Best/healthiest finch seed brands for 2011?

[Fincho162]

...........and meant to add.................try cutting the soaking time back and testing that way................generally only ~2hrs for most seed to absorb water and sink................shouldn't effect sprouting rate.....................

Good luck!!

[Shark]

Yes, the weather was very warm. They did sprout; they just had so many mould spores in them that even a strong Chlorhexidine soak could not prevent its growth.


Try bleach, it's only made of salt. make sure it is plain, not a perfumed variety. Use "elcheapo" store brand plain bleach and you can be sure they dont put any extras in it.

[Finchy]

....given the amount we do it can't be just dumb good luck......can it!!???

I'd think not. But I'm not sure what the variable is! For me Multiclens + Elenbee = low germination and slightly musty smells. As you can see, I've gone to a lot of trouble - tried it upsidedown and sideways. So it's a mystery!

One option is my eyesight and nose are too sensitive .

I'm going to keep going. It entertains me.

[iaos]

Is the greens and grains still grown in a mixed paddock? If I remember correctly that is how it used to be grown! That would explain the poor germination as the seeds would be harvested at different maturities. I haven't tried the new greens and grains but if it's as good as the old one, let the birds show you how good it is!

[Fincho162]

Col Peppers original one was all grown in the same paddock and contained a lot of husks and unripe seed for that reason..........the Elenbee one is mixed at their wharehouse..........most is Water grass seed as per the original but it is in a form that is, dare I say it, better than the original.
They tested the original and add in what they can to approximate that mix...........but they don't grow their own.

[Canary]

As I have indicated earlier I buy all my seed from Elenbee, although I have no affiliation with the business and do not get any freebies. They wouldn't even know who I am. I recommend them as I believe that they have good clean seed and it is good value for my money.

I buy a soaked seed mix from them, and it sprouts about 95% after soaking for 24 hours and then putting the drained jar on top of the water heater in my external laundry.

I rinse the seed at least 3 times a day, and more often if I remember. The main thing is to thoroughly rinse the seed when you put it in the jar. I place some old stocking over the top of the jar and it is held on by a rubber band around the top. I usually have 3 jars, one soaking, one sprouting and one in the fridge that I feed to my birds, and rotate the jars.

I have no problem with the seed sprouting.

If I do forget to rinse the seed then there have been times when I have thrown it out, as if it smells, then do not risk feeding to your birds. I just stretch out the seed in the fridge a bit more.

[Finchy]

Results of my latest sprouting experiment are...

BEST: PetBarn/Healthy Bird Budgie Mix and PetBarn/Healthy Bird Finch Mix

WORST: Elenbee Greens & Grains and Elenbee Custom Finch Mix

Setup
4 hour soak in strong Virkon-S
Rinse in weaker Virkon-S at 29 hours
Warm weather ~28C.

Results
No significant sprouting occured in any of the 6 products at 26 hours, so I waited until 46 hours to evaluate them.

- PetBarn/Healthy Bird Budgie Mix: Mild sweet scent changing to mild fresh scent. 90% sprouted. No visible mould.
- PetBarn/Healthy Bird Finch Mix: Mild sweet scent changing to mild neutral scent. 70% sprouted. No visible mould.
- Avigrain Canary Mix: Strong sweet scent changing to medium clean scent. 35% sprouted (excellent White Millet in this product!). Lots of visible mould.
- Avigrain Finch Blue: Strong sweet scent changing to medium neutral scent. 30% sprouted. No visible mould.
- Elenbee Custom Finch Mix: Strong neutral scent changing to medium sour scent. 15% sprouted. Visible mould.
- Elenbee Greens & Grains: Strong grassy scent changing to medium sour/off scent. 10% sprouted. Quite a lot of visible mould.

I can't say I'd ever bother with Elenbee again. I'm surprised by the consistently poor results. Perhaps I will try their soaked seed mix though. I'm even more surprised by PetBarn's good results - though they do seem to actually be repackaged Healthy Bird products.

However, none of the Canary seed sprouted in any but the Elenbee mix (if left an extra day to go really mouldy!), so it must be imported/irradiated/dead Canary seed in the others. If Healthy Bird/PetBarn could committ to using 100% local seed I'd have no problem buying their products as staples.

[Tiaris]

I think its not appropriate to judge the value of Greens & Grains based on sprouting ability or lack thereof as it is intentionally harvested before fully ripe as opposed to all traditional dry seeds which are fully ripened before harvest. This is the appeal of the product as a dried GREEN seed which is why it is a hit with the birds. If barnyard grass was left to fully ripen I doubt that a header would pick up much seed at all as it drops easily from the panicle when touched.

[Finchy]

I think its not appropriate to judge the value of Greens & Grains based on sprouting ability or lack thereof as it is intentionally harvested before fully ripe...

True. Very good point.

The Niger in the G&G, BTW, sprouted beautifully.

[E Orix]

I presume you are referring to Virkon S
You do not need to use it ,the decision is up to the individual.
Personally I use it and have done so for quite some years.
If you don't wish to use it then household bleech is fine,this will disappear. Just give your soaked seed
a quick rinse.
If you don't use anything just water then you need to run quite an amount of water through the seed and clean it well.
It actually also comes down to the time you are going to feed it out. A day or two in the refrig. rinse it well, three or four days
you should use bleech,any longer then Virkon S is really required. This will retard any yeast build up etc.
As for you other question I can't comment as all I do is soak my normal seed mix for 2 to 3 hours then drain it well and freeze it.