While finches are primarily seed-eaters, they require much more than seed in their diet. Seeds are not a complete diet. In the wild, finches will eat a wide variety of foods depending on the time of the year. In the spring they will eat lots of sprouting seeds, greens and, when breeding, insects. Later in the year, these birds may also eat many immature seeds that are available and eventually switch to ripe seeds at the end of the year. It's up to us to make sure they get a similar variety of food when they are kept in our homes.
The first requirement is a good quality seed source. When buying seed, look for evidence of seed moths. If there are seed moths flying around the feed section, go someplace else to buy your seed. If you buy from an open bin of seed, you will probably end up with moths in your home. Even if you buy packaged seed, look for tiny holes in the package which are evidence that the larvae of the seed moths have made their way into the package. Freezing the seed for a few days before use can cut down on the infestation, if there is any.
Various manufacturers have good seed mixes and it's a matter of finding a brand that is sold locally and offers more than one or two types of seeds. There are a number of mixes available which have tiny pellets of a complete diet included in the seed mixture. Sometimes birds will toss the pellets while others will greedily devour them. The pellets, in finch size, can also be purchased separately to mix into a seed mix or fed separately in a feed cup. Both Kaytee and Zupreem sell these finch pelleted diets.
Insects are required for some breeding finches, but are not needed for Gouldian and Bengalese finches. They do need a high protein food source during the breeding season but this can be supplied with a commercial egg food or by using a freshly made egg food. Hard boiled eggs, chopped rather fine, shell and all, are a good high protein food which they may enjoy at any time of the year. However, a high protein diet should not be fed continuously.
Millet sprays are fed as a supplement to most finches. It is the first seed that most newly fledged birds can manage. It's also a food that is readily eaten by many sick birds that may not eat other foods. I feed millet sprays several times a week to my flock. As a good treat and a way to bring my birds into breeding condition, I soak millet sprays overnight and then feed it. Soaking starts the germination process, increasing the protein and vitamin content of the seed, and makes it a more complete food.
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