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Post by starlingqueen on Mar 25, 2020 16:53:24 GMT
While I'm waiting for my millet grass to grow and weed seeds to be delivered I wondered if I could ask your advice again please starlingqueen ? I have the following in the garden at the moment and wondered if you had fed any of them in the past; leaves from apple, raspberry, gooseberry, strawberry and blackcurrant bushes, wild currant flowers and leaves, willow leaves and catkins, the small spear willowherb, ground elder and comfrey. My boy had great fun with the rose leaves by the way - not sure how much was eaten in the shredding frenzy but he enjoyed himself! Leaves from apple trees and the odd branch is good, thy enjoy chewing the bark any new growth in the branch will be enjoyed too. Raspberry leaves and the leaves of any of the ribes species, like gooseberry and black current, contain cyanide in small quantities but some people still let their birds have the branches to tear up for fun, so the bird probably doesn't eat much of it but I would be worried if it was my birds. It's down to your choice though. The young strawberry leaves are OK but as they get old the develop toxins, so stick to the light green leaves. Willow leaves and catkins, not sure on that one. I know the branches can be used as perches and the bark does contain aspirin so the birds self medicate on that. My parrots love to strip the bark off a willow branch. Willowherb, contains a lot of tannins which are not very tasty so probably won't be eaten but they are not toxic. Ground elder is fine to feed. Comfrey however is a no, it contains alkaloids that can damage the liver. Glad he enjoyed his rose leaves. Even if they don't eat them they still enjoy a good playtime.
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Post by willowsmum on Mar 25, 2020 16:57:19 GMT
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Post by Hezz on Mar 25, 2020 19:45:37 GMT
Just to pipe in here, willow is fine to give. Yes, it does contain aspirin and they will self-medicate, but like most plant chemicals, it is in small amounts and the amount the bird will ingest, particularly given with a bunch of other things, is minuscule.
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Post by starlingqueen on Mar 25, 2020 20:08:07 GMT
Just to pipe in here, willow is fine to give. Yes, it does contain aspirin and they will self-medicate, but like most plant chemicals, are it is in small amounts and the amount the bird will ingest, particularly given with a bunch of other things, is minuscule. Thanks Hezz. I knew the branches make good perches but wasn't certain about the leaves so didn't want to commit before doing some research, you saved me that job now.
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Post by skysmum on Mar 25, 2020 21:45:14 GMT
Mine enjoyed a huge bunch of Groundsel a couple of days ago, quite a bit about at the moment, i cant wait until the seeding grass comes
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Post by willowsmum on Mar 25, 2020 22:57:21 GMT
Thanks Hezz. We gave my boy a fresh willow cutting tonight with a couple of catkins and a few tiny new leaves on it. He had a whale of a time springing from one twig to the next, hanging upside down and chewing off every tiny bud he could find. Wish I'd caught it on camera! Needless to say the little sprig of 'boring' ground elder didn't get a look-in!
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Post by willowsmum on Apr 6, 2020 11:14:04 GMT
starlingqueen just wanted to let you know that the seeds you recommended arrived quickly (despite a much later predicted delivery date on ebay) and sprouted within 3-4 days. I can't remember exactly what the mix contained but one type which looks similar to cress appeared first and the seedlings are now about an inch tall. It'll be a while before they are big enough to harvest but looking good so far. Thanks again for the suggestion.
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Post by starlingqueen on Apr 6, 2020 11:16:43 GMT
starlingqueen just wanted to let you know that the seeds you recommended arrived quickly (despite a much later predicted delivery date on ebay) and sprouted within 3-4 days. I can't remember exactly what the mix contained but one type which looks similar to cress appeared first and the seedlings are now about an inch tall. It'll be a while before they are big enough to harvest but looking good so far. Thanks again for the suggestion. Great, glad they are working well for you.
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