How much live food do Finches Need?

[Nrg800]

Hello! I've got 13 (soon 15 or 16) finches in my aviary, and I was just wondering how much live food they need, and would it be better to breed it myself, of Buy it from ARC.

I try to go out regularly to get them a steady supply of Seeding Grasses (Grabbed about a Kilo today!), and I'm working out a place where I can regularly and easily sprout and Soak seed, and I'm planting/growing a few pots of grasses, to rotate in and out of the aviary. But how much live food do I need?

I have all the birds in my Signiture, at present and am Planning to get a Pair of Painted-Button Quail (Which I need a person in Brisbane to freight down, if anyone can) and a mate for the Male Cordon Bleu, I know the Button-Quails need a pretty steady supply of live food, and I was just wondering if it would be better for me to buy a certain amount every week, or try to breed my own... And If breeding my own is the way to go, need I a light in the box, parents are abit iffy about having a light on permanently under the house (one's a fire investigator, the others was a forensic investigator, who retired cos of PTSD, so it's pretty understandable that one doesn't like the light unattended, and the other doesn't want to look at lots of maggots, again, if he can possibly help it).

Also, with the grass I've gotten them, I have gotten them quite a few species, but they only seem interested in Winter Grass, and maybe some Feather Grass, if I've mixed it in well. But I've gotten them Pampas Grass, along with quite a few grasses with stems/leaves about 1m long, they're just not interested. I've hooked them to the Brush Fence, put it on top of the safety door (where I put all the seeding grasses), hung it upside down from the roof, tried many places and the finches just aren't interested, they perch on it, but no eating it... They aren't interested in many grasses, they'll have a go at Winter Grass and Feather Grass, but all the other grasses are universally ignored! Even the Swamp Grass I've thrown in!

Any help with the above, would be tops!!
Thanks!
~Nathan

[gomer]

I think its trial and error with the live food.Enough to me is when there is still a very small amount left the next morning when you go to put it out again.And of course it varies depending on who is rearing young etc..

[desertbirds]

Sounds like you have a been putting the wrong grasses in. In the plant section i posted pics of seed heads that they do eat, remember this time of year is often the hardest to find or grow many types of the grass seeds that finches love. Fluffy seeds like pampas arent really suitable food items but may be used for nesting material.Personally id say you already have too many finches in there to be successful .

[Nrg800]

Ahh okay, the grasses in your post do look very different to the ones my finches have been ignoring... Is there any set formula sorts thing to decide whether it's worth giving to your finches? Like the type of head, and the length of te stem and stuff, so I needn't ID all the grasses I pick? Or is it more just a judgement you get from trial and error? Is my aviary too crowded? There are 3 pairs in there that I wasn't planning on, but using the guideline of 1 pair for every 2m squared I have 8 pairs in 14m... But do the species I chose need more space than normal? Oh well, that's another topic....

Thanks for your help with that!
~Nathan

[djb78]

Hi nrg, live food is a trail by era due to different finches still being the same type may want more than others such as my painteds some want it others don't seem fussed. If you have time in the morning I would put in a good amount 20-30 mealies and go back in the afternoon and top them up if there's not much 5 or less. Doing this for a few days would give you an idea of how much they need. Other factors are the amount of babies needing more and age of young- older they get more food they eat, so as you can see there is no correct amount cor any bird just what you see with yours and the more you breed them he better your knowledge will become on judging the amounts. All your finches will attempt live food but your cordons will devour it as for the gold finches can't actually comment on them. Seeding gasses, I find my finches to like it but find that they don't them all so when spring comes you will have alot more to chose from, sorry very vague in this area.