More on grasses

[wellingtoncdm]

I though this article by Doug Hill and Marcus Pollard on grasses, aviaries and finches was interesting.

http://www.finchsociety.org/fsa/grass/grass.htm

[DanteD716]

thanks for sharing! I will check it out

[cindy]

Charlie, as soon as our Florida weather is warmer and dys are longer I will start an early crop of millets. I got a bit of a late start this summer and the days got shorter and my grasses had grown, started to get seed heads but died away with not enough sun and weather change...Come spring I will have a grass garden on my lania!

[wellingtoncdm]

Where do you get the millet seed? Form the sprays?

[cindy]

no...I got it from Nancy...I have Brown top, Japanese and German Foxtail. Next time I go to see her I can send you some...Planting in April

You can also order from Herman Bros.

http://www.hermanbros-seed.com/

my thread
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... &start=180

page 13 has the plants coming up.

[CandoAviary]

Wellington,
I just plant the seeds from the millet spays. As long as the seed is live then it will sprout nicely... and who doesn't have loose spray millet seed available
green stage


ripening


some almost ripe while some still in the green stage.

.. I tend to pick heads throughout the spring/summer for special bird treats so the plants seem to keep producing over a longer period. I never have dried any for later use. I just order the califonia spay millet by the boxes

[CandoAviary]

Oops...wrong last picture and I couldn't edit... here is the correct photo

[CandoAviary]

I find that our grass eating finches will sample most any type of seed grass and the ones they don't like for consumption they will love for nesting material (though some grasses will cut their feet... much like papercuts...I avoid pampas grass leaves for this reason)
This giant reed grass is fun. The birds love it for nesting material
It also gives the finches some verticle climbing reeds to climb, this provides a great naturally excercise for them. I am always cutting bamboo for them to climb around on... they love playing hide and seek in it.


mature heads reach up to 2 feet long






Cut and placed upright in aviary






The parrot finches will have this shredded and that purple martin hose stuffed in a couple of days

[PrettyBird]

wow Candace! I wish I lived somewhere like you do, that way I would be able to grow so many things!

[cindy]

Dee, since you have a very long winter you can try growing some with a grow light. Here in Florida we have sun and warm weather for most of the year...things grow fast here!!

[PrettyBird]

Thats a good idea.
Out of curiousity how large do millet plants grow to? (sorry for spelling)

[cindy]

the grasses get tall and can be done in flats or large containers. the Fresh vs Store bought topic listed above shows some of the fields of brown top.

[PrettyBird]

Thanks Cindy, I'll check it out

[Chichireeo]

Quick questions about growing birdfood. This is my first year trying to grow millet. Cindy and Candace, what's the approximate time table? Should I already be starting seedlings indoors now?
The plants will be grown in a backyard. I am afraid local wild birds will go to town on my crop or foul it up with droppings. Do I need a net cover?

[CandoAviary]

Can't help you with your growing climate zone. Here it grows pretty much year round. When I notice plants sprouting outdoors where I toss my used seed... well then I know it's time to scatter some in the planters