Who uses supplements...
- L in Ontario
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- atarasi
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If you're lucky enough to live in Gouldian country with an outdoor aviary, I can see how getting away from using supplements is possible. If you live in an apartment or don't have an aviary, then for some of us (me) worry about the finches not getting what they would normally get in the wild.mickp wrote:I dont use any supplements. I try to keep my aviary as close to the conditions that a bird would experience in the wild as possible.
Bringing to my birds what they aren't going to get in cages indoors isn't the most ideal, but the weather around here doesn't match the same conditions as where the birds would normally survive. Before I purchased my finches, I purchased hundred of dollars in supplements. Most of them I don't even use.
- mickp
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- dfcauley
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mickp wrote:one thing that all finches need is sunlight. its amazing how something we all take for granted can make such a difference to the health of a bird.
Yes, and I realize this even more when I see mine sitting on the window sill right where the sun is shining in. I think they have to be hot, but they seem to love it.
Donna
- L in Ontario
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That would be great for outdoor aviaries but I wonder how much of the "real" sunlight actually gets through a window for those of us that have to house birds indoors.
Since I cannot have an outdoor aviary - I supplement (there's that word again) real sunlight with "daylight" bulbs and full spectrum floursecent lights.
Since I cannot have an outdoor aviary - I supplement (there's that word again) real sunlight with "daylight" bulbs and full spectrum floursecent lights.
Liz
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- CocoFiber Craftsman
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- CocoFiber Craftsman
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Having birds next to the window will give them the ultraviolet light they need. You know you can still get a sunburn in a car with you windows rolled up but just slower.L in Ontario wrote:That would be great for outdoor aviaries but I wonder how much of the "real" sunlight actually gets through a window for those of us that have to house birds indoors.
Since I cannot have an outdoor aviary - I supplement (there's that word again) real sunlight with "daylight" bulbs and full spectrum floursecent lights.
Chris
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- CocoFiber Craftsman
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- gomer
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I read an interesting article today( Australian bird keeper).One thing it said was all birds need vitamin D3. they need it to absorb calcium and phosphorous.D3 is not usually found in the diet of birds,But is produced in the uropygial gland,needing ultra violet light to produce this.hence indoor birds may not be getting ultraviolet light.
- L in Ontario
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Poohbear - I thought vitamin D3 allows the calcium to be absorbed and utilized by the finch. Are you saying something else is required to allow the vit D3 to be absorbed? Or are you saying the egg yolk and CLO contain D3?poohbear wrote:My birds that don't have direct access to sunlight have egg yolk and cod liver oil in their diet to promote vitamin D3.Added calcium supplements will do no good without it.
Liz
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- CocoFiber Craftsman
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- L in Ontario
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- poohbear
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The latter...found in salmon and sardines too but cod liver oil and egg yolk are the two easily administered to cage birds.L in Ontario wrote:Poohbear - I thought vitamin D3 allows the calcium to be absorbed and utilized by the finch. Are you saying something else is required to allow the vit D3 to be absorbed? Or are you saying the egg yolk and CLO contain D3?poohbear wrote:My birds that don't have direct access to sunlight have egg yolk and cod liver oil in their diet to promote vitamin D3.Added calcium supplements will do no good without it.
