What things do you give your birds to stay healty?

[ppvallhunds]

Ok while reading the posts on here and the old forum it seems that people give many diffrent things to there birds routinely to keep them healthy. Someone saying weak tea once a week, ivermaticing once a year ect.

So thought why not get all this info in one place. As im sure there are others like me who would like to know how to help keep there birds good. So what things do you all give your budgies routienly to keep them healthy other than just a good diet.

[birdguhl]

Hi
So far I have managed to get my budgies regularly eating germinated seeds as these have a lot more nutritional value than dry ones, but it is important to check that the seeds are fresh enough to germinate as old seeds soaked long enough for moulds etc to grow could be more of a hazard than dry ones. A test I read about somewhere is to take about 100 seeds soak them for about 24 hours and try germinating them in a warm place like the top of fridge. If a high proportion visibly sprout within about 2-3 days you know they are fresh. I usually give my budgies seeds soaked for about 12 hours then drained but kept wet as they are supposed to prefer them at this very early stage, but the nutrients are available as soon as the seed starts to germinate. Along with germinated seeds mine get a high quality dry mix, and greens from sprouted seeds too. (I have found the VitaKraft biobox (http://www.vitakraft.de/de/produkte/vogelwelt/kanarien/produktuebersicht/einzelansicht/backid/606/product/31051.html) really good for this as the greens need to be anchored in something. The birds really enjoy this 'grazing' experience and will sit happily for ages nibbling away. Normally all the shoots are gone within hours, so I have two boxes which I rotate as the shoots take a few days to grow. They also love carrots but I have yet to get them regularly eating any other vegs. Oh - they really like parsley but I read it binds with calcium so shouldn't be too frequently offered. Come the spring I am looking forward to giving them some chickweed and also fresh grass with seeds (in autumn I guess). Hope this is helpful, ppvallhunds!

[Bird Junky]

Hi You can't beat a good healthy diet. Seed dry, soaked &
sprouted & good mix of veg. a variety of fruit. egg etc, etc.
If there was such a magic elixir we would all be taking it &
doctors & vets would be out of work....B.J

[spickydavies]

I'm the same, just a good diet & lots & lots of veg & fruit & sprouts also use ivermectin once every 6 months, though I've slacked on this lately