Crickets

[JohnP]

Has anyone tried feeding small crickets to thier finches, if so how and was it well recieved. I have always used Mealworms but thought I would try crickets for something a little more challenging for them (crickets are from a pet supply shop not wild).

[Mickp]

crickets are ok to feed, not all of your finches will eat them though. they are probably more of a softbill food.
if feeding them remember to use a deep sided container so the noisy little buggers dont escape to drive you nuts at night

[Pete Sara]

and an easy way to handle them is to place them in the fridge for 5 minutes not the freezer ( because if u forget about them they are cactus)this slows them down and makes them far easiser to handle when feeding out...plus there is a teflon spray u can use on the side of the container to keep them in , but as mick says not all finches will take them its more of a softie food, but u dont know if you dont try hey....pete

[JohnP]

Thanks guys, tried all the recommendations. Unfortunately all the birds turned there nose up at them. Back to Mealworms I think, they are easier manage anyway.

[Diane]

Ive tried krill and plankton (fish food) the canaries, some gouldians, OB's and the parrot finches ate them. Once you open the container the smell is very strong for the size of the container. smelt that strong that I kept it outside!

Ive just put some dried Black worms out for them (66.35% crude protein) this morning so I will see how they take to it.
Will be trying dried bloodworms, when I can find an aquarium place that actually has some.

[jusdeb]

Theres a few online aquarium supply stores that sell dried bloodworms . Gotta be careful feeding live food from aquarium shops as the worms can harbour diseases even the frozen ones can be treated with stuff that kills cooties but also leaves traces of the cooty killing stuff.
Ive lost siamese fighters to sus worms so Im assuming the birds are as susceptable to the funky stuff too.

[Diane]

Theres a few online aquarium supply stores that sell dried bloodworms

Good idea, will look into that.

Gotta be careful feeding live food from aquarium shops as the worms can harbour diseases even the frozen ones can be treated with stuff that kills cooties but also leaves traces of the cooty killing stuff.

Live mini mealworms is about my limit, didnt have any luck with the vinegar fly trap so gave that the flick till I can get it to work better.
Must admit never thought the frozen ones might be tainted with "cooty killing stuff"
Struck me too that I treat regularly for worms and here I am feeding it to them ....maybe I should stop. I did think that with the somewhat delicate nature of aquarium fish any commercially prepared foods would not have any harmful stuff in it. My main aim was for the protein value. Any thoughts anyone?
I did check at the local bird place before starting them on this stuff.
http://www.blackworms.com.au/TA/

[JohnP]

Diane I have made a viniger fly trap from four peices of external grade plywood to make bottomless and topless box about 70mm high. Then I put two layers of 12mm bird wire over one end so that the actual holes are around 6mm. I then put some fruit in a tray the box fits over put this in the sand tray and place the new box over the top. The sand tray is on one of those pot plant stands with wheels you can buy from.......wait for it.......Bunnings. This means the sand tray is off the ground and to date no ants. Not sure if it works though because I start off with viniger flys and the next day I don't have any. Not sure if that means my little friends are getting to them before I can see them or the fruit is not working. My lot just about devour me to get to the mealworms when I put some in each evening.

[Diane]

That sounds like it would blend in within an aviary situation. That was one of the problems with the one I made up that and not seeing any flys, maybe it was working and like yours the birds were eating them up.
Do you have any pics?

[JohnP]

I will post some pics over the next couple of days.