Canary / Finch / Small Bird Diets
Bird Nutrition
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Base Diet:
- Base Diet: Feeding finches is easy. They will survive on just plain canary seed for some time. But a one-sided diet will cause them to be more susceptible to diseases and less productive as breeders.
For good health they need a balanced and varied diet, which should include a quality dry food / seeds and greens. I love Dr. Harvey's Bird Food Mixes as they lack the harmful additives that are commonly found in commercial mixes and have an AMAZING variety of quality ingredients (including dried fruits, veggies, herbs / greens and even superfoods, such as bee pollen!) - in short: myriad nourishing ingredients that are not found in other commercially available bird mixes (click here for product info). I would recommend that you ask your local pet store to add them to their product offerings. You can also buy it online (both WITH Seeds and WITHOUT) ... - A good quality formulated diet. Vets often recommend Harrison's -- which is a good diet, but mostly available at vet's offices and as is the case with pellets in general, acceptance may be an issue.
- Calcium / Mineral Blocks: Birds should always have access to minerals, including calcium.
This is particularly important for maintaining a health calcium level in your breeding finches.
- You could provide a dish filled with crushed egg shell (from boiled eggs to kill any bacteria) and/or attach a calcium / mineral block to the cage.
- However, in order to absorb calcium properly, Vitamin D3 is needed. Vitamin D is normally produced in the skin through ultraviolet rays obtained via daylight / sun exposure. Indoor birds, or during the winter time in the northern hemisphere when not sufficient sunlight exposure can be obtained, appropriate indoor lighting / full-spectrum lighting can make up for the lack of natural sunlight.
- Supplements that include both Vitamin D3 and calcium are also available.
- Protein - especially important for breeding birds, and should also be available to hens in the spring prior to the breeding season.
- Mealworms are a great and inexpensive choice -- but for those who don't like the idea of feeding insects and worms, a high-protein nestling food is acceptable.
- Shelled hemp seeds (aka Hemp Heart) are comparable in size and consistency to chopped sesame seeds. They have virtually the highest concentrated balance of proteins, fats, vitamins and enzymes. As they are a significant source of protein, they are used to bring canaries and finches into breeding condition and to advance song. Breeders also provide a little hemp during the molt when birds need extra protein to replace molted feathers.
- Sprouted or germinated seeds are usually more easily accepted by "seed addicts" than fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Sprouted seeds are healthier as the sprouting changes and enhances the nutritional quality and value of seeds and grains. Sprouted seeds are lower in fat, as the process of sprouting utilizes the fat in the seed to start the growing process - thus reducing the fat stored in the seeds.
- Sprouted seeds will help balance your bird’s diet by adding a nutritious supply of high in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.
- Soaked and germinated "oil" seeds, like niger and rape seeds, are rich in protein and carbohydrates; while "starch" seeds, such as canary and millets, are rich in carbohydrates, but lower in protein.
- It is in invaluable food at all times; however, it is especially important for breeding or molting birds. Sprouted seeds also serve as a great rearing and weaning food as the softened shell is easier to break by chicks and gets them used to the texture of seeds.
- Note: Birds that have a tendency towards developing gout should be fed a diet low in protein. Plant based protein is not as likely to induce gout, but it can - if fed in large amounts. A diet too high in protein diet can also put a pet bird into breeding or hormonal mode.
Vegetables and fruits should be part of a pet or aviary bird's daily diet. This includes apples, grapes, many garden vegetables such as spinach, watercress, field lettuce, poppy, chickweed, dandelions, carrots, corn on the cob, peas, endives and sweet potatoes.
- Greens: Greens such as dandelion, ChickWeed or Thistle, or salad greens, such as Buk Choy, Lettuce or Cabbage, should be fed daily if possible. Just a little - if you have a single bird as you don't want to upset their metabolism.
- Convenient Sources of Fruits / Veggies:
- For days when I am too busy to prepare something for my pet birds, I always have available jars of baby food with fruits & vegetables (i.e. Gerbers).
- Sprouting is an excellent method (and most certainly one of the most cost-effective) of providing nutrient-dense (living) foods to birds. Simple Sprouts is an excellent sprouting mix, but you can also buy the ingredients at your local health food store and mix a batch yourself ... You can also germinate the sprouting mix - rather than going through the process of sprouting, which may be somewhat intimidating initially. Germinated seeds offer their own unique sets of valuable nutrition and are quicker to obtain and less likely to spoil.
- Superior Nutrition Food:
- Medicinal Herbs (an excellent herb mix with numerous health-supportive properties -- that birds actually like!)
- Healthy Dried Fruits & Veggies
GRIT: Your finches and canaries need grit. It could be crushed stone or shell grit. The grit is used by the finch in the gut as part of the digestion. I use shell grit because of the calcium which is essential when breeding.
EGG and BISCUIT:
During the breeding season you should feed "egg and biscuit" mix - which the parents need to feed the chicks with. I boil some eggs, mash the hard-boiled eggs, including their shells (which are a great source of calcium) with a potato smasher, add soaked wholewheat bread and mix it well. Canaries and finches absolutely LOVE it!. You can buy dry mixes at the store. But I enjoyed giving them the freshly made batches. Give first thing in the morning - before feeding anything else. Remove after 30 minutes or so - as it will go off fairly quickly, especially in the summer heat.
WATER: It is essential to have clean water available at all times ... Converting Seed Junkies
Never feed: caffeinated drinks, alcoholic beverages, chocolate, pits of most fruits, avocado ... More on "toxic foods"
Other Foods: Spay Millet & Millet Accessories ... Finch Rearing Food (recipe)
Generic Diets & Additional Food Items:
Healthy Bird Treats & Snacks ... Superior Nutrition Food: Herbs Specifically for Bird Health & Healthy Dried Fruits & Veggies - Make Excellent Healthy Bird Treats & Food! ... Cooked Diets ... Splay Millet & Millet Accessories ... Mineral / Calcium Blocks & Accessories
Finch Food (scrolls down) - Canaries
Lafeber Premium Daily Diet Finch Food 1 & 5 lb Product Description |
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5LB Finch Bird Food Product Description |
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8in1 Canary/Finch Nestling Food (Canister), 6-Ounce Product Features
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| National Audubon Society Finch Festival: A mixture of three of our highest quality seeds - red mi llet, Nyjer seed and fine sunflower chips. Great for the smaller-beaked birds, including buntings, juncos, goldfinches and sparrows. | ||
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42 lbs: |
SEED: Feeding your canaries is easy. They will survive on just plain canary seed. They will survive but they won’t live up to there potential. For good health, Canaries like humans, need a balanced and varying diet, which should include mixed seeds and greens. Please see below the seed mixes available for your canary. I like the Hagen mix (first one) - and the second one for the moulting season.
GREENS: Greens such as dandelion, ChickWeed or Thistle, or salad greens, such as Buk Choy, Lettuce or Cabbage, should be fed daily if possible. Just a little - if you have a single bird as you don't want to upset their metabolism.
GRIT:
Your canaries need grit. It could be crushed stone or shell grit. The grit is used by the Canary in the gut as part of the digestion. I use shell grit because of the calcium which is essential when breeding.
EGG and BISCUIT:
During the breeding season you should feed "egg and biscuit" mix - which the parents need to feed the chicks with. I boil some eggs, mash the hard-boiled eggs, including their shells (which are a great source of calcium) with a potato smasher, add soaked wholewheat bread and mix it well. Canaries and finches absolutely LOVE it!. You can buy dry mixes at the store. But I enjoyed giving them the freshly made batches. Give first thing in the morning - before feeding anything else. Remove after 30 minutes or so - as it will go off fairly quickly, especially in the summer heat.
WATER: It is essential to have clean water available at all times
Dr. Harveys Incredible Canary Food - 2 and 4 lbs Dr. Harvey's Whole Foods for Birds use nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, herbs and bee pollen in unique blends that combine to give your companion bird the balanced nutrition that it needs to maintain health and longevity, vibrant color and remarkable plumage. Ingredients: Bee Pollen, Canary Grass Seed, Red Millet, White Millet, Niger Seed, Canola Seed, Caraway Seed, Sesame Seed, Apple Granules, Coconut Shreds, Flax Seed, Oat Groats, *Carrot Granules, Hemp Seed, Anise Seed, Poppy Seed, Orange Peel Granules, Macadamia, Pecan, Walnut, Brazil, Filbert, Pistachio, Almond, Pine Nuts, Cashew, Soy Bean, * Greens Beans, *Broccoli, *Zucchini, *Petite Peas, *Red Bell Pepper Granules, *Green Bell Pepper Granules, * Celery Stalk & Leaf Granules, *Spinach Granules, *Parsley Granules, Red Clover Blossems, Dandelion Leaf, Calendula Flowers, Echinacea Angustifolia Herb, Alfalfa Leaf, Oat Straw, Thyme Leaf, Rosemary Leaf, Peppermint Leaf, Basil Leaf, Fennel Seed, Papaya Leaf, Red Raspberry Leaf, Rose Hips. |
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Dr. Harveys Fabulous Finch Food - 4 lbs Ingredients: Bee Pollen, Golden Millet, Japenese Millet, Niger Seed, Red Millet, Canola Seed, Canary Grass Seed, White Millet, Sesame Seed, Apple Granules, Coconut Shreds, Flax Seed, Oat Groats, * Carrot Granules, Hemp Seed, Anise Seed, Poppy Seed, Orange Peel Granules, Macadamia, Pecan, Walnut, Brazil, Filbert, Pistachio, Almond, Pine Nuts, Cashew, Soy Bean, * Greens Beans, *Broccoli, *Zucchini, *Petite Peas, *Red Bell Pepper Granules, *Green Bell Pepper Granules, * Celery Stalk & Leaf Granules, *Spinach Granules, *Parsley Granules, Red Clover Blossoms, Dandelion Leaf, Calendula Flowers, Echinacea Angustifolia Herb, Alfalfa Leaf, Oat Straw, Thyme Leaf, Rosemary Leaf, Peppermint Leaf, Basil Leaf, Fennel Seed, Papaya Leaf, Red Raspberry Leaf, Rose Hips. |
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Living World Premium Canary Bird Food By Hagen 2 Lb #80360 A gourmet formula with a blend of delicious grains, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables and supplemented with Tropican egg granules. Palatable premium food for all canaries. Traditional mixes like Premium Food require the use of Prime Supplement. CONTAINS: Fruits: papaya, pineapple, coconut Seeds: canary seed, oat groats, white millet, flaxseed, rape seed, hemp seed, niger seed, sesame seed Vegetables: carrot, caraway seed Others: Tropican egg granules which contain egg protein with vitamins and minerals.Protein: 13.9%, Fat: 14.8%, Fiber: 8.2% (Fiber is mainly in the shells and husks, not eaten by birds) |
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Kaylor-Made Rainforest Exotics Vitamin Enriched Canary & Finch Food (20-lb bag) Canary Grass Seed, White Millet, Finch Millet, Oat Groats, Red Millet, Rape Seed, Sunflower Chips, Bird Pellet (Ground Corn, Wheat Millrun, Soybean Meal, Sugar, Mono DiCalcium Phosphate, Salt, Oystershell Flour, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Phosphoric Acid, Zinc, Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Iron Carbonate, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Mineral Oil, Copper Oxide, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Souium Selenite, DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetete, Ethylenediami |
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FM Browns Nutrition Plus Vitamin and Mineral Fortified Canary Food 2 lb Product Features
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Canary Food Kaytee Pet Products 50194 - 2Lb Canary Food, Kaytee Pro-Pet label. A blend of appetizing seeds and grains with added nutrients. A mix that provides the canary with the highest dietary requirements possible. Ingredients include: Canary grass seed, Niger seeds, etc. |
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| Foods to Feed Only in Moderation: |
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| Foods you may consider NOT feeding | *Peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxin, a fungal toxin. Aflatoxin is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in birds and other animals. Roasting reduces aflatoxin but does not eliminate it entirely. North American peanut producers are currently working on eliminating contaminated peanuts from their products. Especially peanuts with dark spots on them should be considered suspect, but even those that look clean and perfect could possibly be contaminated. |
| Foods to NEVER Feed: |
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