Aussie Finch Forum

Hi

Which in-water nutritional supplements do you think are the best for finches, and why?

It is particularly the sensitive Gouldian mutations whose unique health needs I want to make sure I cater for. I have never bought a blue Gouldian that eats anything other than seed, not even those claimed to have been aviary bred! These birds ignore vegetables, vitamin/mineral powders and egg, despite other eager birds leading the way. Sometimes I don't know how the breeders ever got them to adulthood; I assume it has to have been entirely through in-water supplementation.

Thanks

Have you tried half-ripe grass seed, sprouted seed, cuttlebone & eggshells with your Gouldians?

I have used D-3 Vita for my canaries for years.

I give it to the birds in their water for the first week of each month, and also add a small amount to the egg food.

D3 is important if you house your birds out of the sun for significant periods. I am of the opinion that few birds, if any, need artificial supplements unless conditions are unusual eg sunlight, stress, fussy individuals
If they will take the things Tiaris mentioned and a varied seed, greens and grit diet, I don't see the need to use too much extra. Now I don't have a lot of experience with Gouldian mutations or the rarer birds but in general terms I would traeat them like us: a varied diet should provide all. I suppose some might see cuttlebone and grit as supplements and I suppose the cuttlebone is. I don't know how essential this is for the Calcium our birds need (vets help please!!) or if there are other, better ways to provide it.
As I said earlier, there are,of course, exceptional birds or conditions (like stress from heat) where I imagine something extra might be helpful.

So where do you get 'D3' and how to you give it to the birds?

Follow Graham's advise and give the birds half ripe seeds and sprouted seeds.

If you put the G's in with other birds that eat well they normally follow on. Seeing other birds eat makes them eat.
I have never had G's that eat maggots but one of my friends in WA has them in a mixed aviary including Canaries and they love the live food.

Cheers, Case

Finchy wrote: I have never bought a blue Gouldian that eats anything other than seed, not even those claimed to have been aviary bred! These birds ignore vegetables, vitamin/mineral powders and egg, despite other eager birds leading the way.

That's the central problem. I believe I should supplement because of this issue.

I will sprout some seed too and see how that goes. They ignored the fresh green seeding grass!

Mine get no in-water supplements at all, none of my birds do. Good finch mix, greens 'n' grains, sprouted clover, green panic, & frozen millet, & a vitamin & mineral enriched grit/ cuttle/egg shell/oyster shell mix. Breed 20 young from 3 pr, 1st season back into them in over 15 years.

To clarify, I have no problem at all with keeping 98% of my birds healthy and breeding well, and getting them to eat all kinds of nutritious goodies.

It is only the immune-challenged-and-also-will-not-eat-anything-but-seed-Gouldian-mutations-bred-by-someone-else that I believe I must assist with a quality in-water nutritional supplement!

I buy my D-3 Vita from Ellenbee Seeds at Seven Hills.

I mix 2 spoons in a 2 litre container, and give to birds.

I also give it to my lorikeets and every time, as soon as I put it in, they take a bath in it.