Do you offer green grass seeds?
- elepaio4
- Hatchling
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:11 am
- Location: Brasilia, Brasil
Do you offer green grass seeds?
Dear All-
I have always offered as much unripe green grass seed as I could to my finches. I have raised birds in tropical Hawaii and Brazil, and green seeds are often available (nearly) throughout the year. It is an excellent rearing food, and it provides an enrichment activity for captive birds as they scramble over the seed-heads and forage like their wild counterparts.
I have the impression however that my fellow continental Americans don't offer it as much. This contrast strongly with Aussie finch breeders, who seem to value it a lot. Do you offer green seeds to your birds when available? How important do you consider it as a rearing food?
Matt
I have always offered as much unripe green grass seed as I could to my finches. I have raised birds in tropical Hawaii and Brazil, and green seeds are often available (nearly) throughout the year. It is an excellent rearing food, and it provides an enrichment activity for captive birds as they scramble over the seed-heads and forage like their wild counterparts.
I have the impression however that my fellow continental Americans don't offer it as much. This contrast strongly with Aussie finch breeders, who seem to value it a lot. Do you offer green seeds to your birds when available? How important do you consider it as a rearing food?
Matt
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- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
I offer green seeds whenever I can, due to the seasons and snow it's not always available here though. I personally find it to be a very valuable food source.
I think many in the states hesitate to offer foods from outside because they are afraid of contamination.
I think many in the states hesitate to offer foods from outside because they are afraid of contamination.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
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- Callow Courter
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:20 am
- Location: Waddell AZ (west of Phoenix)
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
please elaborate on green grass seed? A link or pictures to what exactly you are talking about. I'm always looking for new things for my birds... I have recently started sprouting seed. the birds seem to love it. the only info on green grass seed I come up with is to let your lawn over grow and then pick the seed shouts that sprout is that what you mean or is there a place to buy like millet??
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- 3 Eggs Laid
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Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
I throw uneaten seed and hulls onto some bare ground and it grows into grasses with seed heads. These grow into mostly millets. Clip the grasses, [leaves, seed heads and all], and feed it to them. My birds devour the green seed heads and will often chew at the grass leaves.
- finchmix22
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 6258
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:25 pm
- Location: DFW TX
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
I gave some fresh grass seed from my yard for few years until my neighbors started spraying for weeds with a chemical that caused "run off" into the other yards. Then, I couldn't count on my yard being safe for my finches. Also, other breeders sprout seeds to feed to hatchlings and breeding pairs, which is considered an excellent source of food and nutrients. My neighbors are from Brasil and we often share information about that area of the world, versus their experiences here in the U.S. Welcome to the Forum!
DEBORAH

- elepaio4
- Hatchling
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:11 am
- Location: Brasilia, Brasil
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
I am referring to undeveloped seeds on the panicle or spike that emerges from flowering/reproducing grasses. I collect them primarily in natural areas (fields, meadows, etc), clean them thoroughly, store and feed. Green grass seeds (often referred to as unripe or milk-stage) of many grass species can be fed to the birds. They are very nutritious and have an amino acid profile that more closely matches egg than dry, mature seed (see Allen, L. R., & Hume, I. D. (1997). The importance of green seed in the nitrogen nutrition of the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata. Australian journal of ecology, 22(4), 412-418).
Any species of millet usually offered to birds can be grown and fed to birds at the milk-seed stage. Since I collect wild grasses, I tend to use Guinea grass (Pannicum maximum) and Signal grass (Urochloa), which are common and prolific. These are tropical and I'm not sure they would occur in arid, temperate AZ. When looking for potential green seeds for my birds, I often let wild finches guide me. Whatever they are eating must be pretty good.....
Any species of millet usually offered to birds can be grown and fed to birds at the milk-seed stage. Since I collect wild grasses, I tend to use Guinea grass (Pannicum maximum) and Signal grass (Urochloa), which are common and prolific. These are tropical and I'm not sure they would occur in arid, temperate AZ. When looking for potential green seeds for my birds, I often let wild finches guide me. Whatever they are eating must be pretty good.....
- finchmix22
- Mod Extraordinaire
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Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
What about bacteria or fungus etc that may be on the seeds? You mentioned washing them, but what do you do to remove bacteria and fungus, while still keeping the seeds nutrition?
DEBORAH

- elepaio4
- Hatchling
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:11 am
- Location: Brasilia, Brasil
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
Pathogens are a worry when offering green seeds (chemicals seem unlikely given the location of collection and, even less likely after washing). I soak the collected seed heads in a weak bleach solution (1 tbs per liter). I then rinse the seed thoroughly and allow it to dry. Any excess bleach that wasn't removed during the wash (highly unlikely) will break down into Na and Cl ions rapidly while drying. This bleach-soaking technique is actually quite common for vegetables consumed raw by people in Brazil. When I first moved down here, I was wary of this but I haven't had any problems. My birds haven't had one either.
Honestly, I think my approach is somewhat of an overkill. I doubt much harmful bacteria, fungus, or viruses survive on green grass seeds for any length of time. Constant bombardment with solar UV light,and good ventilation (=dryness) around the seeds on the panicle make it hard to imagine how pathogens could thrive there. However, wild birds could possibly transfer avian pathogens to the outside of the seeds. My assumption is this washing protocol mitigates this potential. In any case, our birds are tougher than we give them credit for. Well-fed birds should be able to resist most pathogens. In my opinion, bird keepers put too strong an emphasis on pathogens, but most captive birds die because of issues directly or indirectly associated with an improper diet.
Honestly, I think my approach is somewhat of an overkill. I doubt much harmful bacteria, fungus, or viruses survive on green grass seeds for any length of time. Constant bombardment with solar UV light,and good ventilation (=dryness) around the seeds on the panicle make it hard to imagine how pathogens could thrive there. However, wild birds could possibly transfer avian pathogens to the outside of the seeds. My assumption is this washing protocol mitigates this potential. In any case, our birds are tougher than we give them credit for. Well-fed birds should be able to resist most pathogens. In my opinion, bird keepers put too strong an emphasis on pathogens, but most captive birds die because of issues directly or indirectly associated with an improper diet.
- finchmix22
- Mod Extraordinaire
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Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
Makes sense. Have you posted pics of your birds? I'd love to see them. 

DEBORAH

- elepaio4
- Hatchling
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:11 am
- Location: Brasilia, Brasil
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
Hey Deborah-
I haven't posted any pics yet. My collection in Brazil is small. Currently, I have a pair of red-throated parrotfinches and a pair of gouldians (yellow head male and black head female). The parrotfinches have nestlings. If all continues to go well, they should fledge in a week or so. Hopefully, there will be some family portraits up on this site soon!
I haven't posted any pics yet. My collection in Brazil is small. Currently, I have a pair of red-throated parrotfinches and a pair of gouldians (yellow head male and black head female). The parrotfinches have nestlings. If all continues to go well, they should fledge in a week or so. Hopefully, there will be some family portraits up on this site soon!
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- Proud Parent
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Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
Hi Matt,
I do feed my birds (finches and canary) green seeding grasses. I collect them from my own garden, so I know they haven't been sprayed. Sometimes i can also get seeds to sprout when I drop them, and the birds also like these. I am aware that a lot of these grasses do get sprayed so you have to be careful.
I always wash them down well.
Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 6 months
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years
I do feed my birds (finches and canary) green seeding grasses. I collect them from my own garden, so I know they haven't been sprayed. Sometimes i can also get seeds to sprout when I drop them, and the birds also like these. I am aware that a lot of these grasses do get sprayed so you have to be careful.
I always wash them down well.
Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 6 months
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years
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- Proven
- Posts: 2112
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:57 am
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
I collect grass seeds from my garden and also out in the veld in area's where I know the municipality does not spray pesticide. I usually just give it a rinse under the tap first and haven't had any problems. The birds love it and it definitely adds some variety to their diet 

Roxanne
Gouldian's, Blue Breasted Cordon Bleu's, Orange-cheeks, Violet-eared, Black-cheeked waxbill's and Peter's Twinspots
Gouldian's, Blue Breasted Cordon Bleu's, Orange-cheeks, Violet-eared, Black-cheeked waxbill's and Peter's Twinspots
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- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
I also just add the grasses to the aviary without sterilizing or washing them without any issues. 

Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 17929
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
One of the advantages to offering seeding grasses is that it replicates how and what they eat in nature. Birds in the wild spend much of their time foraging for food. When all the food for caged birds is offered in a dish or cup, life for them is pretty boring. Everything we can do to stimulate them can only help them, IMO. I found when I offered a totally pellet diet, my birds became quiet and less active. Going back to a seed diet, they suddenly started singing and flying around again.
I also think we worry a little too much sometimes about chemicals. Birds in the wild are exposed to chemicals, especially in the U.S., where agriculture has come to depend so much on these chemicals. I have a 25-acre pasture, and I plan each year on getting some hay off this pasture. In order to have good weed-free hay, I have an herbicide sprayed on the pasture at the beginning of the season. I have also purchased hay from the feed store to use as bedding for my birds, and I'm quite sure it has been treated. Yet my pasture is full of birds, and my caged birds use the hay to build nests. I'm not advocating collecting seeding grasses from just anywhere, an out-of-the-way field that has not been maintained is less likely to have been treated, but don't let the fear of chemicals keep you from providing an excellent source of food/entertainment for your birds.
I also think we worry a little too much sometimes about chemicals. Birds in the wild are exposed to chemicals, especially in the U.S., where agriculture has come to depend so much on these chemicals. I have a 25-acre pasture, and I plan each year on getting some hay off this pasture. In order to have good weed-free hay, I have an herbicide sprayed on the pasture at the beginning of the season. I have also purchased hay from the feed store to use as bedding for my birds, and I'm quite sure it has been treated. Yet my pasture is full of birds, and my caged birds use the hay to build nests. I'm not advocating collecting seeding grasses from just anywhere, an out-of-the-way field that has not been maintained is less likely to have been treated, but don't let the fear of chemicals keep you from providing an excellent source of food/entertainment for your birds.
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- 3 Eggs Laid
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- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:26 pm
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Re: Do you offer green grass seeds?
Agree with Sally. I also think we worry too much.
While common sense caution is good my mantra is that 98% of the things we worry about never happen.
While common sense caution is good my mantra is that 98% of the things we worry about never happen.