Aussie Finch Forum

Yep been e-baying again and got me this little book by Ian Harman . It is a revised edition of the original which was first released in 1961 .

So I found this to be interesting and knowing that what was common use back then may have by now proven to be helpful or harmful anyhoo Ill throw it open here and see what you may know .

Mr Harman states that "Salt is reputed to increase fertility in birds " and of course the next paragraph tells us make sure there is enough lime ( calcium ) to accommodate all the eggs produced.

So it goes on to give this recipe for a mineral salt mixture of which Id like to know how safe the ingredients are for birds ( if anyone knows ) so here it is ...

Sterilised bone flour 1077g
carbonate of lime 1332g
Rock or kitchen salt 340g
Sulphur 56.7g
Ferric oxide 28.35g
Magnanese hypophosphate 2.8g

Its an interesting book and not much has really changed that much , I guess common sense has prevailed in bird keeping .

The book I really wanted was from 1840 and was the pictures were hand drawn ...mmmm starting bid $200.00 I dare not look at it again.

Oh did you all notice the proper subject title Yes Deb is behaving herself well trying to

The only ingredient on your list that I know I have bought as a single element and used is sulphur.You can buy it from any rural outlet,It is widely used for horses as a cleanser I believe.
I have seen articles and on current affair on magnanese how it is supposed to increase fertility,no scientific data was supplied to back up what I saw just say so.
Sterilised bone flour. sounds like very fine calcium or perhaps calcium carbonate ?
Ferric oxide, sounds like a form of iron.

gomer wrote: Ferric oxide, sounds like a form of iron.

Otherwise known as "rust" (but a chemist will point out that rust is hydrated iron oxide / ferric oxide).

I just use a salt block I brought home from a salt lake in Turkey, the birds love it as well as the usual shell grit and charcoal from old burnt logs. Saw this 40 yrs ago (salt block) from my mates dad who raced and bred pigeons. He won heaps of races so I suppose he was on the right track. So I think things don't really change over the years.

Wonder if those salt licks you get for small critters would be any good.

jusdeb wrote:Wonder if those salt licks you get for small critters would be any good.

Same thing, he used to used the big salt licks they used for horses and cattle but just broke them down into smaller pieces. From memory they were about half a kilo ( 1 pound) in weight each. You should be able to get hold of them from you local produce store out where you are or if not I'm sure a local cocky would be able to assist.

saw some very small ones for rats etc ...though a big one chopped up would work out cheaper . Was just reading about wild finches in America hanging around salt licks out out for horses , seems to be common for wild birds to frequent licks put out for cattle etc.

jusdeb wrote: saw some very small ones for rats etc ...though a big one chopped up would work out cheaper . Was just reading about wild finches in America hanging around salt licks out out for horses , seems to be common for wild birds to frequent licks put out for cattle etc.

I think you will find that just about every living thing requires/needs salt of some kind to survive. Even the humble human being has traded this for over a thousand years. Have seen docos where all manner of insects/birds/mammals congregate where salt concentration is present. Funny but they reckon too much salt will kill you, but can you imagine salt and vinegar chips and beer without the salt?

Or salt on a nice sweet valencia orange .....yummmmmmmmm

jusdeb wrote:Or salt on a nice sweet valencia orange .....yummmmmmmmm

Or a Delicious apple.