Best place to put food...

[slwatson]

Hello finch experts!

I wanted to try something different with how I offer food to my finches in their flight cages. I have their seed tube (it's more like a vacation feeder so I don't have to refill it as often) hung on the side of the cage towards the top. Then I take their plate of egg food and veggies and put it on the bottom of the cages, never directly under a perch to avoid contamination. They do love their soft foods at the bottom, but it still amazes me how quickly they wipe out their seed. Do you think if I bought some dishes that could have from the side towards the top of the cage, higher than their seed, they might be more willing to eat more of the soft food and less of the seed? I wanted to get your opinions before I bought anything. Thanks!

[lovezebs]

slwatson

One has to remember, that they are seed eaters, so they will eat quite a bit of seed, and waste quite a bit of seed, tossing it around.

If you want them to eat more soft foods, I would offer those first thing in the morning when they're hungry, before you offer their seeds.

My guys usually head for the eggs and the veggies before anything else.

I feed my veggie and egg trays on the floor of the flights as well. Seeds, are in seed cups that hang around the flight walls.

[slwatson]

lovezebs

I just wish my gouldians would eat more of the veggies. One thing I've definitely noticed since getting my parrot finches...they eat a lot! I haven't given them meal worms yet, but they eat all of the vegetables I serve, and they like the egg food too. I can see how they can get fat if you're not careful

[Spreckles]

I put the saucer of egg food on the floor of the cage too. What I am unsure about is if this is to get birds into breeding mode or just for daily nutrition. I have been reading some articles about this.

[xz_zebs]

I prefer seed, softfood and other treats lower in the cage. I think it helps encourage the birds to use more of their cage space. Of course, I have voracious zebs. I'm not sure that it would work with flightier species.

[debbie276]

I also feed on the bottom so they get exercise going up and down and so there is less mess outside their area.

[slwatson]

I've just continued feeding them on the bottom too....the gouldians have gotten better at eating more things.