- Page Four -
Notes on my 'Canary Diet Research'
March 2019
*** Making My Choices:
➽ My next question is: "What specific food items will I include in my canary diet?"
➽ MY CHOICES:
--- bottled water ( Extension Service bulletins confirmed my opinions on our well water)
--- canary/rape seed mix
--- song and conditioning seeds, in small amounts, at certain times of year (not fed every day!)
--- vegetables, variable with season: most often carrot, with greens when available
--- oats, wheat, spirulina, bee pollen, flax, corn, anise, sesame as part of a supplement (not fed every day!)
--- egg in soft food when higher protein is needed (also sunflower chips at times)
--- a good vitamin-mineral supplement (will limit to one or two)
--- a good soft food, at certain times of year (not fed every day!)
--- soy protein, possible other protein powders, as part of my soft food mix
--- medications for newly purchased birds only, while in quarantine.
--- winter treatment for mites --- possible treatment after molt
--- I do watch for organic ingredients, but if I cannot find a particular ingredient in an organic version, or if the price for said organic product is very high, I do not object to feeding conventional ingredients.
--- GMO? Yes or no? More and more human food items are certified non-GMO. Again, if availability and price make it easier and much cheaper to use conventional grains that may be GMO, I will use them.
Above is a list of the main ingredients I think will provide a wide mix of nutrients. So long as they are FRESH, I think they will make up a Good Diet Plan... any way they are combined!
➽ NEW THINGS I WILL INCLUDE:
--- One canary breeder grows chickweed, and I will follow her example and plant/use greens from my yard and garden.
➽ My next question is: "What specific food items will I include in my canary diet?"
- First, the diet must be reasonably easy for me to buy/order/prepare. And, it can not be extremely expensive.
- Secondly, it must be accepted by my birds, in a form they will investigate, taste, and enjoy.
- Thirdly, the birds must be healthy and lively. If they don't look or act normally, I must change or adapt the diet (if some other part of their environment is not wrong).
- Fourth, 'If IT isn't broken, don't fix it!' What I've learned over the past 10 years with canaries, I cannot toss out, without good reason. While this research is to answer some questions, I may also include the things that I am now using with success.
- Fifth, there were many contradictory statements! When I came up against two different 'facts', I did use my own personal opinions to decide which I would use.
➽ MY CHOICES:
--- bottled water ( Extension Service bulletins confirmed my opinions on our well water)
--- canary/rape seed mix
--- song and conditioning seeds, in small amounts, at certain times of year (not fed every day!)
--- vegetables, variable with season: most often carrot, with greens when available
--- oats, wheat, spirulina, bee pollen, flax, corn, anise, sesame as part of a supplement (not fed every day!)
--- egg in soft food when higher protein is needed (also sunflower chips at times)
--- a good vitamin-mineral supplement (will limit to one or two)
--- a good soft food, at certain times of year (not fed every day!)
--- soy protein, possible other protein powders, as part of my soft food mix
--- medications for newly purchased birds only, while in quarantine.
--- winter treatment for mites --- possible treatment after molt
--- I do watch for organic ingredients, but if I cannot find a particular ingredient in an organic version, or if the price for said organic product is very high, I do not object to feeding conventional ingredients.
--- GMO? Yes or no? More and more human food items are certified non-GMO. Again, if availability and price make it easier and much cheaper to use conventional grains that may be GMO, I will use them.
Above is a list of the main ingredients I think will provide a wide mix of nutrients. So long as they are FRESH, I think they will make up a Good Diet Plan... any way they are combined!
➽ NEW THINGS I WILL INCLUDE:
--- One canary breeder grows chickweed, and I will follow her example and plant/use greens from my yard and garden.
--- I collect alfalfa leaves from our hay fields while the summer hay harvest is on. I will also collect fresh greens for use immediately!
➽ I Decided AGAINST:
--- insoluble grit, such as granite, etc.
--- oyster shells, etc.
--- pellets as replacements for a seed diet
--- probiotics
--- daily herbal supplements
--- annual schedule of medications, such as wormers, anti-protozoa or anti-fungals.
--- MOST commercially prepared nestling/egg food mixes.
--- added salt
--- added sugar or honey
➽ I COULDN'T FIND:
... the ORIGINAL Petamine Breeding Formula!!!
In my experiments, and my research, I have kept the ideal of the original Petamine Breeding Formula softfood mix in my mind. I had great results with it in the past, also seen by relatives who used it forty years ago.
My research explained the reasons it was a good choice, and made me WISH for it to be available for purchase.
Sadly, it seems to have changed!
The current Petamine products are not at all like the original formula.
(Note: the current Petamine formula is on my list of 'not recommended', see page three.)
 Petamine Breeding Formula |  Petamine Breeding Forumla |
| Protein 21% Fat 13% | Protein 9% Fat 11.5% |
I decided to keep this list of ingredients in mind while revising my soft food mix.
(See page five.)
(See page five.)
➽ I am reminding myself:
DON'T BE QUICK TO CHANGE WHAT IS WORKING IN MY BIRD ROOM!
 |
| And don't forget there are many important things to provide our canaries, besides food! They all need regular baths! |
