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The Finster Log
Officially A Habit
Posted on: 10/15/07, 19:40:46
Harley's interest in Second Breakfast has continued. He still doesn't climb down every day, but often enough that we'll call it "normal." In fact, today he even came down for Second Lunch — since I've started putting the Finster Mix in two dishes, for breakfast and lunch, so it doesn't sit out all day.
I realized that the photos I published a few days ago depicted plain seeds. And yeah, I'm still a little lazy sometimes, and don't always mix chopped veg into the seeds. But here are a couple more pictures, because Harley is so darn cute! I'm not convinced any of the birds actually eat the vegetable bits, but at least they're there.
This dish has "Spring Mix" added — some now-forgotten mix of organic baby lettuces and assorted greens.
This dish has lightly-steamed grated carrot, and chopped kale and broccoli stem.
I realized that the photos I published a few days ago depicted plain seeds. And yeah, I'm still a little lazy sometimes, and don't always mix chopped veg into the seeds. But here are a couple more pictures, because Harley is so darn cute! I'm not convinced any of the birds actually eat the vegetable bits, but at least they're there.
This dish has "Spring Mix" added — some now-forgotten mix of organic baby lettuces and assorted greens.
This dish has lightly-steamed grated carrot, and chopped kale and broccoli stem.
Comments
10/16/07, 09:49:41
Hey Pam, yummy....What is the mixture you make for the finsters? I would like to mix some up for my littleones. Harley looks sooooo spoiled and very handsome. Take care and please send a receipe.
10/16/07, 13:36:27
I hope to come back in my next life as one of your pampered birdies
10/16/07, 20:23:10
Weight Loss, that's funny! The birds may not eat better than I do, but I try to give them the opportunity to do so!
Chris, you're going to be sorry you asked about this one, it's gotten complicated over the years! But let me try to simplify it.
First, remember that I sprout the Finster Mix for 48 hours. It has a lot of seeds in it, so it needs that time to sprout. If you're interested in an easier mix, take approximately equal amounts of human grade, (ideally) organic hulled millet, quinoa, amaranth and oat groats (the grain before it's been turned into the more familiar oatmeal), rinse it all well, soak it overnight only, rinse it again, dry it off a bit, and serve. Yum! You can add veggies, too, but if you do you probably shouldn't leave it in the cage all day.
The Finster Mix has three general kinds of ingredients: human-grade grains, "bird" seeds, and sprouting seeds. The mix changes a bit depending on my mood or what new seeds I've found lately, but is approximately four parts bird seeds (mostly millets and canary seed), three parts human-grade grains, and one part sprouting kinds of seeds.
The grains include quinoa, amaranth, and usually oat groats, but not human grade millet since there's a lot of millet seeds (with the hulls on) in all the bird seed mixes. Now that Harley is eating the mix sometimes, I've been adding some of the bigger grains (wheat berries, buckwheat, spelt, etc.), and the Finsters don't seem to mind.
I currently get my bird seeds from Herman Brothers Pet Products in Detroit (http://www.hermanbros-seed....), I've always been very pleased with their stuff. But, they aren't organic. Haven't sorted out what do to about that. I mostly use their KG Finch mix (German, Japanese, Siberian and red millets, plus canary seed), plus a bit of their Seedies mix (canary, rape, oats, thistle, sesame, flax, hemp, anise, poppy, white lettuce, and two millets).
You'll notice that the Seedies mix has some sprouting seeds in it. I also add organic broccoli, clover, and radish seeds. (You shouldn't add alfalfa, since that should sprout for more than two days, and you shouldn't use a lot of flax since it gets slimy - but there aren't enough in the Seedies mix to cause problems).
Well, that wasn't so hard! And again, soaking a few grains overnight is really easy - but the birds might be more familiar with the millets that have hulls.
Tell me what you try, and if the birds like it!
Chris, you're going to be sorry you asked about this one, it's gotten complicated over the years! But let me try to simplify it.
First, remember that I sprout the Finster Mix for 48 hours. It has a lot of seeds in it, so it needs that time to sprout. If you're interested in an easier mix, take approximately equal amounts of human grade, (ideally) organic hulled millet, quinoa, amaranth and oat groats (the grain before it's been turned into the more familiar oatmeal), rinse it all well, soak it overnight only, rinse it again, dry it off a bit, and serve. Yum! You can add veggies, too, but if you do you probably shouldn't leave it in the cage all day.
The Finster Mix has three general kinds of ingredients: human-grade grains, "bird" seeds, and sprouting seeds. The mix changes a bit depending on my mood or what new seeds I've found lately, but is approximately four parts bird seeds (mostly millets and canary seed), three parts human-grade grains, and one part sprouting kinds of seeds.
The grains include quinoa, amaranth, and usually oat groats, but not human grade millet since there's a lot of millet seeds (with the hulls on) in all the bird seed mixes. Now that Harley is eating the mix sometimes, I've been adding some of the bigger grains (wheat berries, buckwheat, spelt, etc.), and the Finsters don't seem to mind.
I currently get my bird seeds from Herman Brothers Pet Products in Detroit (http://www.hermanbros-seed....), I've always been very pleased with their stuff. But, they aren't organic. Haven't sorted out what do to about that. I mostly use their KG Finch mix (German, Japanese, Siberian and red millets, plus canary seed), plus a bit of their Seedies mix (canary, rape, oats, thistle, sesame, flax, hemp, anise, poppy, white lettuce, and two millets).
You'll notice that the Seedies mix has some sprouting seeds in it. I also add organic broccoli, clover, and radish seeds. (You shouldn't add alfalfa, since that should sprout for more than two days, and you shouldn't use a lot of flax since it gets slimy - but there aren't enough in the Seedies mix to cause problems).
Well, that wasn't so hard! And again, soaking a few grains overnight is really easy - but the birds might be more familiar with the millets that have hulls.
Tell me what you try, and if the birds like it!
10/17/07, 09:13:38
Thanks Pam, I will work on this and let you know how it turns out. Give a scritch to Harley from me. :-)
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