Guinea Grass

[Jayburd]

I thought it was time I started a new topic for this question.
Everyone seems to say birds, especially african birds, like guinea grass above most other grass seeds, apart from red pannicum.
My question is, is this simply because it tastes better, or is it because they are programmed to eat more of it because it's very rare in their natural habitat? or building on that premise, are they programmed to eat more because it's very common in their habitat?
Might be an interesting topic to discuss.

[GregH]

I don't think that may birds can taste or even smell that well so I don't think it is flavour. I think it's instintive to look for samll seeded grasses with plenty of seed. The large panicles on Panicum spp offer a range of ages of seed so they can get a balanced diet without moving far. There's everything on the one inflorescence from flowers containing pollen to milk seed (high protein and ease of assimilation) to green seed (saves hydrating) and finally mature almost dried seed (concentrated energy). From my experience most estrillid finches go for green or light coloured seeds before they go for darker ones so it's Panicum or Settaria before Sorghum. When I think about it, with the green or light-colour seeded grasses it is the dark spiklets/grains that are fungus affected and might represent a hazard to the bird. There are very few granivores that actively seek out smutts & bunts apart from Mexicans looking for boil-smut on maize or sweet-corn or an adventurous druggie seeking a high with ergot derived LSD. Finches know better.

[Jayburd]

thanks Greg

[Fincho162]

Again Jayburd the Green African book will tell you its pretty common in Africa where our waxies come from.

There are also very few Pannicum seeds that birds wont eat.....red & yellow are staple finch mxes........guess we're on the wrong continent for Guinea grass in staple finch mixes!!!!!

Many breeders feed it green to their finches so guess dry it must have some benefit.....maybe if you checked the Southedge seed website you'll find why they feed it to cattle??

Anyway, my finches luv it dry or fresh!!!

[finchbreeder]

To a degree birds eat what their parents feed them in the nest and have to be taught (usually by example) to eat anything different. So it could be partly that Guinea grass is just so much easier to grow than some of the others so they are more likely to have been fed it as chicks. I find my finches almost as keen on the seeding heads of my saltine lawn. Which I edge with a pair of scissors for them.
LML

[Fincho162]

Think that might be a tad too simplistic in regards seeds and why they consume them- especially Guinea grass.

Agree 100% as regards new forms of supplements and other gear but not with respect to seeds.........for example.........tested Seven species of waxbills and they all selected guinea grass first from several presented seeds........None had ever seen that particular seed before - all part of that thinking outside the circle.
"Logic" was that Waxbills consume the small millets and pannicums so why not try and find other small seeds that would give them some benefit...............sure cheaper and easier not to bother...........but that's not why I keep finches.

However, regardless of that its horses for courses, every group of finches has their own preferences and if we want to "evolve" as finch keepers then we need to constantly seek to improve the husbandry of our finches.
Trial methods, recipes......discard or adopt what works or doesn't.

Research will show you that from 16 to 66 the best finch breeders constantly do this and remain open to new suggestions.............but once again that certainly depends upon the species you keep or wish to keep....as some species demand that you do so!!!

If you're happy with you husbandry sincerest good luck ............but I'm a brain picker or should that be sucker for punishment!!!!

Shows the benefits of a forum such as this where ideas can be bounced around!!!

[Jayburd]

Thanks Guys. I will do some trials when I get some waxbills in 11 days time

[jusdeb]

Thinking ( scary ) here that birds like humans have personal favorites when it comes to food ( all food ) . I can put the same salad in every aviary and when I take them out there will be something left behind in each feeder and each leftover will be different.
Maybe Guinea Grass is the equivalent of potato in the human world , we mostly all love them .
I dont know however I do agree ,especially with parrots ,( dont know about finches ) that what they are fed from the parents will be accepted throughout the birds life .
If only birds could talk ( not cocky type of mimic either ).

[finchbreeder]

Only 10 days to go now Jay. (But who's counting)
LML

[Jayburd]

well I think everyone in canberra's counting