The Bird Food I Use To Produce Goldfinches And Canaries

What bird food should be provided for ornamental song birds? A question that always came to my mind, especially at the beginning of my journey in raisingornamental birds. Praise be to God, after many experiments, observations, and research on the behavior of birds in food, as well as their daily behaviors at every stage of life, starting from the first day of hatching the chicks from the egg until it reaches the weaning stage, passing through the period of feather loss, and last but not least, the production stage at this time. Birds, after all these years I have reached several results on the subject of feeding ornamental birds, and here I mean feeding goldfinches and canaries. I am still searching because, in all honesty, the matter is a very, very big ocean. Below is a summary of my humble experiences and experience regarding appropriate nutrition for goldfinches and canaries during the preparation period and the production period. I have reached the following:

Seeds and grains eaten by goldfinches and canaries

Among the important seeds that must be present in the food of ornamental songbirds, i.e. goldfinches and canaries, are as follows:

Canary seeds, or what are called tares, rape seeds, dandelion seeds, oat seeds, cob seeds, flax seeds, niger seeds, thistle seeds, pine seeds, sesame seeds, sweet or beneficial seeds, or what is called star anise, sunflower seeds, Seeds of doubts for goldfinches.

You can buy a mixture of the mixtures that are sold ready-made, provided that it is a mixture of various seeds and grains and that it is a mixture from a well-known and original brand. As for the names, there are multiple designations. It is important that they be real products of leading companies in the field. Or you can make your own mixture according to your desire, in The final arbiter is the educator.

As for my method of making mixtures, there are two methods:

The second method: 1 kilo of canary seeds + a 500-gram box of a mixture of seeds and grains + 100 grams of niger seeds + 100 grams of chia seeds + 100 grams of flax seeds, and I add a little Of anise seeds and sunflower seeds as desired. According to the life stages of the birds and the seasons, for example during the winter period, as well as the mating season and the feather replacement period.

Mix all these seeds and grains and keep them in a tightly closed container so that the seeds are not exposed to moisture and damage. Note: Prepare enough for ornamental birds for a period of 15 days to a month at the maximum. Provide the seed mixture on a daily basis.

Important vegetables in feeding ornamental birds:

Lettuce, cucumber, green broccoli, watercress, hot and sweet peppers, and in turn, beets and green leafy vegetables, because of their important benefits in feeding birds due to their richness in essential vitamins, minerals, mineral salts, and fiber, as well as some types of proteins and amino acids needed in feeding ornamental birds.

3 fruits that are important in feeding goldfinches and canaries:

Bananas, apples, apricots in the summer, grapes, dates, figs, peaches, etc. are fruits, especially during the production period.

4 Dry fruits that ornamental birds eat:

Dried figs, dates, and these dry fruits are presented to ornamental birds as they are, or some sweets are made from them that the birds eat.

Nuts that ornamental birds eat:

Almonds, walnuts, peanuts, as long as they are raw and without additives. As for the method of presentation, they are served as is or added to the bati mixture. You can see how to make the bati mixture through this article. How to make bati mixture.

Sources of animal proteins for ornamental birds:

Boiled eggs, which are the main source of animal proteins and which are adopted by most ornamental bird breeders in all parts of the world due to their availability, of course, and the worm larvae, which are very rich in proteins that are useful in feeding ornamental birds.

With regard to the method of serving boiled eggs, the egg with its shells must be divided into quarter parts, and a quarter of it should be served to each cage, as is the case with the Qababi larvae or the Qababi dog. These components can also be combined in Egg paste mix.

Just a note regarding eggs and worms. It is not offered on a daily basis except during the production season. It is offered once every 15 days in order to avoid grease or obesity. It is provided during the period of preparing the birds for production, and also during the production and mating season for birds, approximately once every two days. A quarter of an egg for each pair of birds or Cage and serve daily after the eggs hatch and the chicks emerge. A quarter in the morning during the first week, and we add a quarter after noon starting in the second week.

Herbs and leafy vegetables that birds eat:

Like nettle leaves or harika leaves, which are given to goldfinches in particular, radish leaves, cabbage leaves, very useful germinated seeds, watercress, lettuce, etc. of these green leaves.

Nutritional supplements for ornamental birds:

Sometimes an ornamental bird breeder needs to provide some nutritional supplements if his birds need them. These supplements are: water-soluble multivitamins, whether liquid or powder, for ornamental birds or for poultry as well.

Especially during the period of mating and preparing birds, the most important of which are products that contain vitamin E, minerals, and mineral salts that supplement natural food.

Important note: It is best to avoid vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens in the first week of the chicks’ emergence, because they may cause the young ornamental birds to have diarrhea, gas, and indigestion at times. You can add them gradually after the first week. Especially lettuce, cucumber, apples and bananas.