GREEN SEED FROM RAY & WENDY LOWE

[AMCA26]

Paul i noticed the QFS are already ordering Green Seed, have you heard anything?

[gouldianpaul]

Hi Mark,

I spoke to Wendy Lowe last week and they have already planted their crop and expect to harvest in late March/early April.

To Anyone interested in getting Green seed in 2014,

I was going to post in late January letting people know they can start to contact me to place their orders. Based on last year's orders we should have enough interest for 2 or 3 pallets. Please be aware that I will only be doing 1 shipment in 2014. It's too much work for me to do more than 1.

Wendy did indicate that they will be increasing the price of the seed by $1/container. I still need to confirm freight costs, etc, but at this stage I expect the cost of 1 esky to be about $190.

I will keep everyone updated on the progress of the seed.

In summary the seed should be available by early April at a cost of $190/esky. Minimum order this year will be 1 esky. (It's too hard for me manage the smaller orders of 2 or 3 containers). I will continue to take orders until I place the order with the Lowe's. I will need everyone to pay for their seed about 2 weeks before it is delivered to my place in Thornbury (VIC).

Cheers
Paul

[ADMIN]

It seems this topic has got a little off track there.
While most posts were made in the spirit of the intention of the forum please be aware of how your posts may be understood by another reader.
Topics written in this fashion are very distasteful to read and put the forum in a bad light.
In light of this some posts have been removed.

[gouldianpaul]

Hi all
Wendy has advised that the seed has been planted and that we should receive our seed in April . Please PM your order if you are interested
Cheers
Paul

[flywhoaman]

Okay... this is ON topic, just a question from the USA where getting green seed from Ray and Wendy Lowe is totally impossible. I have asked a few breeders if anyone is growing this in the US. I live on a ranch and we do grow hay... on the only part of the ranch that doesn't grow rocks and caliche (clayey soil deposits). I have been able to find both red and white millets and intend to start by sprouting them for my finches. Does anyone grow these annual grasses in pots and add them to their aviaries as a supplement? I assume the birds would, in fact, "harvest" the green seed in the wild, which is what the Lowes have observed and successfully replicated. As a former nurseryman, (an organic one as well), I am sure that one could grow millet in pots (tubs) and rotate them into and out of the aviary especially during the period when the parents are feeding hatchlings.

I can see from the diet that was published here that the aviary bound Australian finches owe a great deal to the work of the Lowes. Brilliant. It is wonderful to see how many of you breeders are supporting them in their work.

[vettepilot_6]

Okay... this is ON topic, just a question from the USA where getting green seed from Ray and Wendy Lowe is totally impossible. I have asked a few breeders if anyone is growing this in the US. I live on a ranch and we do grow hay... on the only part of the ranch that doesn't grow rocks and caliche (clayey soil deposits). I have been able to find both red and white millets and intend to start by sprouting them for my finches. Does anyone grow these annual grasses in pots and add them to their aviaries as a supplement? I assume the birds would, in fact, "harvest" the green seed in the wild, which is what the Lowes have observed and successfully replicated. As a former nurseryman, (an organic one as well), I am sure that one could grow millet in pots (tubs) and rotate them into and out of the aviary especially during the period when the parents are feeding hatchlings.

I can see from the diet that was published here that the aviary bound Australian finches owe a great deal to the work of the Lowes. Brilliant. It is wonderful to see how many of you breeders are supporting them in their work.

Obviously you may not have access to that type of seed....but sprouting your normal finch mix and feeding that as a treat everyday will vastly improve results

[flywhoaman]

True enough, vettepilot. That is surely my immediate plan... but if growing millets (not native to Australia, btw) and harvesting them as milk or green seed works in Australia, I guess I am going to have to find some farmers toward Houston (where there IS soil and rain) if they are up for a modest plot for harvest. I have found there are lots of finches in the US that could benefit from this agriculture. Looks like I have a ton more research to do, eh?

[Craig52]

True enough, vettepilot. That is surely my immediate plan... but if growing millets (not native to Australia, btw) and harvesting them as milk or green seed works in Australia, I guess I am going to have to find some farmers toward Houston (where there IS soil and rain) if they are up for a modest plot for harvest. I have found there are lots of finches in the US that could benefit from this agriculture. Looks like I have a ton more research to do, eh?

Hi,it's not just a matter of plant and harvest commercially as the farmer would have to spend thousands on a harvester to convert it to harvest green seed and to snap freeze the seed immediately after it is harvested,all big $ to be out laid before even the first kilo is sold.
The ordinary person doesn't realize how much time and effort and money that went into this exercise and i would have doubts if any farmer in the USA would have a go for so little return to recover costs.
IMO,grow your own in pots or plots and harvest it yourself and freeze the excess for the bad times. Cheers Craig

[flywhoaman]

Thanks for that advice, Craig52. I grew up on a farm in Ohio and our neighbors were all oat and wheat producers so I do have an inkling about what you are saying. We put up hay here on the ranch (I've done the whole process myself) and I'll take your word for the cost outlay. I've become pretty good at attacking an idea with dollars that have wings. I have also read a few threads here that suggest that utilizing sprouts, chits really, has given a few breeders nearly as much, if not the same, success as the milk seed. For now, I guess I'd better stick to that plan and grow the two millets in pots for both birds to nibble and for me to cut as milk seed when in season.

[Brooksy]

If you live on a farm why would you muck around with pots when you could just plant a small plot in the corner of a paddock harvest it yourself when it is just wright and snap freeze the excess?