I have been on FAQs and the Food and Nutrition forums and I am very impressed by the information about Cod Liver Oil. I note that many members leave their seed for 24 hours to absorb the oil before using it. However, if it is very dangerous to use once it has gone rancid, how long does it take before it goes rancid? I am particularly concerned as I have started feeding it to my birds, but we are experiencing a bit of a heat wave here in Newcastle (NSW) and I am concerned this may send it bad quickly. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Only soak enough seed to feed your birds for one meal. Fed daily it could lead to Overdosing ...

It is not a magic potion Birds fed a full wholesome diet don't need any additives....B.J.

I feed cod liver oil daily and year round at a rate of 1ml per kilo of seed. I feel it is necessary to provide a source of vitamin D when the birds are kept indoors. Insufficient UV light = vitamin D deficiency.

 

I mix up a kilo at a time and keep it in tupperware in the fridge. It does not go rancid when kept this way. Outside the fridge the seed is eaten within a couple of weeks and I do not have problems with rancid seed.

 

If oil treated seed does go rancid it smells strongly of fish, but as I said if you store your excess in the fridge this is seldom a problem.

 

Drogo

Edited December 1, 201212 yr by Drogo

I also feel that birds living indoors need a source of vitamin D, but I supplement my birds with liquid vitamins that contain vitamin D in their water, and I have never used any oil, or soaked any seed. I think you could go either route. I chose my method after reading a lot of the breeders on here discussing all they go through with soaking their seed, storing it, serving it, making sure it didn't go rancid. I just didn't want to deal with all that.

That's interesting I find cod liver oil is easier because vitamins given by water have to be given daily. Are there vitamin supplements that stay fresh long enough to be of use in automatic drinkers?

I don't know. That's a good point. Using an automatic drinker system would be a lot different.

Thanks so much for the feedback. I do have a multivitamin for the birds that contains Vitamin D, but I only use it once a week. As I only have 7 birds just now, I find it easier to soak the small amount of seed using a few drops from a Cod Liver Oil capsule. I will keep a 'nose' out for any smell, but my birds eat their seed within three days, so I think I am okay. They are still inside birds until I can save enough money to build my dream aviary. Thanks again.