To keep your finches healthy and happy you need to provide them with a balanced mix of all the edibles that finches are known to feed on. Here are the basics for providing good nutrition for your finch birds.
Millet seed is often used by finch breeders and enthusiasts. It is a common practice for breeders to mix four or five types of millet seeds for their birds. It is a good idea to experiment with the mix that your own finches like as it will lower the amount of seed waste and your birds will be eating enough to provide them with the nutrients they need on a daily basis.
If you have the option of buying irradiated seeds and fresh seeds, experienced breeders recommend that you go for the newer fresh seeds because most species will eagerly consume fresh seeds over irradiated seeds.
During the colder months it is imperative that you add seeds rich in natural oil to their seed mix. Hulled oats are a good choice because finches need the extra oil in their diets to improve their resistance to cold. Other good choices are sunflower seeds, oats, rape seeds and poppy seeds. These seeds should also be added during the breeding months to help jumpstart the courtship and mating of males and females.
Sprouted seeds are also a good staple food for finches. Do not mix the dry seeds with sprouted seeds because this can quicken the spoilage rate.
Moist, sprouted seeds should only stay in the cage or aviary for a maximum of twenty-four hours. All leftovers should be removed and replaced with fresh sprouted seeds in a clean dish. During the breeding season, sprouted seeds should be provided alongside oily seeds to encourage mating.
You can also feed your finches a mixture of crushed biscuits and boiled chicken eggs. Bird biscuits are available commercially.
Boiled chicken eggs provide fat and protein. Freshly boiled eggs should be mashed thoroughly before being mixed with the biscuits. A small amount of egg and biscuits will do every feeding. Discard all leftover mixes within twenty-four hours along with unused dry seeds and sprouted seeds.
Live foods such as larvae and meal worms are also great sources of protein for your finches. Larger finches like the Melba Finch must have live foods in their diets. Speak with the breeder you are buying your finches from to find out if the finches you want to purchase need live foods for optimum health.
As a treat, you can spoil your birds with chopped veggies. Finches love fresh cauliflower, carrot tops and broccoli flowers. Cut the vegetables into very small pieces and place them in a clean feeding dish for your birds.
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