diet for RCCBs

[SuzE]

Hi all,

I was just reading about feeding bag o' bugs to insectivores and it says it will encourage breeding. I haven't fed my RCCB's any bugs yet (mainly because I had a hard time finding a place that had them). Two questions: If I start feeding bugs will they want to start nesting, because they may be ready but I'm not And are bugs necessary to maintain the health of my birds or can they go without. I worry somewhat because they are very finicky eaters. Thanks

[Animal Quackers]

Hello, I can not answer your question, but wanted to let you know that Petco sells mealworms. I had no idea they did, but I Just bought some today!

Good luck!

Michelle

[Sally]

If you are not breeding your RCCBs, you don't have to feed bugs or live food. You can supply all the protein they need with eggfood. If you can get them used to eggfood, it may be that they will raise babies without live food, if you should ever decide to breed them.

[SuzE]

Good Morning,

I wonder when Petco started live food? I have called them and went to their store just to look around (yeah, right!) and they didn't have anything and I was surprised becaused that is where I was going to order live food. So that's very good to know even tho I would prefer to not get into that. I have enough live stuff right now. The one thing my RCCBs will eat is my home made eggfood. Egg, kale,
sprouts, if I have them, I try to sneak a few veggies in (they pick them out) , oyster shell and I was putting vitamins in but have stopped doing that. I sprinkle oyster shell in their seed dishes too. I have stopped giving just plain kale - always mix it with egg now trying to maintain a good balance. I would just die if I overfed some one thing and they got sick. Thanks so much for all the info. I wish I could bring my pix up on my computer but for some reason I can see them downloading but then I can't retrieve them. I think the company wants me to update my software

[mickp]

for me livefood is a must for RCCB's (mealworm, maggots, moths).
I couldnt imagine not giving it to them. to get them interested in breeding I deny them livefood for 2 to 4 weeks and then introduce it again over a two week period, building up the amount daily. since I started doing this the birds have produced clutches of 4 healthy fledglings on average with a few clutches of 5 & 6.
if you do breed RCCB's and the young fledge with white flight feathers that is a sign of malnourishment (not enough livefood).

[cindy]

Thank you Mick, I have RCCB. I do give them live food and Bag O'Bugs but they do not eat it. They do love Herb Salad and egg food with ground Roudybush. They eat more of the dried egg food and Roudybush than they do seed.