Aussie Finch Forum

Sometimes advertised in QFS magazine (or used to be) . . freight is the problem, not because it is heavy, but because they apply "cubic" charging

arthur wrote:Sometimes advertised in QFS magazine (or used to be) . . freight is the problem, not because it is heavy, but because they apply "cubic" charging

Where I now work there is a garden with the native grass, Large Tussock Grass (Poa labillardieri). I used to use these a bit in my previous life as a horticulturist.
I picked quite a few handfuls of of the dead leaves that are covered on the plants due to frost and brought them home to see how the finches liked them.
Within minutes they from both aviaries were into them picking through and taking them away for nests.


Looks like I will have to get some more and store it for next season, as there are plenty in the gardens, and are needing cleaning up anyway.
Could be good to mix with Swamp grass during the season to cut down on costs...

I use a Poa species (there are some in the pictures of Will_36's aviary) that is blue in colour. Reach under, dead areas GREAT for nesting, loved by the birds

Jayburd wrote:I use a Poa species (there are some in the pictures of Will_36's aviary) that is blue in colour. Reach under, dead areas GREAT for nesting, loved by the birds

Hi Jay,

Yes there are many species of Poa, some low growing others tall. And the stem all lend themselves to be great for nesting. The variety that I was talking about grows to about 60cm high. The grass as it browns off is easy to pull from the plant by hand.. and this makes it easy to collect.

I only just went to aviaries and put some more as I have plenty at the moment, and they are having a great time getting amongst it. The stars are going crazy, carry it back and forword.
Seems like the go for my aviary anyway...

Yeah the one I'm talking about only grows abut 2ocm.
Mine you can pull clumps of about (I haven't counted, too lazy ) 1 - 2000 'leaves' with each good handfull - lots of grass for the finches!

I normally pick my swamp grass mid to late dec. I have found an area to collect large amounts of swamp grass, similar species to E. Orix collects, only if its not been to wet a season. The area is part off a large dam, so at the moment the grass is covered in about 2 m of water. No grass this year or next year as well, I have to wait for the drought conditions to start again.
When growing conditions are right, I then sell it all to a sydney wholesaler or occassionally advertise on petlink.

wagga wrote:I normally pick my swamp grass mid to late dec. I have found an area to collect large amounts of swamp grass, similar species to E. Orix collects, only if its not been to wet a season. The area is part off a large dam, so at the moment the grass is covered in about 2 m of water. No grass this year or next year as well, I have to wait for the drought conditions to start again.
When growing conditions are right, I then sell it all to a sydney wholesaler or occassionally advertise on petlink.

Ok will check with you if you have some availabe...

Hi, I have decided to take some of my excess bags of swamp grass to the Canberra Finch Sale if your interested, It was only picked this year and they are 25 kilo seed bags stuffed full, let me know if you want to reserve one because I don't think they will last long.

Cheers Tony

Fischer wrote:Hi, I have decided to take some of my excess bags of swamp grass to the Canberra Finch Sale if your interested, It was only picked this year and they are 25 kilo seed bags stuffed full, let me know if you want to reserve one because I don't think they will last long.

Cheers Tony

Ok thanks, I sent you a PM.