Best/healthiest finch seed brands for 2011?

[iaos]

I have always found avigrain to be clean and germinate well. I've started to use the avigrain blue (the one without oil seeds) as I have found there tends to be less wastage. I can comment on the composition of the mix as such, but I've never noticed a lack of canary seed.

[Finchy]

That's strange. I have just run two test germinations of Avigrain Canary mix and Finch Blue mix; germination was abysmal, with Finch Blue being even worse than the Canary mix. The seed seems dead. I am also getting huge amounts of wastage on the aviary floor.

I'm really paranoid about it right now because my birds started going 'off' healthwise about 1 week after changing to Avigrain. It may be entirely unrelated but I'm taking such good care of them in every other respect. I think I am going to get methodical about this - offer different seed brands in different dishes and see what they choose, and do parallel germination tests as well. Then I'll nip over to Elenbee or order from Australian Wildlife Supplies when they are back from their hols.

[Fincho162]

I've no affiliation apart from being a happy punter but Elenbee seeds are excellent and they will make any mixture that u want and make all our seeds for us here down under the Land Downunder..................never had a germination problem and they have an excellent range of other seeds in their wharehouse.............drums of them..............

[Misso]

That's strange. I have just run two test germinations of Avigrain Canary mix and Finch Blue mix; germination was abysmal, with Finch Blue being even worse than the Canary mix. The seed seems dead. I am also getting huge amounts of wastage on the aviary floor.

I'm really paranoid about it right now because my birds started going 'off' healthwise about 1 week after changing to Avigrain. It may be entirely unrelated but I'm taking such good care of them in every other respect. I think I am going to get methodical about this - offer different seed brands in different dishes and see what they choose, and do parallel germination tests as well. Then I'll nip over to Elenbee or order from Australian Wildlife Supplies when they are back from their hols.

Avigrain Finch Blue leaves little wastage with my gouldians and always sprouts well.

not sure where you purchased yours from? maybe it was sitting on the shelf for a long time????

good luck deciding on a seed mix.

[AMCA26]

I have used the AviGrain Finch Blue for the last 2yrs everything gets eaten. But have never sprouted the seed. I just soak it.

[Finchy]

Interesting...[rubs chin thoughtfully].

I have 4 seed mixes soaking as I type... Will report on the sprouting results in a couple of days.

[SamDavis]

Just checked a few of my bags of Avigrain and the grains stated on these bags seem to agree with the contents (I'm a bit hazy on some of the different millets).
Mine is not the "Blue" mix, the bags say "Premium Breeders Finch Mix" and contain Panicum Millet, Jap Millet, Panorama Millet, Shirohie Millet, White French Millet, Canary Seed and Canola.

I'll be interested to hear how you go with the sprouts Finchy. I've also soaked some of my Avigrain to see how it sprouts.

[HARVEY123456789]

http://www.petshopone.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; these guys have great seed 100% aussie grown n owned , best and only seed i use

[jusdeb]

Yes they are good . Ive bought from them when Ive passed through .

[Finchy]

OK, after a 41 hour sprout in warmer weather than previously, I got in order of performance...

- Petbarn=Healthy Bird Budgie Mix*: 90% sprouting. Most seed types sprouting. Scent very mild/nuetral.

- Avigrain Canary Mix: 70% sprouting. White Millet sprouting very well, plus some oats and Canary. Scent mild with a subtle hint of sourness (though previously this one smelled very sweet!).

- Petbarn=Healthy Bird Finch Mix*: 70% slight sprouting. Most seed types sprouting, including small millets/panicum, but not the Canary. Scent mild/neutral.

- Avigrain Finch Blue Mix: 40% sprouting. White Millet sprouting but less enthusiastically than in Canary Mix. Japanese Millet also showing signs, but small millets/panicum and Canary showing no signs. Scent medium, indistinct.

(*I noticed that what Petbarn is currently packaging under their in-house brand label appears identical to the Healthy Bird product they also sell.)

I'm sure I could do the same test in 6 months and get different results, but anyway, there it is!