The Breeding Diet

[Jayburd]

Hi all,
what should I be feeding my birds to get stuff happening in the aviary? Greens and livefood I know, but any special secrets? any particular sorts of greens they go wild for?

[Myzomela]

Hi Jayburd,

I don't think there are any "secrets". Finches respond to green seeding grass and protein, so if you provide increased amounts of seeding grasses, milk seed & livefood (depending on what species you have) then that should do the trick. I also like to increase the availability of minerals and trace elements as well, which are found in many supplements that are commonly used. It's really just about letting them know that there is plenty of whatever food they need for them to breed. Use whatever green seeding grasses you have available- keeping up a constant supply is more important than providing something which runs out when the chicks are only half grown.ie consistency is paramount.

Good luck this season.

Myzo.

[Jayburd]

Thanks Myzo I'll keep that in mind

[jusdeb]

Isnt Zuchini (leb) suppose to be the finchy aphrodisiac ?

[Tiaris]

That'd be leb cucumber. I doubt that there's anything aphrodisiac about it at all. However it is excellent rearing food to supplement live insects and half-ripe seeds (the best finch breeding foods) which many finch species take to readily especially when they have young. I think its main attraction to parent finches is is moist pulpy consistency which blends well with the other key rearing foods & would make for the perfect easily regurgitated slop for feeding young.