Aussie Finch Forum

Sheesh I was just reading about the pros / cons of feeding Raw red palm oil to aviary birds and got to thinking ..( yes scary isn't it ) with all these additives that are suppose to be beneficial to caged birds how does one keep up and how does one not feel negligent for not adding them all to the birds diet .

I kinda have this thought that birds have such tiny little organs ie. livers / kidneys etc , well how on earth do they cope with everything they are suppose to eat .

Is overloading more or less dangerous than under nourishing ?

What is a standard diet these days ?

More over I'm interested to hear what additives people use and why ? Have they seen marked improvement in the birds condition / breeding numbers ?

Vitamins B, C, D, niacin and riboflavin. Minerals, calcium (Ag Lime), magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc and copper. In the form of multi-vite sprinkled on shot seed once to twice a month.

Just remember Deb, most of the literature on supplements are written by the manufacturers, & the wording is such, so you do feel as if it is neglecting your birds if you don't feed it to them. A good supply of live food & green food, as well as a good quality seed is really all that is required. I do, however, use Breeding Aid or Polyoil on my seed to reduce the dust & help relive the allergies, as well as some softfood, in the way of boiled egg, egg & biscut, & insectavore, & cake that I use for the softbills. The Parrotfinches love this mix.

Don't forget a good grit as well.

Hi Deb,

You're not alone in your confusion about supplements. There are so many out there, all claiming to be the best thing since sliced bread.

It all depends on what you feed your birds to start with.

In general, seed diets are deficient in vitamin A and their carotenoid precursors, vitamin D3,E, B12, K, riboflavin,pantothenic acid, niacin, biotin, choline,calcium,zinc, iodine, iron, copper, manganese, selenium, sodium and several amino acids including lysine and methionine...... so you get the picture!!

You can supplement with either natural foods or synthetic supplements. In reality, most people use a combination of the two.
eg a good grit mix- ( shellgrit, eggshells, cuttlebone some charcoal), fresh greens- seeding grasses, leafy greens, livefood.
Add a good multivitamin and mineral mix and a favoured softfood and you're there. Essential fatty acids ( omega 3 and omega 6 oils) are useful over winter and for breeding birds.
With the supplements just choose one or two- don't just double up on everything. Overdosing can be just as bad as underdosing. ie don't just use 2 different brands of vitamin/mineral mixes. use a vitamin/mineral mix with an amino acid supplement or a fatty acid supplement.

Supplements used in food are better than in-water supplements in my opinion- the birds are more likely get the nutrient in food. In water, the supplements can quickly deteriorate and encourage bacteria and yeasts to grow. The trick with in-food supplementing is finding something that the birds will eat eg an eggfood, sprouted seed or other softfood mix in which you can mix your supplements. There is usually a learning period involved with unfamiliar feeds.

Sorry, seems I repeated most of what VR1Ton said- timing is everything!

I use the KISS program (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
Im trying to keep the additives to a minimum, its cheaper, less confusing, for me anyway

Biocal is available all the time.
Moxidection Plus on a regular basis for worming.
Antibiotics in the form of Avicycline if a bird is fluffed up and sleeping head tucked in during the day.
Probiotic used after the course of antibiotic.
I have added cod liver oil to chitted seed.
I give the birds varying combinations of leafy greens, boiled eggs, peas, corn, carrots, broccoli, Mike Fidler Soft food, egg and biscuit.
Will be trialling them with cous cous, bulga wheat, quinoa and spirulina also when I can get some.
Whatever is available/cheap in the veggie dept.

Greetings. The basis of bird keeping and breeding should always be a good seed mixture. Australia has the benefit of having all seeds grown in your own continent and not being subject to importation and so called heat treatment. So you already have the best seeds available. Just keep in mind that post mortems and subsequent analysis of birds in the wild has revealed that some finches had as many as 50 different seeds in their system; some hookbeaks as many as eighty! So that is the basis of your feeding regime (or should be) Add to that the additional value of sprouted seed, something I already wrote about in an earlier blog, and you are almost there. Serpia and grit should always be available. Greens, half ripe seeds, a little charcoal and a good quality soft/egg food and you are home.
People in Europe (yes, here he goes again!) are being bombarded with all different types of softfoods, supplements, minerals and on and on it goes. The marked is a little larger of course with the NBVV ( the main national body in Holland) having 35 000 members.
Boiled eggs, egg and biscuit, peas, broc, carrots, broccoli, as named before should all be in the egg/softfood. Just remember there is no single right way.
For each and every finch breeder there is his/hers secret, or maybe not so secret, receipe.
Should worming be done as a matter of routine? Another subject we can discuss separately maybe.
Should we medicate or supplement through water? Again a separate issue for discussion but in my view nothing should ever be added or mixed with water.
Just good quality H2O with a ph of +/_ 7 (rainwater is just that). Seeding grasses are for free and loved by all birds. You cannot get seed any cheaper and at the same time you might even enjoy a little exersize. Cheers, Case

Hi Case,

With the spate of natural disasters we've had here recently, the seed situation may indeed become dire over the next 12 months or so.... and we may well have to rely on imported, treated seed or else old local seed- neither of which is an ideal situation.

Very true Myzo . I was talking to a fella that makes his own mix and sells it . The quality of Australian seed isn't really that good and of all the seed suppliers out there only a handful cut the mustard .

Things are predicted to become quit dire after the floods , cyclone and fires and don't forget this is the first year in a long long time where we haven't been in drought ( here anyway ).

We are a little different to Europe here as we are so isolated and relatively disease free compared to other countries, importation is no easy or quick solution .

Anyhoo its the supplements that have me boggled and as VR1 said the manufacturers do play on our love of our birds to shame us into buying these supplements .

I think my birds are doing fine on seed /pellets , assorted fruit and veg , Harrisons Mash , sprouted seed , egg and biscuit and boiled egg plus lots of leafy greens and a good mix of calci grits and green seed heads when available.

They look good anyway just no breeding season this year ( not the lone ranger there thou , with the weather ). Just wanted reassurance I guess that they are getting all they need .