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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

574.0. "Finch Food Question" by MR4DEC::GCOOK (Save the Skeets) Wed Jul 10 1991 12:47

    I have a question for the finch fanciers among us...
    
    I have several types of finches (zebras, societies, owls, and 
    orange cheeked waxbills.  They all seem to have favorite foods
    except the orange cheeks...they eat everything but don't seem
    to love anything in particular. 
    
    I feed soaked seed mixed with wheat bran and protein powder, 
    assorted greens (spinach, bok choy, broccoli, shredded carrot,
    etc, etc.), spray millet, and scrambled egg mixed with cooked rice,
    wheat bran and protein powder.  And the Zebras just love rice baby
    cereal mixed with warm water for breakfast.  
    
    But the point is, the orange cheeks just don't seem to dive into
    anything.
    
    Does anyone have any suggestions?
    
    thanks,
    gwen
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574.1as long as they're eating!MEIS::TILLSONSugar MagnoliaWed Jul 10 1991 16:0120
    
    Gwen,
    
    As long as they are *eating* everything, I wouldn't worry too much that
    they don't seem as enthusiastic as the other species you've got.  My
    experience with zebras, societies, and owls is that they are all pretty
    much little pigs that are more thatn willing to consume about 50 times
    their body weight if you put that much food in front of them %-)  Your
    diet seems pretty sound to me, with one exception - if you have
    breeding birds, you'll need an extra supply of calcium, such as ground
    up eggshell (cook the shells in the microwave for 5 minutes or bake
    them in a 350 oven first to kill any salmonella that may be present.)
    
    However, I didn't see any fruit or live food listed - have you tried
    any fruits or mealworms or anything?  BTW, although your zebras
    probably won't eat them, your owls and societies will also really
    relish some meal worms or other small live insect food.
    
    						/Rita
    
574.2Oh, boy do they eat!MR4DEC::GCOOKSave the SkeetsWed Jul 10 1991 16:1017
    Hi Rita,
    
    I keep grit in a treat cup for everyone...that should take care of
    calcium, right?
    
    I've tried meal worms...they unilaterally turned their beaks up at
    them.  There's a prepared softfood that's mostly ground up bugs
    that I've tried.  I mix it in with the soaked seed and they think
    that's pretty good.  
    
    I am going to give the owls a nest soon so I want to also see if 
    they'll eat some fruit.  Have you had breeding pairs of owls?  
    Any other advice?
    
    thanks a lot!
    gwen
    
574.3Fussy Little EatersJVAX::SIPILACan I go home now?Fri Jul 12 1991 14:2333
    Hi -
    
    I too have some fussy little finches!
    
    What do you soak the seeds in?  
    
    My two like mostly seeds.  Anything else except a few fruits and
    veggies they turn their beaks up at or poop on!
    
    A few weeks ago I sprouted some seeds for them and they enjoyed
    them.  Also for a treat in the winter I grow oat grass for them.
    
    On week-ends when we cut the grass, they get some clean grass
    clippings to play with which they think is great!
    
    Seed though is their mainstay.  It is difficult to find something
    different in the seed line for them.  We tried that prepared
    softfood that's mostly ground up bugs, but they didn't care for
    it!                            
    
    For toys they have little squares of plastic canvas (the kind you
    do needlepoint on) and the plastic rings from the gallon bottle
    of milk.                                               
    
    Does anyone know of a pet store that has a large selection of finch
    seed?
    
    Thanks,
    
         Regards,
    
                 Susan
    
574.4Soak in waterMR4DEC::GCOOKSave the SkeetsFri Jul 12 1991 15:0613
    Soaked seed:  I just cover a day's ration with water and let it
    sit out for 24 hours.  The seed begins the germination process
    which increases the protein level and is better nutritionally.
    
    I also feed whole oats (horse food).  They like the harvested
    kind out of the bag and also the kind still on the stalk that
    grow next to the manure pile.
    
    Have you ever offered yours cooked rice?  Mine like it mixed in
    with the soaked seed or with some egg.
    
    gwen
    
574.5I'll Try itJVAX::SIPILACan I go home now?Fri Jul 12 1991 16:0315
    No, I have never tried cooked rice.  They hate hard-boiled eggs!
    
    The eat a little bit,  lay on it, pack it down and poop on
    it!
    
    Someone also suggested plain cooked white spaghetti cut up into
    little worm size.  
    
    I will try the cooked rice maybe they would like it.
    
    Thanks,
    
          Susan
    
                                     
574.6CeleryANGLIN::RECEPTIONMMon Jun 29 1992 16:038
    Has anyone ever tried giving their Finches a stalk of celery?  I put
    one of those plastic branches in the cage for a perch and I stick the
    celery on one of the branches so that it is like a branch itself and
    the birds can perch on the stalk.  They love it!!!  They won't have
    anything to do with fruit or vegetables that they can not perch on.
    
    Catherine (George and Eep)