Aussie Finch Forum

Tiaris wrote:I have always found Red Pannicum to be the most favoured seed by far for my mix of finches. Small African waxbills in particular (such as Cordons, OBs, etc) are very partial to it but so to are most other species. For this reason I use extra red pannicum compared to the other seeds in my basic dry seed mix and use it as a medium for supplements due to its widespread appeal across a range of species. By tailoring our mix and proportions of seeds according what our birds eat we can significantly reduce feed waste. I don't see the point of weaning them off their favoured foods especially one which is non-fattening. Red Pannicum is nutritionally identical to Yellow but if both are offered the red is always favoured due to its slightly softer kernel. I regard it as by far the best of the available dry seeds. Highly favoured by the birds with no adverse side-effects (such as obesity). One of the greatest causes of infertility in finches is obesity, so if you can offer your finches extra seed which they prefer to eat more of & which is not fattening I can't see why you would intentionally deprive them of extra.

Had never really looked at it that way. I guess I never really thought about it at all just assumed it was like parrots only eating sunflower seeds and ditching the rest. Like you've said, it is much favoured by all species, and has no real downfalls it would appear. I retract my previous comment! I think I may now in fact add a bowl of straight pannicum to my aviaries... I've never had problems with obesity in my birds, but still, can't hurt can it? Nice work Tiaris, now I feel all sheeeepish.

Red Pannicum plays an important part in my keeping and breeding of African species infact the most used millet i give is red sibirica millet which a friend supplies me with from a German company.The smaller seeds/millets and grass seeds form the basis of a good breeding (rearing diet) i do not use any live food and the only insectivorous type food i give my birds is defrosted frozen pinkie maggots and this is a bare minimum.( around 12 to 20) a day per pair with chicks. This as proved the most reliable way of breeding the African species, certainly for me, i have found it much harder to rear the birds i keep when using live food, the main problem being chicks thrown from the nest and the parents starting the breeding cycle over again. Its a fine balance in providing just enough as too little/much can result in the same outcome. On the whole i believe i have more or less got the balance right and with some species only seed and eggfood are now given for rearing chicks. I have bred many african species using this method and having just started breeding this year i have young Lavender and Violet Eared Waxbills in the nest, still to pair up are my R.C. Cordons and Melba's.
Regards Bob