austerity diet for the first time

[gomer]

I thought I would try a austerity diet this year.One that suits both the birds and myself.I took out all nestboxes that i could about 6 to 8 weeks ago and when birds nesting fledged took out he remaining.At the same time I stopped all live food etc...And just gave a birds a dry bird mix except the birds that still had young in boxes green food until fledged.No nesting material or feathers have been put in except what was left.

I know I have disrupted some winter breeders In doing this but hopfully they will have a go when I start up mid to late September.

In doing all of this I have still managed to fledge some young birds of various Species redbrow,star,picta,gould,etc...And have managed atleast one or two nests of diamies I bought and put out during the start of this austerity diet.Also I seem to have atleast two pr of goulds nesting in tea tree now they have no nest sites.This personally I have seen one other time many years ago in my own avairies.

I have had three or four deaths in the last fortnight.I suppose over 300 odd birds thats not excessive on such a diet.

I must say the break in morning chores has been good if nothing else.I hope the birds that have not breed have enjoyed a break and will all fire up next month like myself.

[tonytoast]

I guess this is what aviculture is all about....researching techniques to improve outcomes for both the birds and the breeders....

It will be interesting to see just how quickly (if at all) the winter breeders are in going down and the size of clutches.

One quick question....did you see lower clutch sizes (generally speaking) from those pairs that bred despite the lack of greens/live food?

[gomer]

Yes clutches around two to three mainly.This may have been because of good food availability.I did however have one pr of blues have their first clutch during this time and had 5 big birds survive so far.

[Craig52]

Yes clutches around two to three mainly.This may have been because of good food availability.I did however have one pr of blues have their first clutch during this time and had 5 big birds survive so far.

G'day gomer,i do understand your reasoning for this austerity diet but in my opinion it just doesn't work,if birds want to breed they will breed,with or without live food greens etc and the outcome could be disasterous.
I know you are going away for a few weeks,and so am i but you need to organize someone to care for your birds like i have,yes gouldians and a few others will get their young through on dry seed alone but some birds won't,especially picto's,WE's and lessers.
IMO,you might lose your spring breeding season or upset it and have your birds breeding in the hottest months of the year like when i went away last October and stopped every thing except dry seed and water in September, the out come was horrible with nest after nest of cooked chicks.
I only wish that i had just let them be and continued my regular feeding,it's better to have fledged young on the perch early in the season than dead chicks in the nest late season. Craig

[elferoz777]

Just let them go and let nature take it's course!

[gomer]

I have been skeptical about it for years.But was told by a top breeder to try it.So I am now 6 to 8 weeks already committed I will go the extra 3 or 4 weeks.I am hoping that the timing mid September may help because it is warming a little here.My current avairies dont get to hot in summer although I understand that this time most stop for a month or so.I will see how It pans out and let you know later on.It may well be that I have to split the winter breeders into a different bank and keep them going.I have someone here looking after them but to be honest no one looks after your birds better then yourself I think.Especially non bird keepers.

[Danny]

Austerity should not equal malnutrition. Putting them on just dry seed means that when you start back into breeding, many birds will be protein and calcium deficient which equal poor egg quality and egg binding. If you must 'rest' your birds then the diet must still be balanced but have less or none of those foods that stimulate breeding such as green seed heads and live food. They should still be getting a basic supplement such as soaked seed with egg and biscuit and calcium so they can maintain condition and calcium stores.

[gomer]

Danny maybe its not quite a dry seed diet, as all seed has been coated with codliver oil and or good oil which does have omega 3 and 6 and more.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/628/2

Wouldnt they still get calcium through the eggshell and cuttle bone ?
And I was going to put them straight on liquid gold at the same time I introduce the live food and greens etc..would this also be available aswell straight away ? as what they already had stored from the eggshell and cuttle bone, pink grit etc.. ?

I give them passwell finch soft food most of the year.So if i put that back in now before they breed, would that overcome the protein issue you mentioned.Since I have stopped live food.

All juvenile birds are not on the same diet.They also are getting greens greens and grains and straight phalaris seed.

This austerity/maintenance diet sounds more trouble then its worth so far.

[Danny]

Danny maybe its not quite a dry seed diet, as all seed has been coated with codliver oil and or good oil which does have omega 3 and 6 and more.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/628/2

Wouldnt they still get calcium through the eggshell and cuttle bone ?
And I was going to put them straight on liquid gold at the same time I introduce the live food and greens etc..would this also be available aswell straight away ? as what they already had stored from the eggshell and cuttle bone, pink grit etc.. ?

I give them passwell finch soft food most of the year.So if i put that back in now before they breed, would that overcome the protein issue you mentioned.Since I have stopped live food.

All juvenile birds are not on the same diet.They also are getting greens greens and grains and straight phalaris seed.

This austerity/maintenance diet sounds more trouble then its worth so far.

I've never been a big fan of cod liver oil. Some of Colin Walkers seed oils are quite useful but serve to balance other deficiencies. Some boiled seed with calcium liquid , some Passwell and chopped greens or duckweed is really all that is needed - simple, easily digested and readily accepted. I would introduce things like liquid Gold a couple of weeks before the start of breeding so that stores are well established in the body before they initiated breeding activity.

[gomer]

Thanks Danny will do.I have some liquid calcium I will be able to utilize as well.