Opinions on this food please.

[Jane]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a budgie seed that I can buy from a shop rather than online. I find the cost of postage can double the cost of the food as I buy a little amount at a time. I have a pets corner near me. What’s people’s thoughts on this food? It says it’s hulled. Is that any good?

www.petscorner.co.uk/pet-bird/food/hagen-budgie-seed-1-36kg

Here is more info on another site.

www.entirelypets.com/hagen-budgie-seed-6-lb.html



Anyone recommend any other shops in Berkshire near Wokingham/Bracknell that sells Johnson and Jeff or recommend any other off the shelf food?

Thanks.

[helenmat]

The mix looks ok although it does have groats in it but it doesn't say how much. Not sure what the last few ingredients are. I know what you mean about the postage costing as much as the seed. Its a shame you don't live nearer to me I would be happy to share.

[Jane]

Jul 26, 2019 7:11:20 GMT helenmat said:

The mix looks ok although it does have groats in it but it doesn't say how much. Not sure what the last few ingredients are. I know what you mean about the postage costing as much as the seed. Its a shame you don't live nearer to me I would be happy to share.

I thought of you when I was posting it Helen as you must pay a lot proportionally as well. It’s also waiting days to receive it. As much as I like to be organised sometimes I forget and they’re running out.

[ladybird]

Jane, I get my food online and do understand what you mean about the cost, but did you know that you can freeze seed? I get my seed from Hayes and separate into portions, and then when it comes to opening the last one , I can reorder.

[Marianne Marlow]

Looks okay Jane, but quite expensive.

[Jane]

Jul 26, 2019 8:50:21 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

Looks okay Jane, but quite expensive.

Thanks Marianne. 2kg of seed from Haiths with postage is £9.20 so I don’t think there’s much in it.

What about the orange oil in it? Why would oil be in it? I see Pets at Home do seed but add vegetable oil to it.

[Marianne Marlow]

I'm not sure about orange oil. What do you think Hezz? I get 5kg of seed from haiths, works out at 12.90 with postage.

[Hezz]

I don't think there is a good variety of seed. Only four different types - white miller, red millet, canary seed and oats. Plus all those other 'supplements' and preservatives ... I think they have made something that should be simple overly complicated. You feed your little guys a good array of veggies so I don't think you need all those added extras. I'd be looking for something a little less "processed", if you know what I mean.

[Jane]

Jul 27, 2019 0:32:46 GMT Hezz said:

I don't think there is a good variety of seed. Only four different types - white miller, red millet, canary seed and oats. Plus all those other 'supplements' and preservatives ... I think they have made something that should be simple overly complicated. You feed your little guys a good array of veggies so I don't think you need all those added extras. I'd be looking for something a little less "processed", if you know what I mean.

Thanks Hezz. This one has more variety of seed. Says it has colourants though.

www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/premium-budgie-food-1kg

[Hezz]

Much better variety of seed, Jane, but I am concerned with this: "Crude Oils and Fats 6.9%" It shouldn't be more than 5%. Plus I'm not sure if the buds would eat the safflower and sunflower seeds. (Which might actually be a good thing, seeing as they are both oil seeds. ) Can you find this brand in a finch mix? They are generally less inclined to include the oil seeds (nyjer and linseed) and more inclined towards a bigger variety of the millets and panicums.

[Hezz]

Jane, I had a look at the finch food on that site. They don't give a list of seeds included, unfortunately.

[yellowfacedviolet]

Jul 26, 2019 15:49:14 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

I'm not sure about orange oil.

Orange oil and other aromatic oils are added to many varieties and brands of packaged bird seed. Orange oil specifically is present in all of Hagen's mixes, for Budgies, Canaries, Finches, Cockatiels, Parrots, Wild birds, etc. In every case but one it is there to peak human interest rather than the bird's. It smells nice and for some pet owners it leaves a favorable impression and, as the marketing theory goes, makes it more likely that the human will buy it again. The one exception is the wild bird mix where it's presence is also there to draw flies and other insects to the seeds, which in turn draws more birds to it.

On a more positive note, on one of the web pages devoted to sprouting seeds, one fancier tested several brands of packaged seed over the course of many months and found that Hagen's  repeatedly had the highest germination rate. Go figure.

[Jane]

Jul 27, 2019 1:19:56 GMT Hezz said:

Jane, I had a look at the finch food on that site. They don't give a list of seeds included, unfortunately.

Hi Hezz, I got the Hagen food and I also bought some finch food to mix in. The finch food contains white and red millet, canary seed, linseed, hemp seed, black rape seed and niger seed.

[helenmat]

Jane I have used the pets at home premium food and also mixed in canary mix and finch mix, plus a bit of tonic. I find when fed along side fresh veg etc it’s a decent all round mix.

[Jane]

Jul 29, 2019 21:40:03 GMT helenmat said:

Jane I have used the pets at home premium food and also mixed in canary mix and finch mix, plus a bit of tonic. I find when fed along side fresh veg etc it’s a decent all round mix.

Thanks Helen. Apparently Pets At Home stopped the premium one from posts I’ve seen online and I don’t see it on their site. This Hagen one has good reviews so I hope the buds like it. It’s just so easy to get some locally as my postman takes parcels back to the depot if I’m not in (which usually I am not) so it’s such a hassle getting stuff delivered.