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

[Foosa101]

Even if you both were going into a seed mix business – I don’t think any of us would mind at all! I only asked about the two of you mixing seeds for certain mixes because I was just curious, there was no ill feelings intended to either of you. It seems that there might be a misunderstanding there from my asking that question.

I certainly appreciate Nancy offering to sell these super fresh seeds to us at a wholesale price but more than that the variety she has available as well. Shipping maybe too cost prohibitive for me or others but I’m very interested in this either way.

As you know I still don’t believe in pellets so my birds are given a very large variety of seeds along with vegetables, greens, herbs, eggs, etc… The wasted seed from premixed seed blends is what encouraged me to start mixing my own seed mixes here locally. And, the horrible shipping prices.

I’m very happy both of you are interested in the variety of seed Nancy has available and looking forward to all the goodness as well.

No worries at all

[MLaRue]

The large white millet is being kicked out, so are the longer oats that are included...and the seed that is color coated...don't let me go on about those.....

Personally the larger birds do way better on pellets than seeds, the overall health and feathering I agree is better. I was always pleased when I got test restults back on my gray, and lovebird.

The canary seed that is color coated? Why was it that color? Is it a food dye?

No, it was not coated just a bad pic. I am using all untreated and non coated seed.

Any seed I get from you Nancy I can take pictures of it and post it on this thread or a new one or just send it to you if you would like ;)

[Foosa101]

Even though I live about as far away from Florida as you can get I would still pay the shipping if my birds would eat the seed. I would love to be able to mix my own seed like you do Misty! I have no idea where I'd get the seed from to mix in the first place. We have a big chest freezer and I'd pop it right in there if I could mix it myself. I'm deliriously happy about the whole idea of getting some fresh seed one way or the other. I take having pets of all kinds very seriously because they are trapped you might say with me. I had a farm in Idaho for 10 years so I'm used to taking care of the needs of animals. I want them to have as good a life as I can provide. It's just my feelings on the responsibilities of owning another living being.
spiky leaves... ha... we have a type of dandelion here that has little poky things on it's leaves and even chopped up the finches wouldn't eat them. ha.

You don't need to keep the seed in the freezer just go to your local dollar store and buy yourself a tupperware container...that what I use! Save the freezer space for your own goodies.

[cindy]

Misty post your results here so Nancy can see what is being eaten...if you can keep track of what species prefers what.

By the way will you breed your conures...they are so cute!

[ibon_337]

I am tired of throwing seeds that are not eatin, it is such a waste of money. I tried mixing my own seed and still in the process of eliminating which seed is being eatin and not. I haven't tried japanese and brown tops yet since I can't find them at my local feed store. So far my gouldians favorites are hemp and red millet, not so much on niger seed and white millet. I offer them grounded Roudybush pellets and they eat them once in a while. I also give them egg shell, oyster shell, charcoal and kelp combo. I am always willing to pay shipping just to get seeds that are really be eatin by my birds.

[finchmix22]

Well, as soon as I receive my shipment of seeds, I'll join this great thread. I can only comment on the packaged seed mixes and pellets right now. My finches do not like pellets! I have a few who eat them, but most will ignore the pellets. My OCW, rccb, and Owls eat the pellets some, but all of the finches love the seed mixes. I still see lots of seed left over, but they really like the premium type seeds. So, hopefully, the choice of seed types to make out own mix for our finches will the a great solution to seed waste. Can't wait to report back on what mine will eat.

[cindy]

Deborah..what pellets do you use? Have you tried the finch pellets from Zupreem Fruit blend. It smells good and all my birds eat them.

[annague]

I don't know how I missed this post until now... this is exciting news!!! I am thrilled with what you are doing (Nancy and Cindy)with regards to fresh seed -- I have wanted to find a source of much fresher seed for some time. I would like to add that I am also interested in many African Grass seeds -- for my CB's and other waxbills. But I don't know, Nancy, would you be able to get those the same as the others?

May I be added to the list of people who would like to purchase some fresh quality seed for my birds from you Nancy? -- we don't have any quality sources in my area -- I do order from ABBA but there is a lot of waste.

What do I need to do?

BTW, Cindy, love your photo of your CKS... what a great pic. My Border Terriers love to eat spare bird seed, too -- so much so that when I first saw their... leavings... afterward I had a momentary shock thinking that those seeds were worm eggs . Whew, was I relieved when I figured out they were bird seeds.

[cindy]

Anna..if I sweep up a litle pile that was knock to the floor, my one dog is right behind me, when I turn to get the dustpan and turn back around, the pile is gone! Magic!!!

Anna, pm Nancy (Foosa101), she can get some seed samlpes out to you. This week we are going to try a white millet, Germain foxtail and red millet along with the Japanese and brown top. On Wednesday I am driving to Nancy's to pick the bags up and will post pictures of the seeds. I'll post my results of what goes over the best. The Lavenders and GSingers love the little seed size of what we tried so far, the brown top and Japanese. My owls, zebras and shaft tail down it as well

[annague]

OK, I'll pm her. It is so kind of you and her to go through the trouble you are going through to discover the best mix for the finches. Thank you!

[cindy]

Anna..I to am frustrated with the prebagged store brands...the birds waste half of it and down the pellets more. The love the seed we mixed up...forgot to mention they are eating the dove proso but mostly the Japanese and brown top. When Nancy offered this for me to try we found it interesting that the owls, GS and Lavanders who were very picky now eat what the zebras and shaft tail eat...it went over well with all the birds.

[annague]

I have experienced similar frustrations with the seed available to me. I have even gone to the extreme of going along the road and harvesting green seed from seeding grasses (which were gobbled up by my birds --esp. my Parrot Finches).

It would be nice to have something that the birds would eat pretty much all!

[debbie276]

Most of the experts say that the birds eat different seed at different times of the year. Depending on what they are doing, breeding, resting, molting they will require different seeds. So maybe what you find they like now may not be what they like later.
I think this thread is very interesting and wondering if you are going to study this over the course of say a year or just a couple months or so.
Can't wait for the results.

[cindy]

Do your experts say whether it matters if the birds are indoors or outside. Mine are in a climate controlled home. It was mentioned on another thread that her birds eat certain oil based seeds in colder weather which makes sense, especially with out door aviaries. The oil based seed probably could be added or given to them in separate dish to see if they went for it in say the Fall or winter.

We kept feeders outside for birds and we always added fatty foods for the birds to eat so they could build up fat reserves to keep warm.

It would be interesting also to do this with our finches indoors and with someone with finches outdoors. We could compare what was eaten. I think in order to get a good overall picture you would almost have to have seasonal diets especially if the birds are housed outdoors.

[kenny]

hi tiffany
you are supposed to give it to your birds ,no seriously i used to use japanese millet as a treat seed for my breeding pairs because of course it was imported and cost a small fortune copared to other seeds,as was teazle it seems that in this country all the seed that was good for your birds was very pricey.....the only seed that we grow here naturally is rape seed and groats which are all very cheap and not much benefit as a seed you could give seperately


ken