Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Looking For The Best Finch Seed Mix

By Dora Reed


People who enjoy owning birds many times build large enclosures called aviaries for them to live in. Smaller birds adapt to this life very well and finches do especially well in them. Finches are colorful birds that have a lot of natural energy and a lovely song to offer their owners. The cages and aviaries usually closely resemble the natural habitat of the birds. An important part of creating the habitat is selecting the best finch seed mix available for them to eat.

A study of their diet in the wild shows that the main staples they eat consists of seeds, green vegetation and available berries and fruit. As the seasons change they will either move to areas where food is more available or alter the type of food they seek. They are not adverse to eating insects especially when they have babies to feed. Many people place live foliage in the cages with their birds.

Many people who keep birds choose to blend their own feed for them. There are internet websites that provide lists of ingredients and directions for making the mixes. Most are relatively simple but some include soft foods that the birds like. These recipes include vitamins and other supplements necessary for promoting good health in birds. There are also premixed blends that can be purchased online or at any retail pet store.

A problem that some people encounter with premixed commercial brands is that there is no variation in the recipe that deals with the different stages of a birds life cycles. The ingredients that are used contain high volume protein and nutrient levels that work well during breeding and molting but not during rest periods that follow.

During the resting season the birds need less crude protein, crude fat and crude fiber. Feeding them too much of these things will cause the birds to become obese and can upset the natural cycles of the year. The best ingredients for resting periods include white proso millet, canary grass seeds and Japanese millet.

Finches need the highest level of nutrients during the time they are breeding and afterwards while they molt. Molting is when they lose feathers and replace them with new ones. When they are feeding their nestlings they use a lot of energy. High protein blends containing Niger seed, saffron, poppy and sesame seeds are essential during this time. Most breeders add supplements and vitamins to this blend of food.

Many people use the water supply as a means to provide their birds with extra supplements that are beneficial to their health. One of the most common supplements used is calcium that is helpful for bone strength for both adults and off spring. Another is amino acids that contain trace amounts of sulfur to assist with the molting process.

Having the proper blend of bird feed is important whether you enjoy feeding them in the yard or have them inside your home as part of your family. With the proper care these birds bring a lot of pleasure to every member of the family with their songs and bright perky personalities.




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