A Word of Warning About A Seed Diet...

by Shelly
(South Africa)

Seed and Pellet Canary Food Mixture

Seed and Pellet Canary Food Mixture

I couldn't help notice that other canary owners feed seeds to their canaries. Just a word of warning about this...

I have a wild (orphaned) canary who is now 9 yrs old and was advised by an excellent avian vet many years ago to get all my caged birds off a seed diet and onto a properly balanced propriety canary foods granule diet.

I now buy an imported product from Belgium that is a small round granule containing everything a finch or canary needs.

Our local pet shop now stocks this food and uses it for their birds.

Apparently seeds are like "chocolate cake" for birds - they will always prefer it over anything else, but it will shorten their lives (my cockatiel died at only 12 yrs old after a seed diet all his life).

It takes a few weeks to wean a bird off seed, but once on the granules that is all they need, with seeds and grasses just given as a treat perhaps once or twice a month.

Hope this helps other bird lovers from losing their pets prematurely.

Regards, Shelly.

*****DARREN'S COMMENTS****
That's interesting information Shelly. Thanks.

I mention feeding pellets -- Canary Chow;-) -- in several places here at CanaryAdvisor.com.

The canary's natural diet is made up of various seeds, sprouts, and fresh grasses so I have a hard time believing that such a diet could be harmful.

Certainly pellets are full of nutrients and all the things that researchers "think" a canary needs.

I have no reason to believe that a canary pellet diet is insufficient but I do prefer to keep things as "natural" as possible when choosing canary foods. I do that by providing seed, sprouts, grasses, fruits, and veggies.

To each his (or her) own.

Thanks again. Very interesting.

*****DARREN'S COMMENTS****


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A Word of Warning About A Seed Diet...

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Aug 21, 2010
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starstarstarstar 		PELLET FOOD FOR CANARIES. IS IT REALLY BEST?
by: COUNTRYCOUSIN


The pellet diet for canaries is the latest formula to "improve" our caged birds.

Once the canaries are indeed on pellets they aren't as messy- BUT...

Years ago the same thing was taught us about human babies. It was supposed to be best to put them on formula vs breast milk. It took the population about 20 years to get the professionals straightened out and babies actually do best on breast milk. Surprise, Surprise!

Funny that nature would have the best idea.

Since that time we have been sold the same bill of goods on dogs and other animals. Have you noticed lately that many people now provide raw or home cooked meals for their dogs and they live much longer with less cancer and other health related problems.

Feeding a canary is much the same. The experts think they know more than nature and so now we have pellet food. After all most of what is great for a canary doesn't need to be packaged and sold. Can't market dandelions and apples for as much profit as pellet food!

In defense of those who are trying to improve the feeding and nutrition of canaries it is true that the typical person who feeds a canary doesn't know what it actually needs. In the wild it would eat bugs, grasses, seeds in all forms from milk to well developed seeds, plus foods and veggies that are natural to the area.

Unfortunately most of the easy to get canary books in pet stores are great with pictures but aren't that useful in teaching what your bird really needs.

I am a large canary breeder. Successful in what I raise, beautiful healthy canaries. I raise from 200 to 700 birds yearly. My experience has taught me that simple food simply prepared is the best route if I am eating it or if I am providing it for canaries.

I would recommend a book available on the author's web site. It is what taught me what to do and how to do it with my birds. Linda Hogan is a veterinarian that raises canaries and is an expert in her field. Her book "Canary Tales" is an excellent source to learn about canaries, their care and feeding and much much more.

Just use her name in a Google search and you should find her site.

Good luck and know that nature really does know what is best but we have to do more than provide canary seed if our birds are to be healthy.

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