Meadowlark Farms
Lady Gouldian Finches - Supplements
| There are many types of supplements you can give your birds to help them maintain peak health. Below is a list of supplement types, what they do, and how they should be used. |
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| LIQUID CALCIUM |
| LIQUID IODINE |
| POWDERED VITAMINS - TO BE ADDED TO DRINKING WATER |
| POWDERED VITAMINS - TO BE ADDED TO FEED |
| TRACE MINERALS |
| GRIT - Soluble and Insoluble |
| OYSTER SHELL |
| CHARCOAL |
| Birds need calcium to maintain good feather condition, strong bones, and produce eggs. However, in order to absorb calcium and process it properly, they also need vitamin D3. In the wild, birds obtain D3 from the sun and trace amounts in what they eat. In captivity, they require proper lighting (full spectrum) and vitamin supplements with D3 to make full use of the calcium they receive. My birds receive a liquid calcium supplement, shaved cuttlebone, crushed oyster shell, and crushed egg shell as their calcium supplement. They are given a liquid vitamin supplement containing D3 in their water. |
| Gouldian finches require a higher level of iodine in their diet than most other birds. Iodine can be found in many foodstuffs - mainly dark green items like spirulina and some other leafy greens. The birds require iodine to maintain healthy feathers. If your bird is losing its head feathers, chances are it is lacking in iodine. My birds are given crushed oyster shell which contains trace amounts of iodine, as well as spirulina. They are given a liquid iodine supplement in their water. |
There are many brands of vitamin supplement that may be used for your birds. I choose to add a water soluble supplement,
as some of my birds just will not eat soft foods. It is important that any vitamin supplement you choose contain vitamin D3 to
aid in the absorption of calcium.
as some of my birds just will not eat soft foods. It is important that any vitamin supplement you choose contain vitamin D3 to
aid in the absorption of calcium.
| Many breeders choose to add powdered vitamin supplements to their birds' soft food or on oiled seed. The advantage is that if you find it necessary to medicate in their water, you do not have to worry about combining vitamins with medications and the potential incompatibility. However, if your birds just will not eat soft food or greens, they will not receive the benefit of vitamins added to their food. I would suggest that if you choose to put powdered vitamins on their food, that you oil the seed and sprinkle the vitamin supplement over it. |
Perhaps you've seen wild birds pecking around in the dirt in your yard. You may wonder what it is they are pecking at! Sometimes they may be
finding small insects, but often times they are picking bits of sand, grit, and minerals out of the soil to meet their mineral needs. Trace minerals for
birds are important. They help keep a bird healthy, allow them to absorb certain nutrients, and support healthy immune systems. There are many
types of trace mineral dust available on the market. Some are very expensive, others are moderately priced. Read the ingredients before
purchasing. You will want to purchase the product that carries the greatest number of trace minerals possible.
NOTE: It has been said that trace minerals should be removed when treating a bird with antibiotics. Some folks believe that the antibiotic is
nullified by the minerals, others believe the birds should continue to receive the minerals in order to facilitate return to good health. I am one that
feels the minerals should be left in the cage - however, I always read medication labels carefully before administering. Some specifically state that
minerals should be removed.
finding small insects, but often times they are picking bits of sand, grit, and minerals out of the soil to meet their mineral needs. Trace minerals for
birds are important. They help keep a bird healthy, allow them to absorb certain nutrients, and support healthy immune systems. There are many
types of trace mineral dust available on the market. Some are very expensive, others are moderately priced. Read the ingredients before
purchasing. You will want to purchase the product that carries the greatest number of trace minerals possible.
NOTE: It has been said that trace minerals should be removed when treating a bird with antibiotics. Some folks believe that the antibiotic is
nullified by the minerals, others believe the birds should continue to receive the minerals in order to facilitate return to good health. I am one that
feels the minerals should be left in the cage - however, I always read medication labels carefully before administering. Some specifically state that
minerals should be removed.
| Okay, a little controversy here. There are birds who eat seed whole, hull and all, such as doves, pigeons, chickens, etc. Then there are birds that hull their seeds, like canaries and finches. Birds that do not hull their seed eat grit (insoluble - sand, small pebbles or rocks, etc.) to help the keratin plates in their gizzard to grind the seed they've consumed. It has been said that birds that do hull their seed do not require grit...however, many of these birds hull the seed then consume it whole. Soluble grit (oyster shell, egg shell, etc.) offers the bird a bit of grinding aid while providing them with minerals they need. The gizzard will still grind the seed, but I believe it may still need help from time to time. Because of this, I offer my birds a fine sand grit. They pick at it when they need it, and leave it alone when they don't. It is up to you whether you offer your birds grit or not. Do your own research and make a decision based on your own conclusion! |
| In addition to calcium, oyster shell offers trace amounts of iodine much needed by Lady Gouldian finches. It also offers a form of "soluble" grit. |
Charcoal has absolutely no nutritional value what so ever. BUT, it does provide a function - to absorb toxins in a birds system. When you hear
the term "sweeten the gut", it typically means to absorb the bad stuff in their stomach and help to restore the natural gut flora (which it doesn't
really do - it merely soaks up the bad stuff).
Regardless of what other breeders may do or say, I offer my birds charcoal daily. Some days they eat a lot of it, other days they never touch it. I
mix it with my sand grit, trace mineral dust, oyster shell and egg shell, then offer it in a treat cup.
the term "sweeten the gut", it typically means to absorb the bad stuff in their stomach and help to restore the natural gut flora (which it doesn't
really do - it merely soaks up the bad stuff).
Regardless of what other breeders may do or say, I offer my birds charcoal daily. Some days they eat a lot of it, other days they never touch it. I
mix it with my sand grit, trace mineral dust, oyster shell and egg shell, then offer it in a treat cup.
| Meadowlark Farms Lady Gouldian Finches 2008 © All rights Reserved. |
