Ideal mixed collection finch seed mix? How about...

[Finchy]

Hi

What do the serious breeders/obsessive keepers think is the optimal 'all year compromise finch seed mix' for a mixed collection, including Gouldians, Parrot Finches, Zebras and Waxbills? So far I have come up with the following... Any opinions?!

• Canary 32%
  Siberian Millet 20%
  French White Millet 15%
  Panicum 11%
  Red Millet 10%
  Niger 2%
  Sesame 2%
  Oats 2%
  Flax 2%
  Poppy 2%
  White lettuce 1%
  Black lettuce 1%

[Fincho162]

Sorry to be a party pooper but I'd suggest some of the oil seeds are best fed as a supplement only - for both content and price:
And never used Flax so no idea if they eat it.

Niger 2%
Sesame 2%
Flax 2%
Poppy 2%
White lettuce 1%
Black lettuce 1%
Rye if u can get it maybe.........and I'd use sunflower kernals in the supplementary mix depending what species it is for

Oats I'd only feed in winter - assume u mean hulled oats? - as there is possibly no need for them over the summer months.


We have a mix made through Elenbee Seeds in Sydney that goes a little like this!!!
20% PLAIN CANARY
30% RED PANNICUM
20% WHITE MILLET
15% Siberian MILLET
15% YELLOW PANNICUM

Suggest 30% Plain canary may be a bit much especially if you keep Diamies or others that tend to over use it!!

There u go for what its worth - no such thing as a perfect finch mix just a mix that is perfect for what u feed it to!!!!!!

[Tiaris]

Agree with what Fincho says re oilseeds in mix especially if its to be a year round standby mix as stated.
I prefer a greater proportion of red pannicum compared to others and just a nominal plain canary content as its the most fattening of the standard seeds. Best to have the standard mix a non fattening one if its to be used as an off-season austerity diet and extra canary + oilseeds, grass seeds, etc during the breeding season.
Be careful if asking for "red millet" & make sure its red pannicum not red dakota which is often substituted in commercial mixes. Red dakota is larger (a bit like an orange version of white-french) is hardly eaten as a dry seed (excellent as a half-ripe green head though).
Flax is just linseed - hardly touched by most finch species.
My basic finch mix is 2 parts Red Pannicum & 1 part each of white, canary & jap.
Numerous other seeds are given as additional offerings to breeding aviaries only.

[Finchy]

That's good advice, thank you.

[Finchy]

What do you think about the rumour that Siberian Millet is nutritionally better and much preferred by finches over Japanese Millet. True, or a sales pitch?

[Tiaris]

True, I'd say. Siberian, then Jap, then Shirohie in descending order.