what would natural foraging materials consist of

[star]

I read on a site called grassland gouldians that gouldians should have natural foraging materials to keep them from being bored. I am not sure what materials this person means. Anyone have any ideas?

[CandoAviary]

Dried grasses. Make sure they are not collected from roadsides (poisioned by car exhauste) and not from areas that are sprayed with fertilizers and weedkillers. Many times out in the country fields or grow your own. I grow millet grasses, giant reed grasses, bamboo, etc.
Never give pine needles and be cautious with grasses like pampas grass (fountain grass).. If the grass can paper cut your fingers it will cut the bird too.
You can also provide gree plants like clover, dandelion greens and flower, chickweed, etc.
They forage for food and nesting materials.

[dfcauley]

Mine love to forage . I give them a tray every weekend.
They get whatever is available in my yard at the time.

I don't leave it down too long because they will use it for nesting materials.

It usually consist of chickweed, clover, dandelion leaves etc....

I also grow wheat grass for them which they love. The top picture is the grass and under it
is the foraging tray.

[CandoAviary]

Donna,
Those birds are enjoying that. The forbes looks like he is ready to dive in

[dfcauley]

yep! He has got babies to feed!!!!

[cindy]

Donna, do you use organic soil to plant in? The wheat grass, where do you get your seeds?

I love the tray of grass idea, they can feel like they are out in the wild munching!

[dfcauley]

Donna, do you use organic soil to plant in? The wheat grass, where do you get your seeds?

I love the tray of grass idea, they can feel like they are out in the wild munching!

Yes, I use the organic soil. I get it in a bag from Wal-Mart.
I bought the wheat grass seed from a farm supply store here in my town.
They absolutely love it. I have some on my deck growing now and am getting ready to give it \
to them. They get their nutrients from the first growth. Once it gets long it has lost it's
nutritional value and you need to give them new.......

[star]

Wow that grass looks fun I want to grow some!! Thanks for your help on foraging materials. I have to get some more stuff. I have fake grass that they try to pull off but can't and fake greens and also orchard grass (dried). I want to give them plenty to do!!!

[cindy]

Donna,

Since Florida sun is a bit intense, if I was to grow this in a pot on the pool deck would you recommend direct or indirect sun? Light watering every day or every other?

[dfcauley]

Donna,

Since Florida sun is a bit intense, if I was to grow this in a pot on the pool deck would you recommend direct or indirect sun? Light watering every day or every other?

I think I would put it in the shade. I have grown some in the classroom for my students so they could measure the
growth. It grows really fast...... We watered it every day.

[Ursula]

I grew wheat grass before too but I got it in little seed bags at Harry's Farmersmarket and it was expensive!!

Good idea to ask in the feedstore for it. I have to try that.

[dfcauley]

I grew wheat grass before too but I got it in little seed bags at Harry's Farmersmarket and it was expensive!!

Good idea to ask in the feedstore for it. I have to try that.

Most times it comes in really big bags. My feed store here in Carrollton takes it and puts it into little brown bags.
I got five pounds for ten dollars and it last forever. I have even shared some with friends.....

[cindy]

Thank you Donna. My husband and I are going to start sprouts of different kinds in jars. We are going to try the wheat grass in soil also. Thank you for the input, so appreciated.

I find buying fresh veggies and fruit get expensive and is wasteful if only a quarter of the birds eat it. This sounds like an economical and easy way to provide them with a variety of greens.