Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Love Those Sprouts


Every few days, I sprout some seeds. My brother Larry grew this lovely wheat and to that I add organic mung bean and green lentils with a few black oil sunflower seeds.

I cover the seeds in a large jar with water and soak them overnight and then put in an open wire basket for sprouting. I rinse a couple times a day and mix.

When feeding, I sprinkle with Avi-Culture 2, an avian specific lactobacillus probiotic, (Nationalbird designs.com). The probiotic help the bird absorb nutrients, essential amino acids, antioxidants and proteins so that they develop their full genetic potential and live a long, healthy and productive life with a strong immune system. What a benefit it is to combine essential enzymes from the sprouts with the right probiotic.

Warning: Do not use any probiotic containing Enterococcus faecalis!! According to Clinical Avian Medicine, " Enterococcus faecalis is associated with chronic tracheitis, pneumonia and air sacculitis. Affected birds have increased respiratory sounds, voice changes and dyspnea (difficult breathing). Form canaries are especially sensitive. Treatment with antibiotics will improve the clinical signs, but individual birds can seldom be completely healed. Concurrent infections with Sternostoma tracheacolum (tracheal mites) can occur".

Birds love sprouts and they are so good for them!

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Irish Fancy Temperament Whoooooo Test

Before Test
Today, I gave my Irish Fancy a  "whoooo"test. Imitating an owl, I stand close to the cage and start the owl sound and watch for those who raise the feathers on the top of their head and stand upright when challenged by the sound.

Same Bird During Test
Upon hearing the sound, note how he stands and raises his feathers improving his confirmation because he is curious and not frighten by the sound.  This is a bird to be worked with as it already hints of an "attitude" and real show potential. Those who act frighten by my test will likely let me down should I show them.

I ran the test on groups of 5 in medium size flight cages and 1 or 2 of each group of 5 passed my temperament test! These will be the ones I concentrate on to train for the upcoming shows!!!