Post by owain20 on Oct 16, 2011 18:57:39 GMT
Feeding
Every successful breeder has a good solid feeding system in place, for me I keep it very basic I don’t like getting to complicated and expensive the minute you complicate things you may find it hard to stick to the plan or it gets too expensive to stick to.
So the basic part is the main seed mix, allot of Java Breeders feed a foreign finch mix to the birds which is fine but for me I give Bucktons 50/50 the reason for this is I find with my own birds they would rather take the bigger seeds over the smaller seeds found in a foreign finch mix.
The Bucktons 50/50 contains 50% Plain Canary and 50% Millets too this mix I add the following straight seeds extra Plain Canary seed which is high in protein and Groats I give this seed in the mix to bulk the chicks up before leaving the parents and going into the weaning cages which can put a strain on the youngsters, for the adults it helps keeping the weight on them through the winter months and prior to breeding.
There are many a breeder that would much rather mix their own mix for me, Below is is list of just some of the seeds that can go into a Java Sparrow basic mix.
Plain Canary Seed; High Protein Seed, Groats; High in Carbohydrates, Hempseed; High Protein/Stimulates copulation, Niger Seed; High Oil Content. These are just to name a small number of seeds and what nutrient content they have.
Grits, I give a wide range of grits I don’t follow the rule that birds do not need grit in my textbook birds need it to digest the seed without it they can’t, oyster shell grit that is the base of my grit mixture to that I add in mixed grit and beach sand I much rather prefer beach sand because of all the gritty shells that are in the sand, I don’t give it wet I let it dry out before its given, next and final addition is pikpot this is a pigeon product basically the same as grit it contains allot of minerals and the Java relish it.
Next on the feeding list is water a much needed part of the birds diet, I know allot of breeders give rain water, purified water and bottled water I personally just give plain tap water I don’t give any additives in the water only cider vinegar to clean the gut out and crop and wormer before the pairs go down to breed. The seed mix and the water are the mains parts of the Java’s diet to breed these two are the bread and butter of all breeders routines, now allot of fanciers keep to this tried and tested way of feeding which is fine, but for me I like take my feeding a little further and give my Java chicks the best possible start to life.
Wholemeal Brown Bread and Baby Milk, this find the birds go mad for I give this once a week to none breeding birds and everyday to breeding birds with chicks, I believe this is much more beneficial than giving a plain soft food mix. When feeding this in warm weather you MUST change regularly and also wash out the soft food dishes.
A new thing I have added to the feeding routine twice a week is a mix I put together for the birds is sweet corn, grated carrots, grated broccoli, porridge oats and to this I add the seed mix, I will regularly change the greens so I’m giving a variety, so far the birds seem to devour this but be warned do not over do it because it brings the birds into excellent condition if feed more than three times per week. The rules to follow are keep things basic and simple and your birds will thrive!
Every successful breeder has a good solid feeding system in place, for me I keep it very basic I don’t like getting to complicated and expensive the minute you complicate things you may find it hard to stick to the plan or it gets too expensive to stick to.
So the basic part is the main seed mix, allot of Java Breeders feed a foreign finch mix to the birds which is fine but for me I give Bucktons 50/50 the reason for this is I find with my own birds they would rather take the bigger seeds over the smaller seeds found in a foreign finch mix.
The Bucktons 50/50 contains 50% Plain Canary and 50% Millets too this mix I add the following straight seeds extra Plain Canary seed which is high in protein and Groats I give this seed in the mix to bulk the chicks up before leaving the parents and going into the weaning cages which can put a strain on the youngsters, for the adults it helps keeping the weight on them through the winter months and prior to breeding.
There are many a breeder that would much rather mix their own mix for me, Below is is list of just some of the seeds that can go into a Java Sparrow basic mix.
Plain Canary Seed; High Protein Seed, Groats; High in Carbohydrates, Hempseed; High Protein/Stimulates copulation, Niger Seed; High Oil Content. These are just to name a small number of seeds and what nutrient content they have.
Grits, I give a wide range of grits I don’t follow the rule that birds do not need grit in my textbook birds need it to digest the seed without it they can’t, oyster shell grit that is the base of my grit mixture to that I add in mixed grit and beach sand I much rather prefer beach sand because of all the gritty shells that are in the sand, I don’t give it wet I let it dry out before its given, next and final addition is pikpot this is a pigeon product basically the same as grit it contains allot of minerals and the Java relish it.
Next on the feeding list is water a much needed part of the birds diet, I know allot of breeders give rain water, purified water and bottled water I personally just give plain tap water I don’t give any additives in the water only cider vinegar to clean the gut out and crop and wormer before the pairs go down to breed. The seed mix and the water are the mains parts of the Java’s diet to breed these two are the bread and butter of all breeders routines, now allot of fanciers keep to this tried and tested way of feeding which is fine, but for me I like take my feeding a little further and give my Java chicks the best possible start to life.
Wholemeal Brown Bread and Baby Milk, this find the birds go mad for I give this once a week to none breeding birds and everyday to breeding birds with chicks, I believe this is much more beneficial than giving a plain soft food mix. When feeding this in warm weather you MUST change regularly and also wash out the soft food dishes.
A new thing I have added to the feeding routine twice a week is a mix I put together for the birds is sweet corn, grated carrots, grated broccoli, porridge oats and to this I add the seed mix, I will regularly change the greens so I’m giving a variety, so far the birds seem to devour this but be warned do not over do it because it brings the birds into excellent condition if feed more than three times per week. The rules to follow are keep things basic and simple and your birds will thrive!
