Aussie Finch Forum

Hi All,

After getting new stock in late December my birds have been in quarantine as well as being on an austerity diet with the plan to increase nutritionally rich food in late Jan in preparation for breeding to start in Feb. During the quarantine period I have been giving them Quick Gel once a week...the thought being that as they are on such a basic diet they can do with nutritional boost once or twice a week. Quick gel has vitamins A,D,E,B as well as containing an organic acid. The activity and noise level of my birds has been the greatest during the 24 hours after providing the Quick gel...any thoughts on providing this stimulant during the quarantine phase (which im my case has been combined with the austerity diet phase)...cheers, Paul

Last year I used Dr Marshall's Quik Gel (if this is the product you are asking about) for the first 2-3 days after chicks hatch (I lost only 1 hatchling in this time compared to about 8 the previous year, although it wasnt my only change)- try tasting the Quik Gel - it tastes like sugar and that is I think the benefit of it (in some circumstances) as well as giving it its glucose consistency. It is probably useful is short uses - first few days of life and when seriously unwell or first day in new surroundings when stress may affect the usual food sources...
Gouldians however are arid birds, the hinterlands of Darwin and Cairns where they originially lived may be in the tropics but are primarily arid low-sugar areas, certainly not sugar loaded rainforests

Activity and noise level will be based on the Vitamin B and sugar (try the experiment on yourself...)

(All views in my opinion only).

A

thanks Alex...I'll restrict the use to when new hatchlings arruve abd uf any birds are unwell...I agree it's best not to use too often to avoid reliance on this energy source...cheers, Paul