Spirulina ?

[Colt]

The woman I recently purchased the gouldians, owl, and zebras from gave me some spirulina capsules. She said she spread it over their sprouted seeds but failed to mention how often or how much. What are the benefits of feeding/offering spirulina? I know it is in a lot of fish food and I believe helps with color but are there any other benefits? Do any of you offer it, and if so to what species, and how?

[debbie276]

I used to sprinkle it on the food of my gouldians and owls but didn't notice any difference so stopped.

[Colt]

Food as in egg food or food as in seed?

[dfcauley]

My birds would not eat when I put it over their food. I had the powdered. It was quite expensive and I had to toss it.

[Learning Finch]

I bought a high quality human grade spurlina. I give it to my birds also. I look at it as just another source of vitamins and minerals. I mix it with my fresh boiled egg. spurlina super foods If interested and in the US I can part with some. I will never use it all.

[debbie276]

I sprinkled it over everything, it turns wet food like egg green

[Colt]

Ewww. Maybe that's why she sprinkled it on their sprouts? They couldn't see the off color and just ate it? *shrugs* I've been giving them romaine lettuce and they are terrified of it. Well most of them. The Shaft-tails destroyed it. Someone in the big flight with the zebs, ocw's, and socs, munched on theirs because their water had green poop in it. And the new birds cram themselves into one area to get as far away from it as they can. They won't even go to the feed and water on that side of the cage...

[Learning Finch]

My birds seam to love green eggs this is what my egg food with real egg looks like. and another picture 20 min after placing it in aviary.. and yes that dish was full

[fhgwgads]

Colt are you giving them the lettuce whole? My birds won't touch any greens unless they are minced.. they are afraid of it if it is larger than they are.

[Colt]

You know upon your advice I tried shredding it in the food processor and the zebras destroyed it alongside the shaft-tails. The male gouldians and the female owl also devoured it. But the pair of gouldians I'm trying to breed still looked at it in disdain and did not touch it.

[Learning Finch]

I think just like us they need to be in the mood for some things... and some times just need to try something new. also the ammount of spurlina could be a factor. I just use enough to turn green I dont over do it.

[Colt]

Well I haven't tried them with the Spirulina yet. I may try just mixing it into their dry eggfood which they all devour.

[wellingtoncdm]

I mainly use spirulina in hand feeding formula or dry eggfood. A little bit goes a long way. Almost all of my birds will devour a whole leaf of romaine lettuce. I never chop it.

[cindy]

I personally would use caution using it daily, the protein count in it is very high, finches require about 12 % protein daily...spirulina is high around 60-63%, about 5 x's what the daily requirements are daily and if you add it to eggfood, the protein increases also. I spoke to my vet at one time when this topic came up months ago...she said to try not to exceed 20-25 % protein for parents feeding young.

It is full of lots of other vitamins and minerals, if you are supplying other supplements I would go easy, to much of a good thing can often not be a good thing.

http://hecticlifehealthygirl.wordpress. ... -benefits/

[Colt]

Thank you Cindy. I wasn't planning in offering it daily. Just mixing one capsule into enough dry egg food for everyone every other time I mix a batch of it up to fill their bowls until I run out. If I don't see a difference in plumage or condition I wouldn't plan on adding it to their gambit of food.