Who uses supplements...

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:53 pm

Sometimes I offer clear water too - I alternate with the vits and iodine and calcium in the water, and it all depends on what you call supplements. Most of what I offer is natural in the wild (other than the vitamins).

Seems to be working for me.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:45 pm

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.

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.

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 · Post by **mickp** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:35 am

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.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:58 am

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.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:43 am

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.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:07 am

L in Ontario wrote:I know, Chris - I know. It's about 1/2 price of what I currently pay but then the shipping would kill me.

Are you going to buy direct from Moores'? It's quite a drive to his place in the deep south of Ontario.

It's about 1 1/2 hr from Toronto.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:12 am

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.

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.

Chris

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:14 am

I'm quite suprised that many here don't use supplements. Perhaps I'm placing too much emphasis on suplements. I will therefore lay back on them a bit and ony give 1X/week except when breeding where I will give daily.

Chris

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:03 am

Some people have a bathroom cabinet full of pills...I don't.Like my birds I try to eat a sensible diet.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:10 am

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.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:54 am

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.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:17 am

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.

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?

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:24 am

CLO and egg yolk both have Vit D in it

Chris

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:33 am

chrischris wrote:CLO and egg yolk both have Vit D in it

Chris

That's good as I provide egg yolk and egg white which they all scarf down by the tonne!

So why offer the CLO?

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:38 am

L in Ontario wrote:
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.
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?

The latter...found in salmon and sardines too but cod liver oil and egg yolk are the two easily administered to cage birds.