For my mixed aviary I feed a foreign finch mix and small parakeet mix.

As I have a large aviary I buy my seed in bulk, I have never yet had a bad batch but always check to make sure the seed is clean and dust free.

Soaked Seed

Soaked seed is invaluable when your birds are rearing their young.

Soaking the seed helps the birds digest the seed, as it is much softer.

Cover the seed with hot water and leave overnight. Rinse the seed thoroughly, drain and serve to your birds please make sure you remove any un-eaten soaked seed, as it will turn mouldy.

This same process can also be applied to millet sprays.

Egg food

This is probably the most important of all foods to give your birds whilst rearing their young. This can be bought at all good pet shops.

You can offer it to your birds either dry, or mixed with a little warm water to make a moist crumble. If mixed with water remove any that is un-eaten, as it will go mouldy.

Some aviculturists make their own egg food you will fin a good recipe for this at www.javafinch.com

Fruit and Green-Foods

I have never had a problem getting my birds to eat their greens, but fruit is something they have never been keen on.

The greens my birds love the most are chickweed, dandelion, broccoli and Cos lettuce (in small amounts) I have also hung cut lemon balm in the aviary, which was devoured in no time at all. Please be careful with herbs’ as some are toxic to birds.

Do not collect green-foods from the roadside as they could have been sprayed with pesticide and they will also be dirty from the passing vehicles.

I have mentioned broccoli, whilst the birds enjoy the florets I also finely grate the broccoli stem it is moist and full of vitamin C, which helps build strong bones.

Apples are generally a good start to get your birds eating fruit mine also enjoy pear, grapes and melon.

Live food

Most birds will eat live-food even if only at breeding time.

Mealworms, Waxworms and Crickets are quite easy to get hold of especially if you have a reptile shop nearby. If not there are plenty of mail order companies that supply them.

Treats

My birds adore sweetcorn. This can be bought tinned (in water, no added salt or sugar) or frozen. I prefer to use frozen, I put a quantity in a jug and pour hot water over it leave it for a while to defrost, drain and serve to the birds. Here is a tip for you, if your birds are caged give them this treat before you clean them out as they make a terrible mess with this food!

Peas can also be treated in the same way.