel that I may be doing overkill but there are so many people with different opinions and "must do's" or "must not do's" that it can be a little overwhelming.

All in all, I am just trying to make my feathered friends as happy and healthy as they could possibly be.

[debbie276]

A lot of them are not listed on our site b/c we (the business) isn't focused on bird feeds, as you can tell, but I work with growers all over the world and can have the seed brought in.

Oh ok, thanks Nancy, I'll have a look around

[6finchfriends]

Nancy, I for one will be buying mixed seed from you if you get your mixes/business up and running! I'm very excited in kind of a selfish way because it means I can get seed my finches will eat, love and is fresh and good for them. Not only that but it's from a FF member who also loves her birds! I can't tell you how much seed I throw out! Oiy! there is NOTHING around here to buy from besides pet stores. In E. Washington there are wheat, barley, oat farms but not 'seed farms'. I can't wait to get your sample so I can give you the results! Thank you so much for thinking of all us finch lovers!

[Foosa101]

Nancy, I for one will be buying mixed seed from you if you get your mixes/business up and running! I'm very excited in kind of a selfish way because it means I can get seed my finches will eat, love and is fresh and good for them. Not only that but it's from a FF member who also loves her birds! I can't tell you how much seed I throw out! Oiy! there is NOTHING around here to buy from besides pet stores. In E. Washington there are wheat, barley, oat farms but not 'seed farms'. I can't wait to get your sample so I can give you the results! Thank you so much for thinking of all us finch lovers!

Thank you and I look forward to hearing what your birds have to say. It may take me a bit to get up and running but we can always work something out. I got the Red Millet and German Foxtail Millet in this morning so Cindy and I can try that out (it's a small sample of each) but at least we will know their [birds] opinions on them. Then if need be, I can order 50 lbs. of aforementioned seeds and start doing custom mixes.