A local breeder put us on to the benefits of Old Man Salt Bush (Atriplex nummularia) and then showed us where it grew out in the open, ripe for picking. So we drove there today and took some cuttings (along with some Peppermint Gum)

 

Here's a photo of it close up:

 

 

 

 

and another of it growing in clumps ready to be harvested.

 

 

So is it good? I did some research and found that not surprising it is high in salt, both NaCl and KCl. It's also high in Sulphur S, Magnesium Mg, Calcium Ca, and Phosphorus P. It is also high in the antioxidant Vitamin E and high in crude protein.

 

So it's obviously something to give your birds on a regular basis - maybe as often as every few weeks.

 

While most of the research done is focused on feeding it to cows and sheep, it does grow wildly in the natural environment of the Budgerigar, so it can't be all that bad, can it.

 

More research into the nutrition value was found at http://www.oldmansaltbush.com/nutrition.cfm

 

and they list the following table, which I have put here for information.

 

 

Attribute OMSB 1

Sandy Loam OMSB 2

Grey soil OMSB 3

Red Soil Moisture % 80.7 74.0 76.7 Crude Protein % 21.1 21.0 23.9 Phosphorus (P, g/Kg) 2.1 1.7 3.4 Potassium (K, g/Kg) 26.3 16.3 27.4 Sulphur (S, g/Kg) 3.2 6.9 8.0 Calcium (Ca, g/Kg) 7.7 10.5 5.4 Magnesium (Mg, g/Kg) 6.4 7.4 4.1 Sodium (Na, g/Kg) 72.6 75.6 71.8 Copper (Cu, mg/Kg or ppm) 7 10 10 Zinc (Zn, mg/Kg or ppm) 32 17 35 Manganese (Mn, mg/Kg or ppm) 88 39 242 Iron (Fe, mg/Kg or ppm) 191 120 175 Boron (B, mg/KR or ppm) 37 58 34

 

Food for thought?

Edited April 5, 200916 yr by JamesBond007

Is salt good for budgies? If salt is good for budgies then I see no problem with it. Has plenty of other good things in it, just not sure about salt.

Edited April 5, 200916 yr by Pearce

Was that Stephen Elliot that put you onto that?? :grouphug: I was reading his site the other week and he feeds it to his birds regularly... They are nice birds so I am sure that diet plays a big part in that...

Well done 007, now to find some, [out side the botanic gardens] in the city... Ha Ha

hehe yes JB it is Steve who showed us the secret growing crop of it :grouphug:

JB,

as Liv said it was Stephen Elliot - and yes he has some really nice birds. He has an article on his web site about it too, and feeds it to his birds. Stephen sells his birds all around Australia and he has had some really good successes in the Nationals.

 

My goal is to have a line of Stephen's birds and breed from them - and to bring in his out-crosses every so many years from an obvious similar line to mine in the future. I'll let you know how that pans out...

In the meanwhile why not get all the birds used to old man salt bush for its obvious nutrition.

 

Its not too salty, and I know other breeders who feed their budgies an aniseed cattle salt lick to ensure they have enough salt.

Salt is only bad when introduced in processed foods like canned veg etc. This is because they contain a lot of salt,

The salt bush is 21% protein too.

 

The birds got peppermint gum, salt bush and another gum today - their favorite is the peppermint gum, but the salt bush got a good munching too

He had some of his birds for sale at the Auction I went to a few weeks ago. I think its a great Idea to feed them it if you can get your hands on it easily. I think the more variety you can give your birds the better. I know I get sick and tired if I eat the same thing over and over again... I figure the same for them.

Like you say might be good to give them some every couple of weeks.

 

Best of Luck with the breeding plans. I saw some of the birds you got off him when you went and visited a while ago, looked great.

I saw some of the birds you got off him when you went and visited a while ago, looked great.

 

Those birds were from Sue Adams. She has really good birds too, She and Steve compete against each other in the nationals

ahhh okay... have you posted any pics of your Elliott birds??

Mr Jimmy B,

 

I could neither confirm or deny that we have or have not any of those wonderful Stephen Elliott birds, (but all serious breeders should have some if they can get some - they are exquisite and I put them up there with the Gearing's and Kakoske's ) but I can obviously say that we have never posted any of his birds that we may or may not have bought as our own...

 

Definitely, we have posted Sue Adam's birds that we bought, and I will confirm that we have those wonderful Sue Adams birds, and that she bought some of Stephen's birds and she has done very well in the nationals with her birds...

 

Maybe we will be as lucky when we breed post malt in July...

End of discussions as to our do's or don't 007 signing off.............................................................................

....

:D

Mr Jimmy B,

 

I could neither confirm or deny that we have or have not any of those wonderful Stephen Elliott birds, (but all serious breeders should have some if they can get some - they are exquisite and I put them up there with the Gearing's and Kakoske's ) but I can obviously say that we have never posted any of his birds that we may or may not have bought as our own...

 

Definitely, we have posted Sue Adam's birds that we bought, and I will confirm that we have those wonderful Sue Adams birds, and that she bought some of Stephen's birds and she has done very well in the nationals with her birds...

 

Maybe we will be as lucky when we breed post malt in July...

End of discussions as to our do's or don't 007 signing off.............................................................................

....

 

:D

So 007 of you

 

:rofl: :rofl:

Yep,

 

back to my Martini - SHAKEN OF COURSE, NOT STIRRED...

 

and my beautiful Bond woman (she made me say that ,,,)

:hug: yeah I'm sure she did... Mr. Bond never does anything he doesn't want to..

Edited April 5, 200916 yr by JimmyBanks