what is soft food ?

[jusdeb]

So what exactly is soft food ? And what is its purpose ?

Ive tried egg/biscuit , eggs , mashes and various other products of which none of my birds either finch or parrot will eat .

Ive settled for what they eat and hope it is giving them variety and extra protein / nutrients .

They get soaked seed and a bird bread which they love . The bread / cake has apple baby food instead of milk , grated apple , grated carrot , harrisons mash and 3 eggs ( shells included ) with corn muffin mix to hold it together .

So does the bread / cake count as a soft food ? Or is it just a treat ?

Any ideas > Thanks .

[desertbirds]

So what exactly is soft food ? And what is its purpose ?

So does the bread / cake count as a soft food ? Or is it just a treat ]

Not sure but if you put the kettle on i might pop ova and samle that cake Yes your cake would be considered a soft food .Soft food is all the items you mentioned and its basically a suppliment.The birds find it easy to eat especially when they have young. its apparently a good thing but i dont use it myself.

[Diane]

Did you make that Deb? Looks good enough to eat. Wouldnt mind the recipe, would like to try it on my birds

[Tintola]

SOFTFOOD MIX IS A TERM USED BY BIRD ENTHUSIASTS TO DESCRIBE ANY FOOD MIX WHICH IS A WAY OF INTRODUCING PROTEIN AND OTHER NUTRIENTS IN A PALATABLE WAY. IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS POWDERED EGG AND BISCUIT WITH A LITTLE WATER OR COMPLICATED MIXES BASED ON THIS TO SUIT THE SPECIES.

MY OWN MIX IS
15 HARD BOILED EGGS
COMMERCIAL BREAD CRUMBS
GRATED CHEESE 1CUP
SOAKED DOG BISCUIT (LUCKY DOG MINIS) 1CUP


EGGS ARE PEELED AND THE SHELLS POWDERED WITH SOME BREADCRUMBS IN A SMALL FOOD PROCESSOR
THE PEELED EGGS (THREE AT A TIME) ARE WHIZZED WITH SOME OF THAT MIX TO A CRUMBLY MIX
THE CHEESE ( ABOUT A CUP) IS GRATED OR WHIZZED A BIT FINER
THE DOG FOOD PROCESSED WITH SOME BREADCRUMBS TO A CRUMBLY CONSISTANCY
ALL INGREDIENTS ARE MIXED WELL AND TUBBED INTO PLASTIC TAKE AWAY CONTAINERS AND FROZEN UNTIL NEEDED.
THIS SOFTFOOD MIX WAS ORIGIONALLY MADE FOR VARIOUS SOFTBILLS (WRENS ETC.) BUT MOST BIRDS LOVE IT ONCE THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS.

FINCHES, ALL SOFTBILLS, SMALL PARROTS AND BUDGIES, FRUIT DOVES, ALL LOVE IT AND BREED VERY WELL WHEN IT IS OFFERED.
MIX MUST BE REPLACED DAILY.
MIX CAN BE ADDED TO OR INGREDIENTS DELETED AS REQUIRED FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES.
HOPE THIS HELPS

[jusdeb]

Pretty easy Di ...

1 packet of corn muffin mix which I order from here ...http://www.usafoods.com.au/products.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2 eggs ( with shell )
1 apple
1 carrot
1 tin apple baby food
3/4 cup Harrisons High protein mash or pelletised bird food ( maybe egg / biscuit will do I havent tried it ).

The eggs , apple and carrot go into the food processor then its all just mixed with a wooden spoon , leave for the corn in the muffin mix to soften for a few minutes then in the oven 200c for 25 minutes .

The baby food and extra eggs replace the milk you would use to make muffins for people ...My birds love it .

Dessertbirds your welcome to try it but I think the shells might be a bit hard to swallow .

Thanks for the replies , yay soft food problem solved .

Heres the link I got the basic recipe from , Ive just added more egg for more protein so the recipe can be tweaked to suit .

http://www.thelaughingparrot.com/RECIPES.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cake is then cooled cut and frozen so I just take out what I need on the day .

[jusdeb]

Tintola that looks good also . Ive seen a few recipes that use dog biscuits or in the USA monkey biscuits ...

Just have a concern about the cheese , aren't birds unable to process dairy ? Is cheese OK because it is processed ?

[jusdeb]

It does look pretty good hey , might try the next one minus the egg shells and mash for a tasters .

[Tintola]

MY BIRDS HAVE BEEN ON THIS MIX FOR 10 YEARS, NO PROB'S YET, JUST GOOD CLUTCHES OF NEOPHEMAS, GOULDIANS ETC.

[Diane]

Pretty easy Di ...
My birds love it .
Cake is then cooled cut and frozen so I just take out what I need on the day .

So the finches eat it too? Do you break it all up or just offer a piece and let them go to town on it? Will have to wait until I can get some corn muffin mix now.

[jusdeb]

I just put a small square in the aviaries and they pick at it , if its in a bowl they will pick at any crumbs that come away ....Yep the finches love it too .
They all love it from the finchies to the corella ( what a mess when she has hers ).

My red rumps with the babies finish of 2 squares of about an inch square every day , Im hoping it will be eaten by the babies when they start to wean also .

Its a winner here . This is the third one Ive made , each one being a little different in ingredients and they've all been taken well by the birds.