Why won't my spice and society finches eat their veggies??

[Musetta]

Hi everyone,
I am a new "mother" of four finches, and this is my first post! So I hope I am doing this correctly. I am wondering whether there are any particular veggies (and fruits, for that matter) that will entice my society (Coriander) and spice (Caraway) finches. They will not so much as touch their spinach, even out of curiosity (not that I blame them; I hate spinach!). I am actually not entirely sure whether my zebras are eating it or just making a mess with it, for that matter. I work from home so I am able to observe their activity. Although, even if I weren't it is quite obvious that the veggies in the spice/society habitat (they are in a different flight cage than Coconut and Cayenne, my zebras) remain undisturbed. I have also tried broccoli and carrots, without success. Any suggestions? Are there particular veggies that different varieties of finch tend to like? Or is it just a matter of trial and error for each individual finch?
Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Sally]

Sometimes when birds haven't been offered vegetables in the past, it takes them a while to realize they are food. Are you chopping your veggies into tiny pieces? I chop broccoli in the food processor till it is in little bits, and my birds love it. The leafy veggies are hard to chop up, as they tend to get mushy. Try giving them a slice or two of cucumber, peel and all, most birds like that. Kale is one of the best greens. If you have a chemical-free yard with lots of weeds, chickweed and dandelions are great. Sometimes it just takes a while for them to try new foods, but I'm surprised they aren't at least playing with the spinach.

[Lisa]

Cucumber slices are always a big hit, they eat the centers out of them and make them look like little donuts. Romaine lettuce (just give them the full leaf) is always a finch favorite too.

They're probably just not used to having vegetables offered to them. Keep trying and try to use the same dish each time you do and they will come to know it as a food dish.

You might want to try putting a little bit of egg food in the same dish as the vegetables to get them to give it a try. Good luck!

[Casper]

My guys love apple, I just put a slice in their clip, my girls like their food chopped up. I bought a herb chopper attachment for my stick mixer, it works really well for egg as well!

[debbie276]

Welcome to the forum!
Like the others have said, sometimes it takes a while till they try new things.
good luck

[Diana]

My zebras and javas would not touch carrot or egg. Some of them would touch the egg and run disgusted. I persevered and after almost 1 year they all eat them. Not always with the same enthousiasm but I am glad to see them trying. The bravest one, Tink, my little zebra, was playing with the carrot one day throwing bits everywhere, her sister joined in trying to eat the carrot from Tink's beak. Since then they seem to know that's food.
My javas only just started touching the egg but I am happy for the little they eat.

[Musetta]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses! I just gave them their spinach and--for the first time--apple, and I was pleased to see that everyone (even Caraway, who generally considers herself too good for everything) at least tried my offerings. When last I looked, Caraway was daintily nibbling at the spinach, Coconut was devouring the apple, and Cayenne was eating spinach/dragging it all over the cage and into the bath bowl. Maybe they are more enthusiastic about their fruits and veggies in the morning? I'll try to start feeding them earlier.

[Perfex]

Veges are a really healthy additive to their diet, so I would continue to add them daily and likely they will get adventurous enough to try them, and then love them. My society pair took a few months before they would start eating veg, ( their current favorite is broccoli).
Another idea to increase their nutrition is to add soaked-barely sprouted seed. I use the BirdsRUs variety and the birds LOVE it.

[ac12]

I will sprinkled white millet on their egg+veggies.
This at least got them down to the egg+veggie dish and start to pick at it. It took a while but sooner or later they try the other stuff in the dish with the seeds.

[Musetta]

For some reason, all of my finches have become enthusiastic spinach eaters. Now I just need to find a fruit that will reliably entice them. But I consider the spinach a huge accomplishment.

[Rox]

Rachel, have you tried making sprouts for them? Its very easy and all of my finches absolutely love to eat them (it's the one fresh food that all of them actually eat). I've found that they are great for the fledgling's as well, as they are soft to nibble on.

http://www.avianweb.com/sprouting.html

[Musetta]

Thanks, Rox! I will try this. ac12, I have tried the millet trick--works every time!

[debbie276]

I'm sure your already aware but spinach should be fed moderately and not all the time. The oxalic acid in spinach will inhibit calcium absorption.

[Lisa]

One more note on the apples, be absolutely certain no apple seeds in any that you offer to them. The seeds are poisonous to finches.

[Musetta]

Lisa debbie276 thanks, good to know!