Aussie Finch Forum

hi all - would I be better off getting this alongside my usual finch mix or getting G. B.'s new "Breeder's Brew" mix? not sure if I should start a new topic...

Not sure what the one you refer to is but the Greens n' Grains was one of the Peppers best products and this one promises to be as good judging on what my finches did to it.
And at the price it is very good value (based on the ~$4.50/kg I was told that is sir!!)

But try a small sample of each and let your birds decide for you maybe? As 99% of this 'game' is trial and error.

All I can say is that I was a devotee of Peppers Gn'G and have already ordered 'a number' of bags of this one!!!

Don't know if that helps but .............................!!!!

Sorry Jayburd just found the other one you mentioned and it is not really comparable to this mix at all.

The other one contains grits and an extruded crumble - neither of which I wish to have in a seed mix - you cannot soak it obviously and as stated in another thread I do not feed any added protein in the form of 'mixes'.
However, you may wish to in which case go for it.

I use a special Calcium grit mix which is fed separate which also allows me to observe how much they use so I don't require grits in a seed/supplement mix.

The Gn'G mentioned here is just a seed mix with no added anything which is why it appeals to me. I feed several seed mixes - one made by Elenbee (Clifton Tonic) and an African Waxbill mix which I blend with a mate in the Hunter and I'll be adding this Gn'G to that list ASAP. Plus a regular finch mix.

Hope that helps you decide but just do what you think is best for your birds.

so what would be your suggestion for the best mix:

normal finch mix (what I've been doing up til now) with added Niger in winter
clifton tonic mix (with or without the AWM)
greens and grains
greens and grains + normal mix/tonic mix + african mix if affordable.

what is in clifton tonic mix?
thanks ;)

Unless you keep siskins or other larger cup nesters then the Niger (which is very expensive!!) is probably not necessary.
In fact we are substituting sunflower kernals (human grade) for it with good results - but some birds eat it and others wont.
In winter you could try Hulled oats which are often liked by many but we only use in winter.

Any good grade finch mix like the one you currently use should be fine.
I would recommend the Greens n' Grains based on past experience - and it is a fair price methinks.
The Clifton tonic was more designed for cup nesters but, thus saying, many other finches luv it too.

Maybe if I were u I'd stick with your finch mix fed normally (in a hopper of however) and then small containers (coffee lids, bowls, coop cups.....) with a bit of Tonic mix and another with Greens n' Grains - so you can see if your birds are actually eating it. Or another one with the other mix you mentioned.
And in winter your Niger/kernels or hulled oats (sold as groats on ocassions).

Honestly the African mix is very expensive to make and we feed it only to Orange-cheeks, Blue-caps and Pytilias...........and the Cordons if they are very, very damn good..........oh and lately the Rufous-backs have been getting it!!!! It is also not commercially available........yet!!

Hope that makes sense to you but I feed just a basic finch mix in Bob Collier hoppers and all the other supplement seeds are fed in far smaller containers...........then a separate grit mix.

thanks fincho
well I'll see if I can get a sample of each of the 3, and let my finches decide - hope it's not too expensive I only have a holiday job! but then again if the birds are choosing not much chance of the cheap one winning are there

That's the way Jayburd - experiment and experiment some more!!!

You've probably read on here what many people thought of Pepper's Gn'G's and this new one is pretty damn good and certainly not too expensive - especialy when fed as a supplement.

As I've stated before I don't feed protein supplements as I fear that I/we used to do a lot of liver damage to finches by overloading their systems with far, far too much protein - especally when you consider how much live food most of us feed................

I'd consider Elenbee's GnG's as a cheap one and I reckon you'll find that to be the case............compare that to a good waxbill mix which (currently) could cost you around $20/kg to make!!

Keep at it - your birds will benefit from your approach!!

got myself a kilo plus some samples of breeder's brew so will do some tests

Got myself 8kg worth. It was more economical to buy the most I could. I'll be interested to see how the Goulds take to it. I put some in late tonight when I got home and 3 or 4 took to it immediately. Strangely enough it was my Yellowbacks that went straight for it.

If anyone from Adelaide wants a sample let me know and I would only be too happy to give some out.

cranberry wrote:Got myself 8kg worth. It was more economical to buy the most I could. I'll be interested to see how the Goulds take to it. I put some in late tonight when I got home and 3 or 4 took to it immediately. Strangely enough it was my Yellowbacks that went straight for it.

If anyone from Adelaide wants a sample let me know and I would only be too happy to give some out.

So how much did it work out per kilo ??