What to plant?

[Adam81]

I'm keeping gouldians and waxbills at present. I have a spare veggie patch and wondering what others might grow to feed to their birds? I'm thinking silverbeet as a start.....

[Tiaris]

For broadleaf greens, either Bok Choy or Pak Choy are far more palatable and more nutritious than silverbeet & just as easy to grow at any time of year. I currently have a patch of black Pak Choy (seeds from Bunnings) which I have been regularly picking for the past 5-6 months. I must admit though that neither Gouldians nor waxbills are at all fussed on eating broadleaf greens on their own - blended up & mixed with sprouted seed is an easy way to ensure its eaten by most species though. Both would much rather fresh green grass seed heads or at this time of year chickweed is the ideal readily available green food & is keenly taken by all finches.

[Shane Gowland]

On top of what Tiaris has said, I would add the following:

- Kale is the most nutritious of the commonly grown greens, but it's an acquired taste.
- Endive grows prolifically. Two or three plants will provide enough greens for 50 birds to eat every day, and will last for well over six months.

[Stu]

Endive and Kale seem to have both been staples for bird keepers for years.
Pak Choy and Bok Choy are both popular here.
Asian leaf vegetables as a whole go down well.
Pak Choy being number one, Its the shorter version with a green stem (or as I know it anyway).
Some Gouldians here literally mow it.
A short bit of heavy wire bent into a 'Z' shape and hang a leaf anywhere.

Maybe let a bit of Panic Veldt Grass grow too (Ehrharta erecta).

[finchbreeder]

Grow the millets the birds like seeding grass heads more than leafy greens. Just my opinion.
LML

[Tiaris]

millets will only grow & seed well during warmer months though