Best/healthiest finch seed brands for 2011?

[Finchy]

Hi

What do the serious finch breeders on this forum think about the various brands of finch mix that are around these days? Which brands/suppliers are providing the healthiest seed mixes, in an affordable price range? By "healthy" I mean fresh + clean/dry + Australian grown.

(Any brands that are best avoided?)

Thanks

[Tiaris]

I buy mine straight from the grower & mix my own according to what my birds eat. This provides fresh (current season's harvest) seed which is guaranteed not to be imported.

[VR1Ton]

I buy mine straight from the grower & mix my own according to what my birds eat. This provides fresh (current season's harvest) seed which is guaranteed not to be imported.

The only way to go. Takes a bit of effort, & a 5 hour drive, but well worth it, I do a trip twice a year, & get 300- 400 kg at a time. There is a bit of a saving even when you include fuel, food ect for the trip, but knowing you are getting fresh seed is well worth the effort. If you can't do this hunt around for the more reputable suppliers, rather than brands, as they would more than likely be getting their own seed from growers, rather than a branded product (wich usually isn't a good mix in most cases anyway)

[Finchy]

OK, I think I need to be more specific .

I don't have special dry storage facilities for keeping many kilos of seed fungus- and vermin-free for 5 or 6 months, nor the transport facilities and time to spend a day or two collecting it. I live in Sydney metro on 0.1 acres so need to buy seed in 20-30kg bags every couple of months from somewhere local or from a supplier that delivers. Which of those suppliers/brands provides the best product?

Ta

[SamDavis]

It's likely your local produce store will stock Avigrain finch mix. I've always found it to be clean and germinates fine. The only issue is they keep changing the mix - I suspect based on seed prices but I have noticed more oil seeds during winter, so maybe there's some logic apart from price. Sometimes you get no canary or no rape or no french millet, etc. in the mix. Therefore, I'd advise buying a kg or two of a range of individual seeds so you can suppliment as needed. You'll soon work out which seeds are preferred.

No idea of any produce stores in NE Sydney - I guess there must be one up Terry Hills way for the horse nuts. Personally I'd avoid Petbarn or similar, I've found very poor germination in the past.

[Diane]

I buy Natures Harvest, There is a breakdown of the blend in this topic. I also offer canary seed, red pannicum, Breeders Brew and Greens and Grains as extras in the seed area.
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2993&start=0&hilit=organic" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Shark]

Anyone who goes to the vic bird sales. A grower from Sheparton comes with seed to all sales. It is great stuff. he will also Deliver just a few bags as he is frequently around the countryside on other farm business. Probably southern NSW wouldn't be a problem for him.

PM me if you want his mobile.

[Greg41]

I have just started to use one called Golden Cob, it seems to have a good variety of seeds plus vegetable oil, Iodine, Vitamin A,D3 and E.
and best of all the birds like it.Hope no one has a bad report on it.

Cheers Greg.

[Canary]

You cannot go past Elenbee at SevenHills. I have always found their seed to be good.

http://www.elenbeebirdsupplies.com.au/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They also sell a sprouting seed mix that I use and would recommend. Germinates and sprouts every time.

Maybe a bit far from Douglas Park, but worth dropping in if you are over Seven Hills/Norwest/Blacktown area.

[Finchy]

Now that looks promising! Not too far to go once every few months to get seed mixes made to order .

What will I do with all this Avigrain stuff I still have? Feed it to 'em anyway, I guess... Silly me, I got sold on the good copy written by their web site person. Shame it has no relationship with reality - ingredients listed turned out to be completely different from what's listed on the bag, which are different again from what's the in the bag! Unbelieveably bad business practice to obliterate trust like that. I won't buy again.