Big Bird's Finger Licking Breeding Season Seed Mix Recipe for 50 lbs: In a large bowl place a total of 5 lbs of seed mix (I used regular canary/rape mixed with 2 lbs of Higgins Song Food and 1 cup hulled hemp seed (health food store). Add one cup wheat germ oil blend (horse product fortified with extra vitamin A, D and E from feed store). Stir frequently for two or three days.
In a large container add 45 more lbs of seeds and mix in the 5 lbs wheat germ oil coated seeds. I used what seeds that I had on hand which was 25 lbs of L'Avian Plus and added more seeds to make up the 45 lbs (regular canary, rape seed, thistle, yellow millet, side kick (3 lbs) and grass seed ( 3 lbs) from Connie Gahman, more Higgins Song Food (3 lbs), flax seed (1 lb), more hulled hemp (1 lb), and Steel Cut Oats ( 2 lbs). Serious red color feeders should omit rape seed and use more golden millet or grey millet (Wild Wings from Harrisons). (I would have added some grey millet today but I am out right now.)
This Border male is spreading the word to all who will listen that Big Bird has made something delicious! A German Roller in the adjacent cage is taking note.
Topping off the seed container usually results in a few checking it out but today their appetites were stimulated and everyone wanted to eat at once!
Young Border hen adds her approval!
I will continue serving the wheat germ oil coated seed mix daily till breeding season is over.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
Some "novice" questions:
1) Can 2 separate[different strains or lines of Rollers be kept and maintained in the same enclosure(room or aviary)...Without affecting the bird's inherent song?
2) You personally, don't work with or keep other song birds[waterslagers, A.M. singers, Timbados],in your birdroom. Does keeping them housed with Rollers affect the Roller's song?
Your help and attention to these questions will be greatly appreciated!---THANKYOU
Linda,
ReplyDeleteI like when you gave us a better update when you started your breeding season,lighting,etc...
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteFor us, Europeans, could you tell us how much milliter "one cup" of wheat germ oil is.
Thx, and good luck!
André
Google says that 1 cup is 236.588 ml.
ReplyDeleteI will try to keep you better updated on what I am doing. New post to catch up today...
ReplyDeleteGerman rollers are effected most by bad rollers so it is important to not move them from cage to cage an quarantine them from faulty rollers. I find inside their cage to have the most effect. I used to keep a radio on classical music to drown out sounds but have not found that necessary. Genetics is very important but learning is equally important. Tone comes from heredity but it is possible to tutor in specific tours but not the overall tone.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see from the picture my rollers are right next to Borders or Staffords or colorbred and Columbus Fancy. None of these have effected my rollers mainly because they do not sing in the lower range where the roller can hears sound. Other singing canaries that can sing low notes might effect the roller but I would be more concerned for the effect other birds can have on birds such as waterslager that sing over a wider range.
I do not house competition quality rollers in the same cage with other kinda of birds. I house nest mates and step sibling together at weaning and as quickly at possible get the young girls out into random groups.
Linda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for hearing me out, this articles was just what I look for..
Thanks for the Input. I really need to hear from you'll it keeps me going and making it more relevant.
ReplyDeleteMy aviary is squeaky clean now since Sarah has taken over the cleaning and I can now focus on watching the birds.
Sarah is a fantastic cleaner!