Where do you get your millet?

[paul-inAZ]

Pet shops will have the nylon nyger seed socks. A slightly cheaper source for the seeds is Safeway's pet food section, strange but true.

Rain? I've heard about that but can't remember the last time I saw any.

[Nerien]

One way to tell how fresh seeds are is to plant some and see how many grow. Might be the difference between the millet the birds devour, and the millet they barely pick at.

On the facebook site I saw someone mentioned growing the millet spray, and the picture looks like she somehow got the whole spray, intact, sprouted and growing. Anyone got a technique for doing this? The picture wasn't very clear, but if it means no soils involved, that would be great, my "bird room" is my living room, fully carpeted, and I really don't want to give my birds, finches or especially budgies and parrotlets, dirt to throw around.

[debbie276]

I don't see why you could soak the whole spray in water and have it sprout

[dcompt]

I only have online sources for it, well other than the small packages from the pet stores. My birds love the millet sprays from Drs. Foster and Smith. I see it's on sale right now. I'm almost through a box from another source that they don't like as well, so when it's gone, I'll stick with this.

[chirpy]

Thanks everybody for the response!

I have many options - going to the mart, online and stores (though I havent gone to the feed store - yet!) just wanted to see what everyone thought of where they purchase

I TRIED to sprout some of the millets I got at petsmart (i saw a pic of someone who did and it had big sprouts and said their birds loved it!) well I tried... and unsuccessful!

I did it the same way.. but I got this white fluffy mold??? thing on it and I threw it away though about 10 little sprouts had sprouted. Maybe it was too old?
plus I used ACV like I do when I sprout but the smell was still relatively strong - so itd be quite strong for hte finches I would think.. So I didn't go along with it. I washed, drained, washed, soaked to get the ACV smell out but the millets were so tight and clustered I guess I couldn't quite get ALL the ACV out? That was probably the problem.. but then again I had that white fluffy mold like thing growing.. hm. Maybe it wasn't mold.

[debbie276]

Are you sure it wasn't tiny little roots?

[chirpy]

debbie276

They were FUZZY.. I saw tiny roots next to them so i am quite certain they were not roots.

they looked like.. dandelion fluff

[chirpy]

dayhiker
OH... ...

I HAVE TURKEY VULTURES... There are pine trees (very tall - well I think that they are pine trees!) across the street from us every yaer.. we have about 15 of them living there (nesting?)
They are freakishly UGLY little things (SORRY!... but they are really really.. ugly ) Turkey's scare me so you know how they glide around so high AND having so many of them live so close to you! scary!!!!!

We have just the little sparrows (i think) and one lone bluejay. He comes down every morning and dusk.. always alone! and he gets bullied! I would love to feed the wild birds but there are a few old ladies who feed strays.. I love cats but I can't have them hunt the wild birds because I am feeding them! and I have also seen squirrels take the seeds from them on other peoples lawn.. I love htem too but whats the point if they are getting it all!

[nelloyello11]

Martie what is the name and location of the store you get your supplies from? I haven't found any good places out here to speak of, just pet stores carrying the same stuff, and charging $2/lb for bulk seed mix

I had been getting the Amish seed mix (Lizzie Mae) from Mid Ohio at the fairs (less than $1/lb), but they weren't at the last one... I hate to go back to the Kaytee stuff, as the ratio of pellets is a lot higher and they just don't eat them...

My family lives in the Syracuse area, so if you've got a good place, it might be worth making a pit stop on my way to or from visits with my family.

[Martie]

Martie what is the name and location of the store you get your supplies from? I haven't found any good places out here to speak of, just pet stores carrying the same stuff, and charging $2/lb for bulk seed mix

I had been getting the Amish seed mix (Lizzie Mae) from Mid Ohio at the fairs (less than $1/lb), but they weren't at the last one... I hate to go back to the Kaytee stuff, as the ratio of pellets is a lot higher and they just don't eat them...

My family lives in the Syracuse area, so if you've got a good place, it might be worth making a pit stop on my way to or from visits with my family.

I love the Lizzie Mae seed, too, and also bought some when they were here. I didn't try their mixes, but got oat groats and hemp.

For my bulk seed mix, I have used Herman Bros. http://www.hermanbros-seed.com/index.html in Detroit for many years. Their seed is always clean and really fresh. I use their EM Special Finch Mix for my birds and they offer many others as well as about any single seed you would ever want. They will also gladly make any mix you would like.

The EM Special Finch Mix is $1.18/pound for the 50 pounds I buy at a time. Shipping would be less for you as you are closer - for me it tacks on about $30.00 and the final price with shipping is $1.77/Pound.

We also have a great bird store here in Rochester - Birds Unlimited - http://www.birdsunltd.com/storeandstaffinformation.html. Paul carries an impressive variety of products in the store - and is happy to order bulk or other items for you from companies he does business with (LOTS of them). So, a great place for millet sprays, almost any commercial seed mix, etc. etc. You might want to try his seed mixes, too.

Hope that helps?

[nelloyello11]

Martie what is the name and location of the store you get your supplies from? I haven't found any good places out here to speak of, just pet stores carrying the same stuff, and charging $2/lb for bulk seed mix

I had been getting the Amish seed mix (Lizzie Mae) from Mid Ohio at the fairs (less than $1/lb), but they weren't at the last one... I hate to go back to the Kaytee stuff, as the ratio of pellets is a lot higher and they just don't eat them...

My family lives in the Syracuse area, so if you've got a good place, it might be worth making a pit stop on my way to or from visits with my family.

I love the Lizzie Mae seed, too, and also bought some when they were here. I didn't try their mixes, but got oat groats and hemp.

For my bulk seed mix, I have used Herman Bros. http://www.hermanbros-seed.com/index.html in Detroit for many years. Their seed is always clean and really fresh. I use their EM Special Finch Mix for my birds and they offer many others as well as about any single seed you would ever want. They will also gladly make any mix you would like.

The EM Special Finch Mix is $1.18/pound for the 50 pounds I buy at a time. Shipping would be less for you as you are closer - for me it tacks on about $30.00 and the final price with shipping is $1.77/Pound.

We also have a great bird store here in Rochester - Birds Unlimited - http://www.birdsunltd.com/storeandstaffinformation.html. Paul carries an impressive variety of products in the store - and is happy to order bulk or other items for you from companies he does business with (LOTS of them). So, a great place for millet sprays, almost any commercial seed mix, etc. etc. You might want to try his seed mixes, too.

Hope that helps?

Yes, thanks Martie! I will definitely have to check him out when I am passing through! I will look into the Herman Bros too. I would only need like 25lbs at a time, but if it's better seed, it's still less than the pet store stuff, even with shipping probably.
What blends do you use?