Standard Finch Mix v's Green's 'n' Grain?

[Ripley]

Hello All,

I have a quick question...
I acquired on Tuesday a couple of kilos of Ellenbee's Green's & Grains. I thought I would try it, owing to the rave comments from other members of the forum.
I too have found that, my gouldians, go mad for it, with only less than a week knowing it,...they ate approx. six tablespoons of it; within the last 36 hours (I have seven & half pairs)...

Ny question is,,,
Is there any reason why I cannot feed this mixture to my birds as their staple food? I have found that my birds kick (flick) out most of the seeds of the standard mix. They seem to be only eating the french white millet & the plain canary, and throwing out the pannicum.
Could use the standard mix as a supplement & use the Greens & Grain as thier normal staple diet? Disregarding the cost of feeding my birds, is there any scientific reason why I cannot feed my birds the "Grren's & Grains"? My thoughts are that the variety of the seeds would be good for the birds both nutritionally & also as a brain/environment stimulatant.

Any thoughts or experience, would be greatly appreicated...

[Misso]

I wouldnt do it myself for a couple of reasons.

that being, 1 my finches love their standard mix of avigrain with little wastage, 2 i would use Green and Grain as a mix to bring the gouldians into breeding condition offering small amounts to each breeding pair just like offering sprouted seed and or green milk seed. 3 availability could vary from time to time?, where as there will always be some sort of supply of normal seed mix.

i too have just recently given my birds green and grain for the first time, and i know what you mean when you say they love it! my guys smash it and at the moment im using it as a little extra to get my gouldians into breeding condition.

hopefully we get some other members with some more in depth answers, is it possible to post a pic of the ellenbee green and grain mix for members to see?

Jarryd

[Fincho162]

This has some smallish pics of the mix.

http://www.cliftonfinchaviaries.org/cfa ... greens.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But again Elenbee make this as did Peppers to be fed as a supplement and I'd be loathe to use it as a sole source of seeds..........mix it with yoru regular finch mix - although they will scratch it out looking for the Gn'G!!!

Perhaps the best way to go would be to keep feeding it as a supplement but not every day...............twice a week maybe..........

[gouldianpaul]

Hi Ripley,

As per Misso's post I would provide both your standard mix plus the greens and grain....it provides variety and assists bring the birds into breeding condition and greatly assists during the breeding season....I prefer to provide more variety than less during the breeding season...however the basic millets and plane canary should be the starting point of their diet....then suppliemnt with nutritionally rich foods such as sprouted seed, seedling grasses, thistle, etc.....I provide my birds with their greens 'n grain in a seperate dish to their basic seed mix...this was I can guage how much of each is being eaten....cheers, Paul

[ColouredFeathers]

HI guys
were do you buy greens n grain in melbourne
cheers flavio

[AMCA26]

Flavio i am not sure if you can or not but when i get it, it comes from QLD thru the QLD FInch Society.

[Ripley]

Hi Flavio,

I know that Ellenbee Seeds can ship it down to Melbourne...I believe that it's rather reasonable the cost of shipping..

I thankyou all for your input.

Yesterday, I split my birds up into individual pairs & gave them the standard finch mix & then a seperate container of Greens 'n' Grain.....each pair went for the G'n'G and totally disregarded the standard mix, that was until.......
I placed frozen white millet sprays into the cages (I was fortunate to acquire three kilo's of this on Monday....) The birds went wild for this, I put a new spray in each cage this afternoon, about 4pm, at around 7pm tonight went into the aviary to take out thier morning greens, and to my amazement, all millets were stripped clean, there was although the occasional husk left.
I hope that this helps bring them into breeding condition.....

Cheers
Ripley

[SamDavis]

Ok, fincho162, ripley, etc. have sold me on Elenbee's GnG. I've ordered some which should arrive today. I'm looking forward to my birds diving into it!
And ripley, I suspect you'll be breeding hundreds of gouldians this year.

Sam

[Diane]

Where did you get the frozen millet from? Is a regular supply available?

[Ripley]

I got the frozen millet from Avicultural Accessories at Marsden Park in Sydney....
I was told that they have orginally only got 40kg shipped down from Queensland, but depending on demand, they may get more in a month or so.

Cheers
Ripley