Nature's Harvest

[Diane]

My personal disclaimer
I dont know anything about this seed or the company or the disributor. Just asking if anyone uses it and their opinion.


Hubby brought a flyer home from the feed store today.
Its from Seed Distributors, called Organic Nature's Harvest it has several different blends, e.g.
Budgie, finch, pigeon, canary, small parrot, parrot, and native bird blend

The finch blend says
White french millet 45%
Panorama millet 30%
Shirohie/Jap millet 15%
canary seed 10%

Minimum crude protein 13%
Minimum crude fat 7%
Minimum crude fibre 6%

The price quoted was $35.90 for 20kg bag works out at $1.79 per kg


The only thing it dosnt have that I feed my birds at the moment is the Red pannicum seed.

edited to include this......."Blended and stored without chemicals"

[Jayburd]

Sounds pretty cool, bluebutterfly! keep us posted as to how it goes!

[Jayburd]

whoops!!!! um, not usuing it but hope it works ourt to be ok for you! didn;t read carefully enough...

[gomer]

As you said Diane, it is missing red panicum.I have never fed out panorama so cant comment on how the finches like.I would have thought the mix would have more canary and less french in it.Perhaps it may have somthing to do with the canary harvest failing in Australia again.Any how let us know how it goes.

[E Orix]

Their are many preferences to what seed mix you can use.
My personal mix is
Plain Canary 25%
White Millet 35%
Yellow Millet 30%
Hulled Oats 2%(+,-)
Red Millet 8%
If you have to feed the black oily seeds put them in a seperate container and feed it to the aviaries that you feel need them but not in the mix as alot can be wasted.

Sadly alot of seed mixes have fillers in them to bulk out the weight with a cheap seed most are not eaten and are thrown out.
If you have a seed merchant that you are happy with stay with them.The sensable merchants look after repeat customers and generally supply them with the fresher seed.
I and 2 mates normally purchase a pallet load of seed, 25 to 28 x 40kg bags from a grower in the Riverina (250kms from here) the last invoice including freight costs had the KG rate at $1.04.
It is good shiny seed and germination tests generally are in the 95% + area.
All our seed is taken from the bags and stored in old (cleaned) chest deep freeze bodies.
They are virtually air tight, moisture proof, temperature variation is minimal,very easy to access and VERMIN proof.
Good seed is the first major reason in having good healthy birds,never skimp on seed quality.

[Diane]

Good seed is the first major reason in having good healthy birds,never skimp on seed quality.

Absolutely! Couldnt agree more.
I have been mixing my own seed mix from canary, jap millet, panorama millet, white millet and red pannicum mixed with commercially mixed canary, finch and budgie mixes. I realise that I am probably doubling up on certain seeds but from looking at the mixes that are available they look like they need extra variety of seeds added.

last invoice including freight costs had the KG rate at $1.04.

Excellent price!
My seed mix works out a bit more expensive than the Natures Harvest price of $1.79 but the birds look great on it.
I think I will try this NH and see how it goes, its cheaper, already mixed and chemical free. All I will have to do is offer red pannicum separately. Will still have to make an austerity mix, but thats no problem.

[jusdeb]

I mixed my own seed for ages and found the birds were only eating 3 or 4 different seeds these being white millet , canary , jap , panorama and red in a separate container .
I looked around and found a pre bagged finch mix containing all these for 15 dollars a 10 kilo bag , I think Ill stick to it till cooler weather and then offer niger or linseed for the extra omega 3 .
Call me lazy or maybe just too many critters but the simpler things are for me the better, Ive not seen any change since changing the diet .

[E Orix]

The austerity diet is not too far removed from the standard seed mix.
It is simply the 3 main Millets (White,Yellow and Jap) or (White Yellow Red)
No Canary as that has the highest protien base.Then once a week some form of multi vitamin and no special treats,tit bits or anything.Except of coarse water and grit(washed sand)
Remember all these ideas and recomendations go out the window if your birds are fledging last numbers of chicks per nest as you and they are on the ball.

[jusdeb]

It all sounds good theoretically to me but I dont have the experience or knowledge to be making radical changes to the basics , maybe down the line a bit when I can read my birds better Ill give it a go.