I am hoping that this can begin an interesting discussion (Think Tank) on how we can improve on the Show Qualities of the birds. I know that this is in the foremost of our thinking every day but to get it on “paper”, discuss it entirely, clinically and see what we can agree on.

 

The birds are basically skeleton, mussel and feather. Depending on quality and structural features within these three items we judge the bird.

 

The features are determined by many factors. Genetic make up handed to them from their parents, the food that we feed them and how they process it. Some say 50% in the genes and 50% through the beak.

 

Let’s start with the food as I‘d like to assume that we have the best stock that we can afford and we have some basic idea on how to pair the birds.

 

We are all looking for healthy birds that will not only breed well for us but also to look good on the bench. The first thing we look at is the feather.

 

Here is an extract from Wikapedia.

 

Feathers are among the most complex integumentary appendages found in vertebrates and are formed in tiny follicles in the epidermis, or outer skin layer, that produce keratin proteins. The β-keratins in feathers, beaks and claws — and the claws, scales and shells of reptiles — are composed of protein strands hydrogen-bonded into β-pleated sheets, which are then further twisted and crosslinked by disulfide bridges into structures even tougher than the α-keratins of mammalian hair, horns and hoof.^[3][4] The exact signals that induce the growth of feathers on the skin are not known but it has been found that the transcription factor cDermo-1 induces the growth of feathers on skin and scales on the leg.^[5]

 

What I see quickly is the extract that the Feathers are composed of protein strands. We all talk about protein and how we need to feed it to the birds for the feather qualities.

 

Bob Smith gave a lecture two weeks ago on his feeding program. In it he hit on how much protein he is giving his birds. I feed soft food to my birds once a day, in the morning and only to the Breeding cages and Nursery. Bob believes that this is way too little. He suggests three times a day and to birds up to the age of 6 months. …. And suggests animal protein as well as vegetable protein.

 

I have now changed to feed the birds twice a day and have looked at the type and level of protein in their diets.

 

Each morning they are feed soft food containing:

 

Whole Egg Powder 1 table spoon

Finch Soft Food 1 tablespoon

Budgie Starter 2/3 cup

Hulled oats 1 cup

Mixed Chopped Vegis 8 tablespoons

Calcivit 10mls

 

The Mixed Chopped Vegis are carrot, beetroot, parsley and spinach leaves. To 4 cups of this I add 2 tablespoons of probotics and a tablespoon of Pentivite (children’s multivitamin)

 

They get half of that each night.

 

At first it took a few brave souls to try it but now it is fully gone and I see that they prefer it to the seed.

He suggests three times a day and to birds up to the age of 6 months. …. And suggests animal protein as well as vegetable protein.

 

I have now changed to feed the birds twice a day and have looked at the type and level of protein in their diets.

 

Each morning they are feed soft food containing:

 

Whole Egg Powder 1 table spoon

Finch Soft Food 1 tablespoon

Budgie Starter 2/3 cup

Hulled oats 1 cup

Mixed Chopped Vegis 8 tablespoons

Calcivit 10mls

The Mixed Chopped Vegis are carrot, beetroot, parsley and spinach leaves. To 4 cups of this I add 2 tablespoons of probotics and a tablespoon of Pentivite (children's multivitamin)

 

They get half of that each night.

 

At first it took a few brave souls to try it but now it is fully gone and I see that they prefer it to the seed.

 

Do you feed this to your birds that are under 6 months of age or all ages? If thats what you feed your young ones what do you change for your adults?

Each morning they are feed soft food containing:

 

Whole Egg Powder 1 table spoon

Finch Soft Food 1 tablespoon

Budgie Starter 2/3 cup

Hulled oats 1 cup

Mixed Chopped Vegis 8 tablespoons

Calcivit 10mls

 

 

I guess I'm old school, my soft food mix is the following:

 

4 carrots & 2 apples blended

Liberal sprinkling of whey powder

Mixed herbs (parsley, basil, rosemary, mint)

3 cups of Hulled Oats

1 cup of black sunflower seed

 

My birds get their soft food mix rather late, at 6pm so they eat it at night and finish it off first thing in the morning.

Great Discussion point Daz, wish i was more qualified to contribute to this one.

 

Feeding high protein additives does not make short feathered or small or narrow birds become Top show birds. Feeding is about giving the birds every chance to breed up to their genetic potential. Whilst i know of breeders who have been succesful feeding birds on seed and water alone, there success was shortlived.

Do you feed this to your birds that are under 6 months of age or all ages? If thats what you feed your young ones what do you change for your adults?

 

 

The Aduls are feed this when they are in the breeding cabinets. In the flights they are on Plain seed and vitaminized grit and feed fresh vegatables on a saturday afternoon andSunday Afternoon... just feed them then

 

 

That was a comment that Henry George made... Show birds aren't feed on seed and water... I think it's in The Challenge.

Edited April 4, 200916 yr by Daz

These are all excellent articles Daz thanks very much for getting them to us.