Kelp: So many types. Which is best?

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Finchy
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Which types of kelp are best for supplemental feeding of finches such as Gouldians?

e.g. Laminaria digitata, Macrocystis pyrifera, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus ... etc.

Thanks :)
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Craig52
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That's a bit technical Finchy,i thought kelp was kelp. Craig
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Finchy
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Nope. There are a bazillion species. Some contain minimal iodine, but we want the ones with plenty. I'm just not sure which one is best, or at least good.

There are...[choose your own tune]...Laminaria digitata, Laminaria japonica, Macrocystis pyrifera, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, Monostroma latissimum, Enteromorpha prolifera, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Undaria pinnatifida ...

...and lots more :crazy:

Probably only a few commonly available though. So really the question is which of those is good :thumbup:.
Last edited by Finchy on 25 May 2015, 22:26, edited 1 time in total.
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Shane Gowland
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So you could say you're here to... *drumroll* ... sea kelp.
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Finchy
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Oh nooooooooooooooooooo :lolno: Had to be said.

Oy vey. Good one. I like it. Glad you were at your keyboard, poised to strike, at the right moment.

Unfortunately, I've just realised I have been talking out of an alternative orifice, because those different species are all seaweeds, not kelps. Kelps are a sub-category - Brown Algae. OK, well, there are still 4000 of those...

I'll just shut up now and go and buy some kelp in a bag and be done with it. Yes, I was making things too complicated (never happens) but it's OK now because I'm going to seek kelp.

:chicken:
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Shane Gowland
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Sorry, I've had that one locked and loaded for a while now.

You never know, someone with weirdly comprehensive kelp knowledge may pop in and help you out. There's never any harm in trying to do besy by your birds.
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Finchy
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ShaneGowland wrote:Sorry, I've had that one locked and loaded for a while now.
I knew it!!! All these years, just waiting for me to come along...

Glad to have been of service :sorry:
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Tiaris
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Most kelp product available commercially in Australia would be the giant one from Tassie which has a reasonable sized local industry harvesting it.
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SamDavis
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Here's a link to the Seaweed Meal product used by a few Finch breeders I know...
http://www.valueplus.net.au/cat/sendfil ... .pdf&id=94
I've never used it myself.
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Craig52
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Well going by that link Sam it doesn't matter if Finchy was wrong and quoting seaweed.The analyses are just as good Kelp. :thumbup: Craig
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