Gammarus Patee

[Strawblady2000]

Have any of you tried insectivorious Gammarus Patee? I believe it is made in Italy and the product description said it was available throughout Europe. Here is the description:

Gammarus Patee is the result of rigorous research to provide a good complete food for insectivorous birds. It contains 5% fruit for natural energy and vitamins, prawns and fish for ideal protein content of 12.9%
INGREDIENTS
Bakery products - Oils and fats, Sugars, Cereals, Meats and by products, Mineral substances, Fruit 5%, Gammarus, Honey, Insect, Fishes and by products, Milk and by product, Flavours, Preserved with antioxidant BHT 150 mg/Kg.
USE INSTRUCTIONS:
Leave for the birds to use freely. From time to time administer fresh fruit and flour months. Keep the product tightly shut in a fresh dry place.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Protein 12.9%, Fat 14.2%, Ash 8.2%.
Available in: 1 and 2 lb bags

I need a good insectivorious soft food...and my only choice that is cost effective is to order it. All stiores less than an hour away discontinued the insect blends...and the one that has it charges $15 for 1lb. Forget that!!!

If you use insectivorious blends, what do you use? And...is it something that can be shipped here?

[Strawblady2000]

I've also hear FEAST insectivorious is good too...anyone use this?

[josoll]

We have used feast but the birds appear to much prefer the orlux mixes.You put it in for the Zosties and the Red faced Crimson wings and Bluecaps tuck in:lol:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Nikki,

Although I haven't used this particular mix I have offered another Insectile mixture with a high percentage of Shrimp and found that the Birds tend to ignore the Shrimp.:-?

The mixture I have used for many years is Bogena, and more recently Whitte Molen and Beaphar, I find that my Birds (Seedeaters and Softbills) enjoy both of these mixtures and nothing is wasted.:-D

Paul.

[Waxbillman]

95% of my birds won't touch it, though 1 or 2 do, but its instignificant really, i have tried mixing it in the eggfood, this may help them

Matthew

[Strawblady2000]

Well....poo.

Looks like I'm back to live food, lol.

With the new CB's and a pair of berries nesting, it's probably better anyhow.

Thank you for the input

Paul,

You would think the shrimp would be a turn on to the birds. Are these other 2 mixtures exclusive to the UK?

[Rogerb]

nikki the thought that pops to my mind is with all the ingredients you have listed why not make your own you can add or subtract to suit your own birds :idea: plus you can also add medical additives if the need arises

[Strawblady2000]

There's an idea.

Not sure what the heck I'd put in it as far as insect or meat products. The closest I've gotten to this is making eggfood with freeze dried mealworms. My bengies ate it up, but that's it, lol.

I'll have to ponder that. I've been trying new kinds of dried eggfood...whch is great for when I'm gone all day. It also makes a great additive for soft foods to get the moisture consistency right. As I make their food fresh each morning, this wouldnt be anything new...just an extra batch of different ingredients.

Hmm....what could I use for insects, aside from putting live ones in the blender, lol. Here in the country, Lord knows we have plenty of insects, but I'd be leary, as I dont know what pesticides they may have been exposed to.

Heeeeyyyyy....arent there types of suet for insect eaters? Or are they to compacted for the waxbills to nibble from?

Great idea roger! Laura did a great job with you! Just a little ribbing, my friend :p

[Strawblady2000]

Well, I took the plunge and ordered the Gammarus...got it today. Looks like dirt, smells like sh**. We'll see if they eat it fed freely or if I have to doctor it up a bit.

Wonder if I can make my basic eggfood recipe and add that too. Will have to see!

Meanwhile, will continue dealing with live food and headless worm casings.

I'll let you know if I can get them to touch it.

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Nikki and Roger,

Nikki,

The problem with the Shrimp in Insectile mixtures (and sold seprately) is that it is freeze dried and about as nutritious as cardboard,:roll: someone I know enquired about freeze dried Wood Ants eggs and was told to not bother wasting his money on them and collect fresh eggs instead, the shocking thing was that the person who told him to save his money was the supplier of the product.:shock:

Back to the Shrimps though, if you look up Gammarus on the net, then there are one or two websites that tell you how to breed them as Livefood for Tropical Fish, but there is no reason why they couldn't be bred as Livefood for Birds.:grin:

Roger,

Top tip mate on producing our own Softbill mixtures,:grin: in the past I have added to commercially available Insectile mixtures with things such as canned Tuna, canned Cod Roe, grated Carrot, boiled eggs, SA37, Vionate and grated Cheese etc.
The Softbill mixture used at the private collection I worked for consisted of a commercial mixture with added Chick Crumbs, minced Beef, grated Cheese, boiled eggs and a few desert spoons of Vionate etc, but bear in mind the mixture was prepared daily for a collection of many hundreds if not over a thousand Softbills, and that is without the Fruit mixtures, Nectar, Livefood, day old chicks and Whitebait etc.

Other aditions mentioned in books include grated Ox Heart amongst others, basically to a degree anything high in protein is a welcome addition to your Birds diet, but please consider the particular Softbill Species that are prone to suffer from Iron Retention Disease that can cause a premature death due to Kidney damage, (as far as I know there are no documented cases of Iron Retention in Finch/Seedeating Species).

Paul.

[kenny]

hi paul
its great on ryvitas aswell

ken:-D

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Ken,

Would that be Cod Roe or Freshwater Shrimp mate?:-D

Paul.

[kenny]

hi paul
i did try some cod roe once it was cold pink and disgusting;)

ken