Aussie Finch Forum

Do you feed live food during the "off" season. Is it beneficial or only during breeding season?

It is beneficial, in winter mealworms help fatten birds up. A bit of Cod Liver oil will do the same.
I've also found some birds forget what to do with live food when it's not provided for more than 2 months.

I agree with Jayburd that many birds take a while to be conditioned to new feed and if you leave it until your babies are there it may be too late and you'll loose the nestlings. The term "bird brained" comes to mind for some reason. My cut-throats are good at trying new things and can encourage the other birds to try something different like if I intoduce something new (Wambaroo softfood mix) into the eggfood whihc they otherwise would shy away from.

Some of my birds are quite specific with their feeding requirements while nesting. My cut-throats need mashed egg 2-3 times a day while they have young less than a week old but after that more than one a day is just a waste. My java sparrows take mashed mixed vegies only when they have nestlings and let it rot once the young are out of the nest - none of my other finches will evn try it. As for meal worms my Stars, Cut-throats and diamondsparrows don't need encouragement to take them but the shaft-tails only take them while nesting and the zebs, double bars, Gouldians and munias never seem to touch them.

I agree also with feeding them live food in the off season to fatten them up for the winter and not to mention keeping the birds used to you giving them their treats. I love how Parrot Finches will be so eager to see what you have in the bowl that they land on the side of it before you have even put it down! ;)