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Feeding What seeds and supplements a particular fancier gives to their birds is a matter of personal preference and if the birds are fit and well why change anything. The seed I use is Bucktons. The main mixture is 50/50 made up of plain canary and pearl white millet, I add to this around 25% more of plain canary. I find that my birds take more canary seed, especially when they are feeding chicks. I feed this mixture all year round. Tonic seed is also given weekly to all birds including the breeding pairs. I also use Aviary mix again from Bucktons this mixture contains some seeds not normally given in standard mixes for example striped sunflower and wheat. I use French white and red millet sprays which are fed liberally. I soak the sprays overnight in a sink with a drop of vanodine and rinse. I hang them to dry but feed some straight away to the newly fledged youngsters. This helps them to take in some liquid until they are familiar with where the drinkers are, it may also reduce dehydration. When the youngsters are removed from the parents and put into stock cages I also give some Japanese millet, this is a softer seed and easier for young fledglings to eat. I use Orlux dry soft food, to this I add some grated carrot a boiled egg and some soaked oats. I drain the oats just prior to mixing in a sieve and mix them in slightly damp. I do not add any additional water to the mix. I also use Versa-Laga grit with added aniseed essence, cuttlefish bone and iodine nibbles. Last but not least I use Vitmin this is specially formulated for horses but it contains some very good vitamins and supplements that budgies seem to like, it contains salts and cod liver oil. I use it all the year round in a finger drawer and find the birds are straight onto it when given. I change the water in the drinkers every day straight from the tap. When faced with a sick bird, before I give antibiotics I give two or three crop needles of clean water twice a day for two days. In most cases this is enough to sort out the problem, as a sick bird will dehydrate very quickly, only after this I will use an antibiotic. I hope some of the above is of interest, I have picked up some good tips from other sites, it would be rewarding to me if some of my methods can help other fanciers.
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