The Lettuce Debate !!

[finchlyn]

I feed lettuce almost everyday. I don't bother with iceberg or bibb lettuces because of the low nutrition value and high water content. I feed many of the darker green lettuces and some of the red lettuces for the beta carotene content, along with other leafy greens like kale, spinach, chard, etc.
I think the controversy comes from birds that overeat high water content lettuce that will cause them to have diarrhea. If birds are given greens daily they rarely will overeat them. Same with mineral grit impaction, only birds that are deprived will overeat and suffer troubles. It is the nutritional deficiencies that causes the bird to overeat resulting in health problems. Another cause of problems could come from improper washing of greens to leaving the greens available until they wilt and go bad. Unless home grown most lettuces are sprayed with insecticides. These must be washed off. Wilted lettuce is a perfect host for bacteria to grow so uneaten portions must be removed from the aviary promptly.

[lovezebs]

Mands
Bread soaked in milk? Really? I remember my Mom telling me many years ago, to give this to my budgies . You just brought back a memory that I had forgotten.
Is it something that you give to all your birds on a regular basis? Is it ok to give this to finches?
By the way Mandie, what pray tell is crumble? Is it like apple crumble cake, which I happen to be rather fond of?

[Colt]

I was thinking the same thing. Bread and milk? For some reason I thought birds should avoid dairy as they had a very hard time digesting it. I've mixed yogurt into formula or let my Jenday conure lick a spoon clean but only very rarely. Maybe I'm way off on that though...

[Mands]

lovezebs@Colt

Yep....bread and milk....they love it !!!

I read it in a finch book (Russell Kingston finch companion) I have also given them plain Madera cake which they also love. But, the bread and milk has also been recommended to my by a friend who breeds finches. I believe it is a "Snack food" so don't give it all of the time. You just put enough milk in to soak the bread and then I put it out on a plate for them.

Here is a grab from a site about feeding:

"If a fresh supply of stale whole meal bread soaked in milk is presented to the birds at this time they will happily take it, but it goes off pretty fast in warm weather so it must be replaced frequently in well washed pots."

[lovezebs]

Mands
Hey Girl, going to have to try some of that. I think its an old timer recipe, because as I said, it brings back memories from many moons ago.
How are things going in the land down under? And how are the new bird babes doing?

[Sally]

I was thinking the same thing. Bread and milk? For some reason I thought birds should avoid dairy as they had a very hard time digesting it. I've mixed yogurt into formula or let my Jenday conure lick a spoon clean but only very rarely. Maybe I'm way off on that though...

A friend who has successfully handfed Victoria Crowned pigeons adds a bit of yogurt to his handfeeding formula. He says it helps balance the bacteria in their gut.

[Mands]

lovezebs Heya.

I picked up a pair of Red Brows at the sale, they are super pretty, sorry no pics yet as I am letting them settle in.

I have African fires and seagreen parrots on eggs or already hatched right now, so I am nervously waiting on them.

Another sale in 2 weeks, its a big one so I am really looking forward to that one. Gosh, what will I come home with this time !!!

[lovezebs]

Mands
Hi Girl.
Another Sale??? Oh honey, you are going to need a bigger house, a bigger aviery, another husband to help pay for it all.... Might have to sell the children, or trade them in.... = ))

[Mands]

lovezebs Toooooo funny !! He is saying the same thing

I have limited money due to my expenditure on the budgies. BUT, I am sure I can sell something before then to get some together lol and NO it wont be the kidlets. They already think I am a mad woman without all the animals I have and love.

This sale is on the 25th of May, so its not that far away, then the next one isn't until August. I wont be putting anything outside till after October now as the cold has set in. So, it is back to my routine in the back room sitting with the fluffs.

Oh and guess what, my African silverbills are sitting on eggs, I have only had them about two week inside and they have gotten to it pretty quickly indeed. I cant wait to see how that turns out.

Stay tuned for more adventures on Mandies Ark.

[lovezebs]

Mands
That was fast for the little africans.

What do you do with them all? Do you sell some of the babies, or do they all stay with you?
You know even the Ark had a rule of two by two...

"There were green alligators and long necked geese, some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees, some cats and rats..." Good grief, now I'll be singing that silly song for a week or more.

Anyway, goodluck with all the ~fluffs~

[Mands]

Sorry I didn't mean to say I will sell some of my fluffs, I sounded like a heartless bird broker (not saying they are bad either). I meant I will have to dig up something from home to sell. There has got to be something around here, oh and it is mothers day on Sunday so I hope to get some $$$ for that.

Yes and I agree to the 2 x 2 rule as well. Also my OCD has to be in proportion

I am actually after some yellow backed Gouldians and then my latest wish list is complete, probably need about $150 for those if there are any at the sale.

Wish me luck, although it is not for another two weeks, but that hasn't stopped me planning

[delray]

I've been feeding my finches romaine every day and spinach every 3 days. They really like their lettuce!!!!