I know it seems really premature, but as some of you may know, I am planning on building an avairy once new house is finished, then I want to start breeding some budgies.

 

I want to buy a few older pairs so they can breed as soon as they get into condition, but I want to know what the general go is for breeders, and what is actually given to them.

 

I know the normal - seed, pellets, egg & biscuit, vegies and eggfood is a good healthy daily diet, for both avairy budgies, breeders and inside birds, but also I have heard others talk about iodine blocks and minerals in the water.

 

Is this something that should be given to all budgies, indoor, outdoor and breeders alike, or only for breeders?

How soon before you start breeding them should they be given these things, are they necessary for healthly chicks and breeders and what do they actually do for the birds?

 

I want to ensure I am doing my absolute best to give my babies the best diet they can have, as well as in the future, ensure the health of my breeders and their chicks.

Everyone's going to give you a different answer but it's a really complex thing to look at. I highly recommend the book "Feeding Your Pet Bird" for an indepth look at nutrition (in terms that the average person can still make sense of). I loved it, and it did what most people have trouble doing: it explained WHY birds need what was advised. You can learn how each individual part of the diet affects its body and how to balance it out.

We might need an author to help us locate that book please Terri.

 

I plugged it into Yahoo AU/NZ and the best thing to come up was this...

Click on Article 143 on this page

...worked out I can't link to a pdf :hap:

Edited November 18, 200618 yr by bluey2

It's by Petra M. Burgmann. Here's a link so you can see what it looks like. :hap: http://www.amazon.com/Feeding-Your-Bird-Re...s/dp/0812015215

Riebie, I personally think that all birds need a wide variety to stay healthy. Since you won't really know what an older bird grew up on, I would supplement that variety with a good high-potency pellet like Harrison's to replenish whatever they may be lacking in. The fun part will be getting them to eat it.

 

As far as books go, I have two favorites. "The Healthy Bird Cookbook, A Lifesaving Nutritional Guide and Recipe Collection" by Robin Deutsch. It is copyright 2004 by T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Also "Holistic Care for Birds, A Manual of Wellness and Healing" by David McCluggage, DVM and Pamela Leis Higdon. It is copyright 1999 by Howell Book House (IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.). The second one has a nutrition section in it, but is more a general care book.

Thank you ladies. I've never bought from amazon before so I'll have a look around for those books.

 

I'm sorry for hijacking your thread Riebie, but you asked a question I should have asked too.

I read somewhere that it is not a good idea to add vitamins to the water of breeding budgies, because the mother drinks a lot of water during breeding and it can cause vitamin poisoning. Just use cuttlefish bone, iodine blocks and etc that they can chew at their leisure, whereas with water they have no option and have to drink the vitamins if they thirsty.

Depending on who you talk to, vitamins in the water are no good in general. It's so hard to get the right dosage, they can help bacteria grow in the water quickly, and to an extent, they can actually become completely useless. On the flip side, a lot of people don't realize that you *can* overdose your bird on vitamins so that's another worry. It's up for debate, like most things, but I'm a strong believer in budgies getting those vitamins from fresh foods and a good quality seed and pellet rather than pet store bought vitamins or vitamins like that in general.

Edited November 18, 200618 yr by eterri

I read somewhere that it is not a good idea to add vitamins to the water of breeding budgies

there is a great article in this months budgerigar called role of nutrition in budgerigar breeding there is a section on vitamin toxicity.water soluble vitimins are not stored in the body so daily supply is required this also means that overdosing is less likely although b vitomen is possible and excessive c may cause diarrhoea the fat based vitamins are stored in the body and a overdose of these is much more serious

 

an over view of the article is to help breeders in deciding if a new supplement is required or is already provided

 

more isnt always better unless dietary protien is well balanced all the vitamins/mineral supplements are not going to help and in excess could be harmfull

 

in conclusion a good well balanced diet with a water based suppliment is advised

 

its for people to make up there own mind if they want to provide suppliments they can i personally do give a suppliment 3 times a week with proabotic twice a week and during breeding time a calcium suppliment

I use Soluvet from Vetafarm. Eterri is correct in that it can cause a build up of bacteria. That is why I use Avicleans to stop the build up.

 

I have a water management plan that all my birds are on, even George, Angle and Chirpy. Suppliment are a required part of breeding in addition to a health eating plan.

 

Vetafarm has a MSDS on their products. MSDS on Soluvet

Edited November 19, 200618 yr by daz