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Post by vankarhi on Sept 29, 2010 16:47:41 GMT 10
Yes Laraine the aloe vera plant is good for the birds. If I remember correctly it helps to detoxify as well as it has healing properties. When I was a member of Land of Vos they recommended it but they suggested to peel it first........I used to just break a piece of and slice it open and just give it to Skye and she just loved it. I have it growing in the aviaries now but none of the birds eat it.........but I know if they did it would not hurt them. As long as they didn't go beserk with it I guess  |
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Post by Robyn on Sept 29, 2010 18:44:06 GMT 10
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Post by lolwutburds on Sept 29, 2010 20:01:06 GMT 10
I give a HUGE variety of foods. Basically anything that is considered 'bird safe,' they get. If you aren't going to include pellets in the diet, make sure a variety of nutrients from the fresh foods are given. You want some fruits for the sugar and carbs, some dark green leafy vegies for calcium and iron, the orange ones for the B vitamins and a variety of sprouts for the massive amount of vitamins and minerals they hold! I always try to have sprouts, pumpkin, sweet potato and spinach leaves on hand and build on that with other things. I find berries are messy so i make (no sugar) muffins and put the berries in those. That way there's no red stains on my carpet.
No point being on a fresh diet if you are not covering the full spectrum of nutrients they need.
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Post by lolwutburds on Sept 29, 2010 20:07:34 GMT 10
You can also buy commercial mixes of seed to sprout with instructions on the back. Alternatively, you can buy sprouts from the grocer's or supermarket. The brand I use to sprout my own seeds is Aristopet, available in shops or online. Be careful sprouting with regular commercial mixes as they are treated to prevent mould and won't sprout properly! www.greenharvest.com.au/seeds/sprouting_seeds.htmlThe above link sells organic seeds for sprouting. I've bought from them before, very good quality and the postage was so quick! They are pricey though and my birds eat so much i found it easier to use the Aristopet brand. Ali, since you'll only have the one bird try out the sprouts in the supermarket. They are about $2 per tub. You can get a mix of alfalfa, mung beans and snowpea sprouts which gives a nice variety or there's a 'crunchy combo' mix that I buy as well. They are actually tasty too, i find myself munching on the snowpea sprouts and sweet mung beans! |
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Post by vankarhi on Sept 29, 2010 20:15:54 GMT 10
I wondered about the palm nuts we used to have........before we cut down the 3 nuisance palm trees (I think they are Royal or Queen palms and apparently considered a noctious weed???)........maybe they could chew on other palm fruit too?? We have a few other palm trees but they don't get the big palm nuts on them. The fruit bats loved them too....... |
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Post by Laraine on Sept 30, 2010 10:47:55 GMT 10
We have a lot of SC Toos in our area. They love to pick the oranges off my tree, but only eat the seeds and leave oranges lying around everywhere. If only there was a bird/animal that only ate the flesh. lol. Some of my birds like them.
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Post by vankarhi on Sept 30, 2010 11:53:38 GMT 10
Yes Laraine the neighbours have or had a mandarine tree and the 'toos would come in and eat them.......eating the seeds and wasting the flesh.
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Post by alibaby on Sept 30, 2010 21:21:02 GMT 10
Thanks for the website, Robyn, I've bookmarked it =]
Since posting this question I've spoken to my breeder, and she feeds Vetafarm Maintenance pellets, so I'll continue that diet (of course with seeds, fruits, veges, and I'll try sprouting as well!)
Thanks for the tip Kali, I'll try the mixes from the supermarket.
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Post by Robyn on Oct 1, 2010 10:31:52 GMT 10
The seeds that's in the mix i use to soak are:
Mung Beans, Popcorn (Baby Corn), Grey Striped Sunflower, Oats, Wheat, White French Millet & Canola (Rape Seed) I also sometimes put in Maple & Dun Peas but the birds are not to fussed on them. You can get all you need from any Stockfeed store that carry bird seed. Or if you want to buy it in yourself & have it delivered to your door PM me & i will give you all the details.
If your using the prepacked stuff from the supermarket make sure you take it out of the cage before it spoils, it kind of wilts very quickly, especially on a hot day.
Alex's are very easy to feed & are not fussy at all. Well mine weren't.
Ali i can see you changing your eating habits to a very healthy one so you & your new friend can share. ;D
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Post by alibaby on Oct 1, 2010 11:59:20 GMT 10
Haha, Robyn, it's unlikely =P although I may start eating more fruit as I'll be buying more varieties for my bird than we have usually (we rarely have anything other than bananas, apples and oranges).
But my rats used to have an extremely healthy diet, and I didn't lol
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Post by vankarhi on Oct 1, 2010 15:53:28 GMT 10
I also sometimes use the mixes from the supermarket but I always make sure they look fresh and rinse them when I get them home.
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