What can I give my finches regarding greens?

[PappaBear]

Hi people!

This is my first post on this forum!

I have gouldians and diamond firetails. What can I give them in the line of greens? I don't want to give them stuff that they won't touch....

Currently they are getting a seed mix, charcoal and grit.

Thanks a lot!

Jaco
(Cape Town South Africa)

[Sally]

Most finches love some veggies. Dark greens such as kale, broccoli, greens (collard and mustard), romaine lettuce, Lebanese cucumber, carrots--these are basics, and then you can expand from there. I chop most of my veggies very fine, some people clip whole leaves of kale and other greens to the side of the cage so the birds nibble on it.

Another great addition to your birds' diet is egg food, whether homemade or commercial. This can be as simple as a hardboiled egg mashed shell and all and offered to your birds, though many like it dried out a bit. You can dry it by adding some dry commercial egg food or even something as simple as yellow corn meal. Egg is a must if you want to breed, as it is high in protein, necessary for growing babies, plus calcium in the egg shell, necessary for producing eggs.

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at http://www.finchinfo.com, where there is a whole section on Nutrition including an article on safe and unsafe foods. If you put your general location in your profile, it helps to answer questions later on.

http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/safe_toxi ... _foods.php

[debbie276]

Welcome to the forum!
Here on the Finch Information Center page, "Nutrients & Their Sources" you should be able to find lots of things to add to your finches diet.
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/nutrients_and_sources.php

On this page, "Safe, Toxic, & Unsafe Foods" you will find things not to feed or to feed in moderation.
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/safe_toxi ... _foods.php

The best thing to offer your finch is hard boiled eggs. I mash the egg and add a bit of handfeeding formula just to dry it out a bit. You could sprinkle some of their favorite seed on top of the egg to get them to try it.

good luck

[Sally]

debbie276 Lol, it looks like we were writing our posts at the same time. What is it they say--great minds think alike?

[debbie276]

[lovezebs]

PappaBear

Hi Jaco, and welcome to the Forum from Canada.

You happen to have a couple of my favorite species (Gouldians, which I also have, and Diamonds, which I would like to have, but can't find over here).

You already have good advice from our Sally and Debbie.

I'Il just add a few of my guys favorites here:
Spinach
Red Swiss Chard
Beet greens
Carrot greens
Corn
Broccoli
Parsley

Chopped apple
Banana slices
Orange slices (cut across)

There are other choices of course, depending on your individual birds and what they will like. I'd offer small amounts, and see what they prefer.

I'd really like to see some pictures of your feathered kids.

By the way, we have several members from SA on the Forum here, and I'm pretty sure you'll be getting a welcome from them soon.

Warm regards

[Spreckles]

I can't get over how much real food other peoples' birds eat! Maybe I keep too much food in my birds cages??? They always have finch seed mix, millet sprays, and the "egg" treat sticks hanging from the top of their cages. When I fix fresh veggies, greens, hard boiled egg and shells it seems to be untouched. I don't leave it more than a day. Putting their favorite seed on top is a good idea! That would be millet. They are plenty fat enough