Aussie Finch Forum

Hi

What do the serious breeders/obsessive keepers think is the optimal 'all year compromise finch seed mix' for a mixed collection, including Gouldians, Parrot Finches, Zebras and Waxbills? So far I have come up with the following... Any opinions?!

• Canary 32%
  Siberian Millet 20%
  French White Millet 15%
  Panicum 11%
  Red Millet 10%
  Niger 2%
  Sesame 2%
  Oats 2%
  Flax 2%
  Poppy 2%
  White lettuce 1%
  Black lettuce 1%

Sorry to be a party pooper but I'd suggest some of the oil seeds are best fed as a supplement only - for both content and price:
And never used Flax so no idea if they eat it.

Niger 2%
Sesame 2%
Flax 2%
Poppy 2%
White lettuce 1%
Black lettuce 1%
Rye if u can get it maybe.........and I'd use sunflower kernals in the supplementary mix depending what species it is for

Oats I'd only feed in winter - assume u mean hulled oats? - as there is possibly no need for them over the summer months.


We have a mix made through Elenbee Seeds in Sydney that goes a little like this!!!
20% PLAIN CANARY
30% RED PANNICUM
20% WHITE MILLET
15% Siberian MILLET
15% YELLOW PANNICUM

Suggest 30% Plain canary may be a bit much especially if you keep Diamies or others that tend to over use it!!

There u go for what its worth - no such thing as a perfect finch mix just a mix that is perfect for what u feed it to!!!!!!

Agree with what Fincho says re oilseeds in mix especially if its to be a year round standby mix as stated.
I prefer a greater proportion of red pannicum compared to others and just a nominal plain canary content as its the most fattening of the standard seeds. Best to have the standard mix a non fattening one if its to be used as an off-season austerity diet and extra canary + oilseeds, grass seeds, etc during the breeding season.
Be careful if asking for "red millet" & make sure its red pannicum not red dakota which is often substituted in commercial mixes. Red dakota is larger (a bit like an orange version of white-french) is hardly eaten as a dry seed (excellent as a half-ripe green head though).
Flax is just linseed - hardly touched by most finch species.
My basic finch mix is 2 parts Red Pannicum & 1 part each of white, canary & jap.
Numerous other seeds are given as additional offerings to breeding aviaries only.

That's good advice, thank you.

What do you think about the rumour that Siberian Millet is nutritionally better and much preferred by finches over Japanese Millet. True, or a sales pitch?

True, I'd say. Siberian, then Jap, then Shirohie in descending order.