Hi all!

 

Lately I have decided that if I am going to be getting into showing my birds a bit more seriously, I need to do more then just putting them in a cage with seed and a nestbox type of thing. I am trying to look at reasonably easy options of increasing their diet.

 

Current Diet

Cabinet breeding season - Seed, mineral block and cuttlefish.

Soft food consisting of 2 boild eggs, some oats, carrot, lettuce and whole grain blended together. Egg and biscuit is also sometimes put in. They also get hulled oats (soaked depending on if I remember ) every couple of days. Soft food is given weekly or so.

 

Aviary breeding season - seed, mineral block and cuttlebone. Sometimes fresh gumleaves/grass. They get the leftovers of above recipe, along with another carrot.

 

Non breeding season aviary - seed, mineral block and cuttlebone. Gumleave and grass a little more frequently (just because I seem to be down at the aviary more) The get the above soft food whenver I am bored and feel like making something.

 

Ideas?

I am trying to think of some ways of enchancing their diet. I have decided I will be giving them soaked hulled oats in the breeder's cabinet every second day (monday I serve, tuesday I prepare, wednesday I serve, thursday I prepare etc) but now I am a little unsure on what to do. I don't have ages to be be preparing food (I am a slowpoke and by the time I boil eggs and blend everything, wash and clean bowls and serve to birds, then clean up half destroyed kitchen from soft food) I am not quite sure what else to serve them.

 

So, I was trying to think of what pellets I could offer them in a limited supply in the cabinets all the time. I have heard that you can put guniea pig pellets in? Also, would it be safe to give them chook food? (We have chooks, so I am trying to decide what I can use without wasting the rest of the bag if it spoils quick) The food we give our chooks is this: http://www.lauckemills.com.au/poultryfood2b.html

 

Does anyone else have any idea's?

Edited December 22, 201014 yr by **KAZ**

Hi Squeak,

Remember, many off-the-shelf chick crumbles come with anticoccidials already added which might cause some serious problems in your birds. I would only consider using these types of products if you know for sure that poultry anticoccidials are not added.

 

Sorry I can't help you more, I'm still learning myself.

Hi Squeak,

Remember, many off-the-shelf chick crumbles come with anticoccidials already added which might cause some serious problems in your birds. I would only consider using these types of products if you know for sure that poultry anticoccidials are not added.

 

Sorry I can't help you more, I'm still learning myself.

 

Thanks Rachelm. I will check the packaging and see if it has poultry anticoccidials in it.

Anyone else?

hi squeek

well

it was advised to me by a well established breeder at nat levels to give

carrots daily

oranges daily

a mix of small parrot 3 scoops to 2 scoops of hulled Otes (however i keep mine in separate dishes as birds eat some seeds more depending on month of year )

beet root daily and silver beet 3 days a week amongst other fresh veg and greens

and i ..

i give blend of breeders finch mix and breeders budgie half half blend

although i just changed it two days ago to one half of breeders canary mix as it has flax and Niger and linseed in it as well as millet (white ) and white canary

i put the same blend of breeders budgie (my clubs mix ) half /half

i also place red pannican in a separate dish in flights also

they get silver beet every 3 days and seed grasses and milk thistle when ever it grows up fresh in yard thats almost everyday

they get small shell grit and a chunk of 007 horse salt mineral block (it is completely safe and they love it )

i also would steer clear of the chook feed

i did give red hen layer pellets for 6 months but i had a lot of young birds between 6 months in 8 months die

with no reason since i stopped it i have had none die

i do give thorow horse chaff though

and i also was told chicken feeds hold steroids which are not labeled (a friends brother works in the industry and warned me about this true or not i dont know )

 

all my aviary birds and breeders get same all year round

i toss in the odd bolid eggs just cut in half shell in all

and a raw beetroot here in their

corn on cob now n then when on special

i dont ever give soked foods

i do put linseed in their seed once a month on tea spoon per half a 4 liter bucket i dont do more than they will eat that day and i mix it in with another half a bucket of seed with out it it sits for fifteen mins before serving

 

they have cuttle bone and calcium blocks and iodine blocks in breeding cages along with pvm (pigon vite mineral powder ) in a finger draw also in finger draw egg in biskit and seaweed (powdered) a tray of grit and chunk of 007 and a sep dish of hulled Otes pannican and a mason jar feeder of my seed mix

carrot dayly orange dayly a slice of lemmon weekly

dayly seed grass or silver beet in cabinets

 

fresh water no additives im going to try adding soluvite d and trace minerals (from vetta farmin cabinets only )next season

Edited December 24, 201014 yr by GenericBlue

hi squeek

well

it was advised to me by a well established breeder at nat levels to give

carrots daily Done - We always seem to gave carrots in the fridge. Do you offer grated or whole?

oranges daily Possibly...We don't seem to buy oranges as much unless in season

a mix of small parrot 3 scoops to 2 scoops of hulled Otes (however i keep mine in separate dishes as birds eat some seeds more depending on month of year ) I normally get small parrot for my 'tiels. So add another food dish in with small parrot, and another small dish of hulled oats?

beet root daily and silver beet 3 days a week amongst other fresh veg and greens beetroot... can it be canned, or fresh?

and i ..

i give blend of breeders finch mix and breeders budgie half half blend The mix I get is already that

although i just changed it two days ago to one half of breeders canary mix as it has flax and Niger and linseed in it as well as millet (white ) and white canary

i put the same blend of breeders budgie (my clubs mix ) half /half

i also place red pannican in a separate dish in flights also red pannican?

they get silver beet every 3 days and seed grasses and milk thistle when ever it grows up fresh in yard thats almost everyday seedgrasses is included when I give them fresh grass every day or two

they get small shell grit and a chunk of 007 horse salt mineral block (it is completely safe and they love it ) Do you use oyster shell grit? Also, where can you buy 007 horse mineral block, and how does it differ from normal mineral block?

i also would steer clear of the chook feed

i did give red hen layer pellets for 6 months but i had a lot of young birds between 6 months in 8 months die

with no reason since i stopped it i have had none die Oh no Sorry for your losses...I am sure I will not use it now!

i do give thorow horse chaff though How often?

and i also was told chicken feeds hold steroids which are not labeled (a friends brother works in the industry and warned me about this true or not i dont know ) I will steer clear!

 

all my aviary birds and breeders get same all year round So they get the hulled and small parrot in their cabinets at breeding time?

i toss in the odd bolid eggs just cut in half shell in all

and a raw beetroot here in their

corn on cob now n then when on special Same.

i dont ever give soked foods Do you soak the hulled oats?

i do put linseed in their seed once a month on tea spoon per half a 4 liter bucket i dont do more than they will eat that day and i mix it in with another half a bucket of seed with out it it sits for fifteen mins before serving

 

they have cuttle bone and calcium blocks and iodine blocks in breeding cages along with pvm (pigon vite mineral powder ) in a finger draw also in finger draw egg in biskit and seaweed (powdered) ( Where can you buy powdered seaweed?) a tray of grit and chunk of 007 and a sep dish of hulled Otes pannican and a mason jar feeder of my seed mix

carrot dayly orange dayly a slice of lemmon weekly lemon? Do the birds like it?

dayly seed grass or silver beet in cabinets

 

fresh water no additives im going to try adding soluvite d and trace minerals (from vetta farmin cabinets only )next season

 

I am thinking some thing to add to aviary:

- Dish for small parrot

-Dish for grit

- dish for hulled oats

More veggies fresh every other day or so

 

Cabinets:

Finger draw with grit, one with small parrot and one with hulled oats.

I will then buy some mason jar feeders ( I have been needing them for a while!) and when I serve soft food putting it into their old d-cup feeders)

Getting oranges and lemons, and giving in the middle of the week between soft food.

 

Thanks for the info GB! How does my plan sound? Anyone else have any idea's/opinions?

hi squeek

well

it was advised to me by a well established breeder at nat levels to give

carrots daily Done - We always seem to gave carrots in the fridge. Do you offer grated or whole?WHOLE CARROTS SPLIT IN HALF I FEED

oranges daily Possibly...We don't seem to buy oranges as much unless in season ONE ORANGE DOES MY 100 BIRDS IN FLIGHT ALTHOUGH I CUT SMALLER WHEN I ONLY HAVE ONE SO THEY DONT SQUABBLE

a mix of small parrot 3 scoops to 2 scoops of hulled Otes (however i keep mine in separate dishes as birds eat some seeds more depending on month of year ) I normally get small parrot for my 'tiels. So add another food dish in with small parrot, and another small dish of hulled oats? WELL THATS WHAT I DO I FEED ONE SCOOP HULLED OTES A DAY SOMETIMES TWO IN FLIGHTS AND TWO SCOOPS SMALL PARROT

beet root daily and silver beet 3 days a week amongst other fresh veg and greens beetroot... can it be canned, or fresh?WELL I HAVE NEVER GIVEN CANNED BUT I HAVE BEEN WONDERING THAT MYSELF I HAVE COOKED IN VINEGAR AND SERVED FOR MANY YEARS AS I BELIEVE THE VINEGAR HELPS THEM BUT I STOPPED AS TIME CONSUMING THEY ATE IT COOKED BUT DONT EAT IT RAW I THINK ITS MY FAULT FOR SPOILING THEM WITH PICKED COODED ONE IN IRST PLACE BUT RAW IS GREAT FOR THEM

and i ..

i give blend of breeders finch mix and breeders budgie half half blend The mix I get is already that

although i just changed it two days ago to one half of breeders canary mix as it has flax and Niger and linseed in it as well as millet (white ) and white canary

i put the same blend of breeders budgie (my clubs mix ) half /half

i also place red pannican in a separate dish in flights also red pannican?I CANT SPELL SORRY PALANICAN (SAY IT PHANETICALLY YOU WILL KNOW WHAT IM TRYING TO SPELL ) I HOPE OTHER WIZE KAZ WILL KNOW OR RIP THEY KNOW ME ENOUGH TO READ MY SPELLING MISTAKES :}

they get silver beet every 3 days and seed grasses and milk thistle when ever it grows up fresh in yard thats almost everyday seedgrasses is included when I give them fresh grass every day or two

they get small shell grit and a chunk of 007 horse salt mineral block (it is completely safe and they love it ) Do you use oyster shell grit? I HAVE HUNG OSTERSHELLS IN FLIGHTS BEFORE BUT I FIND JUST THE SMALL SHELL GRIT IS FINE BUT OSTER SHELL GITS GOOD IF YOU PREFER I JUST PREFER THE MIX IN THE FINE SHELL GRIT Also, where can you buy 007 horse mineral block, AT THE LOCAL GRAIN STORE and how does it differ from normal mineral block?ITS NOT POISSON TO BIRDS AS OTHER CATTLE AND HORSE BLOCKS ARE ITS GOT LOTS OF STUFF IN IT MALASSIS INCLUDED SO ITS JUST BETTER ALL ROUND AND CHEEPER THAN OTHER MINERAL BLOCKS

i also would steer clear of the chook feed

i did give red hen layer pellets for 6 months but i had a lot of young birds between 6 months in 8 months die

with no reason since i stopped it i have had none die Oh no Sorry for your losses...I am sure I will not use it now!I TRYED AS S1 STUD GIVES THIS RED HEN TO THEIR BIRDS BUT I WONT BE DOING IT AGAIN :{

i do give thorow horse chaff though How often?ONCE A FORTNIGHT OR WEEK DEPENDS IF I HAVE FRESH SEED GRASSES OR NOT ITS JUST A ADDED EXTRA THEY LOVE TO FROLIC THROUGH IT

and i also was told chicken feeds hold steroids which are not labeled (a friends brother works in the industry and warned me about this true or not i dont know ) I will steer clear!

 

all my aviary birds and breeders get same all year round So they get the hulled and small parrot in their cabinets at breeding time?YES AND THE RED PALANICAN IN D CUP( IM STILL TRILING WHAT ONE THEY EAT MOST AND WILL BE PUTTING ONE FEEDER MASSON JAR OF THE ONE MOST CONSUMED AS WELL AS THE NORMAL SEED THE OTHER WILL BE SERVED IN D CUP ALONG WITH A D CUP HULLED OTES

i toss in the odd bolid eggs just cut in half shell in all

and a raw beetroot here in their

corn on cob now n then when on special Same.

i dont ever give soked foods Do you soak the hulled oats?NO 1 NEVER EVER GIVE SOCKED FOODS

i do put linseed in their seed once a month on tea spoon per half a 4 liter bucket i dont do more than they will eat that day and i mix it in with another half a bucket of seed with out it it sits for fifteen mins before serving

 

they have cuttle bone and calcium blocks and iodine blocks in breeding cages along with pvm (pigon vite mineral powder ) in a finger draw also in finger draw egg in biskit and seaweed (powdered) ( Where can you buy powdered seaweed? AGAIN AT LARGE ANIMAL AND BIRD SUPPLY GRAIN /SEED STORES ITS CHEEP AND LASTS FOREVER BIRDS SHOVE IT INTO CHICKS BUT TAKES A FEW MONTHS FOR THEM TO GET USE TO IT ) a tray of grit and chunk of 007 and a sep dish of hulled Otes pannican and a mason jar feeder of my seed mix

carrot dayly orange dayly a slice of lemmon weekly lemon? Do the birds like it?LOVE IT AND IS GREAT FOR GULLET LEVELS AND KEEPING CHICKS FRE OF CROP INFECTIONS

dayly seed grass or silver beet in cabinets

 

fresh water no additives im going to try adding soluvite d and trace minerals (from vetta farmin cabinets only )next season

 

I am thinking some thing to add to aviary:

- Dish for small parrot

-Dish for grit, YES GRIT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BIRDS LOTS OF CHICKS GET FEED LESS AS NO GRIT IN CABINETS ON OFFER SO ID PUT IN CABINETS ALSO MADE MASSIVE CHANGE TO MY YOUNGSTERS FOOD INTAKE AND PAIRS FEEDING AS IT HELPS CROP MILK PRODUCTION

- dish for hulled oats

More veggies fresh every other day or so

SOUNDS BRILLIANT

Cabinets:

Finger draw with grit,GOOD one with small parrot and one with hulled oats. ID USE THE D CUPPS FOR THIS

I will then buy some mason jar feeders ( I have been needing them for a while!) THEY ARE GREAT AS YOU CAN SEE WHO IS EATTING WELL AND WHOM MAY BE A BIT OFF ALSO WHEN NEW FOOD IS NEEDED and when I serve soft food putting it into their old d-cup feeders)I WENT TO OP SHOP GOT A WHOLE LOAD OF SMALL SAUCERS FOR THIS I TAKE THEM OUT AND WASH NIGHTLY (WELL THAT WAS PLAN I DO GET BIT LAZY AT TIMES SO ONLY BUY WHAT YOU NEED OR YOU WILL END UP WITH DIRTY SAUCERS EVERYWHERE ;[)

Getting oranges and lemons, and giving in the middle of the week between soft food. SOUNDS GOOD A VERY GOOD CHEEP SAFE SOFT FOOD THATS NO TIME OR MESS IS AS FOLLOWS ONE TO TWO CARROTS GRATED ONE TO TWO BOILED EGGS BOILED FOR TEN MINS AND TWO TO THREE WEET BIX BY LOW BRAND OR EVEN WHOLEMEAL IF YOU LIKE THEN ADD CARROTS ,EGGS SHELL AND ALL TO WEET BIX AND CRUSH TOGETHER TILL BLENDED WELL THEN ONE TO TWO TABLE SPOONS PER CABINET ITS ALL YOU NEED AND TAKES 10 MINITS A DAY THATS IT AS YOU DO REST WHILE EGGS ARE BOILING AND SERVE WARM TAKING AWAY AT END OF THE DAY NO MORE HAVING TO SOKE SEEDS WHICH IF YOU DO FOR TO LONG OR IF SEED IS A SLIGHT BIT AFFECTED BY MOULD OR PENICILLIN(UN VISIBLE TO OUR EYES ) CAN ACTUALLY GIVE YOUR BIRDS FOOD POISONING

 

Thanks for the info GB! How does my plan sound? SOUNDS GREAT HUN GOOD LUCK Anyone else have any idea's/opinions?IM SURE THEY IS SOME ONE ELSE WITH IDEAS FOR YOU HUN :}AND YOUR WELCOMED

BY WAY MY SCOOP IS EQUIVALENT TO TWO CUPS :}

Edited December 26, 201014 yr by GenericBlue

Thankyou so much GB! I appreciate it soo much! ( I am sure my birds do also!) Your a superstar!

 

Breeding cabinet:

Mason jar of seed mix

D-cup with water

two small d-cups (like the show cage cups) with hulled oats in one and parrot mix in one

finger draw with grit

saucer for soft food

 

Does that sound better?

Thankyou so much GB! I appreciate it soo much! ( I am sure my birds do also!) Your a superstar!

 

Breeding cabinet:

Mason jar of seed mix YES SOUNDS GOOD

D-cup with water (I WOULD GET THE GREEN DRINKER IN LARGE IF I WAS YOU AS IT KEEPS WATER FRESH AND CLEANER AND ON HOT DAYS THEY CANT BATH IN IT )ALSO IN CASE YOU GO OUT OVER NIGHT THE WATER IS GUARANTEED TO STAY CLEAN AND BE SOME THEIR CHICKS NEED WATER SO ITS IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT READILY AT NEED

two small d-cups (like the show cage cups) with hulled oats in one and parrot mix in one (I WOULD USE THE BIGGER ONES THAT YOU WOULD GET IN A NORMAL WIRE CAGE YOU BUY TO BREED IN JUST INSTEAD OF SEED IN WATER THE SMALL PARROT AND HULLED OATES IN THE OTHER YOU DONT NEED TO HAVE THEM IN THE DOOR JUST ON INSIDE ALONG WALL BIRDS DONT SPILL THEM )

finger draw with grit (I ACTUALLY USE THE BOTTOM OF A POT PLANT HOLDER AND I PLACE THE GRIT N OO& CHUNK ON IT THEN THE MASON JAR FEEDER IN THAT SO THAT THE GRIT IS AROUND BOTTOM OF FOOD AND UNDER THEIR FEET >>>>BUT A SMALLER D CUP WOULD BE okay FINGER DRAW IS TAD SMALL )

saucer for soft food (JUST A SMALL ONE THEY EAT FROM IT BETTER THAN SOFT FOOD IN D CUP IVE FOUND ) my com is broken so i can not put up pick of my lay out but i will do my best to try see if i can email someone else some pics of my cage set up with the breeding cage all layed out for you so you can see what i mean i find visual always makes things clearer okay hun just give me bit time to work out who isnt busy and willing to upload some shots to photobucket for me as this my sons com and im not allowed to do anything bar type :{

 

Does that sound better? it does sound better darl

Thanks GB! I am just mentally tryig to sort out my cages in my head and were things can go!

 

Whenever your ready is fine!

Thanks GB! I am just mentally tryig to sort out my cages in my head and were things can go!

 

Whenever your ready is fine!

if you send me your number in pm i can call you it may be easier to chat as i can explain way better :} i have it somewhere but would take a month to find it im sure lol as my bird books are in such a mess of late :{

Your messenger is full

Your messenger is full

it is oh well i have no clue how to empty :{ i thought it was empty :{ ill empty it or try :{