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Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 25 May 2015, 21:18
by Finchy
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
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 25 May 2015, 21:29
by Craig52
That's a bit technical Finchy,i thought kelp was kelp. Craig
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 25 May 2015, 21:47
by Finchy
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
Probably only a few commonly available though. So really the question is which of those is good
.
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 25 May 2015, 21:49
by Shane Gowland
So you could say you're here to... *drumroll* ... sea kelp.
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 25 May 2015, 22:05
by Finchy
Oh
nooooooooooooooooooo 
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.
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 25 May 2015, 22:25
by Shane Gowland
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.
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 25 May 2015, 22:29
by Finchy
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
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 26 May 2015, 07:13
by Tiaris
Most kelp product available commercially in Australia would be the giant one from Tassie which has a reasonable sized local industry harvesting it.
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 26 May 2015, 08:11
by SamDavis
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.
Re: Kelp: So many types. Which is best?
Posted: 26 May 2015, 09:36
by Craig52
Well going by that link Sam it doesn't matter if Finchy was wrong and quoting seaweed.The analyses are just as good Kelp.
Craig