European GoldFinch Diet

[gardeli]

Hi everyone I'm new to this forum but not new to European GoldFinches. I used to have a dozen when I lived in Europe. While I lived in Europe I only used to feed this birds hemp and they used to be fine but I know that isn't a adequate diet. Can someone please advise on what I should be feeding these birds? I would also like to know what vitamins I should gives these birds to get their face dark red. I have noticed that the color becomes orange in captivity.

Thanks

[Sally]

In another thread, about breeding Goldfinches, jonvill of San Francisco said that Blattner's Goldfinch mix is the best for these birds.

[Hilary]

I don't know about their goldfinch mix, but I know that Blattners is supposed to be a great brand.

[jonvill]

Blattners is an excellent seed and the goldfinch mix is specially formulated for all species of goldfinches and my canaries love it too!
It is a blend of nineteen different seeds most of which do not occur in regular mixes. Goldfinches need carotenes to get their red masks.
My goldfinches get dandelion greens daily and I make carrot cous cous too. I was fortunate to have my two pairs breed last year.

[trevorama]

gardeli- Abba makes a seed blend called ultimate european/siskin/finch blend #3800. It is not cheap, but they totally love it and there is a lot of different things in it. You can check out their website at www.abbaseed.com and you can buy it online from www.justbirdstuff.com. It is specially blended for these birds.
Heather

[dh]

If your birds are in cages then give a 50/50 blattners goldfinch mix and canary mix as the specialise goldfinches mixes have fattening seeds in them, only give straight goldfinch mix if your birds are in large flights and getting loads of exercise..

[thegoldfincher]

I describe the diet i follow in this link

http://thegoldfincher.blogspot.com/2010 ... h-eat.html

Nick

[nirep]

Hi there I lived in Europe as well and used to feed only hemp as did many other people.Glad your looking to expand their diet and if your lucky enough go buy the ready mixes like the blattners goldfinch mix,where i live in Australia i have to order seperate seeds and make my own.I use this mix as a guide and it is to be mixed further with a canary mix.Make sure they eat most of thier seeds before replacing food as they prefer fatty seeds.

- 30 % nyger
- 10 % orchard grass ( take rye grass if you only can get that)
- 7% chicory seed
- 5 % white perilla seed
- 5 % of the very small black sunflower seeds
- 3 % hemp
- 3 % teazle (a kind of thistle)
- 3% flax seed
- 3 % poppy seed
- 3 % rape seed (if this is already in the canary mix do not add more)
- 3 % sesame seeds
- 3 % black lettuce seeds
- 3 % white lettuce seeds
- 3 % cut oats
- 3% Japanese millet
- 3 % evening primrose seeds
- 2 % tomato seeds
- 20 % canary grass seed ( check how much is in the canary mix)

Good luck and don't forget the greens and vegetables which is another broad topic all together to discuss.

[batuhan]

Hi gardeli,
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6825

red safflower,flaxseed,paprika-red paper,elderberry,sunlight,daylight
if no sunlight then you need vitamin D3-cod liver oil=red face mask of european goldfinch

batuhan

[thegoldfincher]

Hi gardeli,
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6825

red safflower,flaxseed,paprika-red paper,elderberry,sunlight,daylight
if no sunlight then you need vitamin D3-cod liver oil=red face mask of european goldfinch

batuhan

Paprika-red paper? what do you mean? it's first time i hear about that...

Thank you,
Nick

[Ursula]

I believe Batuhan must have meant "red pepper". (Paprika is made from red peppers, and I assume he means the mild form, not the spicy peppers...)

[jonvill]

Paprika is very good for red feathers because of the carotenoids, the only problem is that the gold bars on the wings will turn from yellow to orange if you feed paprika and red peppers. It's important to feed as much green food as you can during the late summer/early fall for the masks to become a deep red. Dandelion greens and kale are the best sources in my opinion.

[linda888]

Thanks for the amazing post