facility, thus there are three boxes in each aviary. I am sure that nest box manufacturers that read this will have a big smile on their faces! Feeding is all important when breeding birds of the parrot family. Every day during the breeding season my birds receive germinated seed. At present I germinate sunflower, mung beans, mixed corn and safflower, initially these were mixed together but I found that the sunflower and mung beans were shooting before the mixed corn and safflower so now the sunflower and mung beans are soaked together as are the mixed corn and safflower. When both sets of seed are ready they are mixed together and washed before feeding. Only sufficient is germinated to feed my birds for one day, consequently I am starting the germination cycle every day to ensure adequate supplies are available each day.


In addition to the germinated seed I provide freshly prepared soft food every day. Currently I am hard boiling two eggs for six minutes, these are added to two small cups of Badminton conditioner cereal (used by horse breeders) and one small cup of ground ferret food (39% animal protein), these are in pellet form but they are ground to dust in a coffee grinder. All three ingredients are placed in a stainless steel bowl of a Kenwood Chef food processor and mixed together, after the mixing a small cup of warm water is added and this is mixed with a spoon and left for 5 minutes before being fed to the birds, this produces a crumbly texture which the birds seem to appreciate. Fruit and vegetables are also fed and for ease I usually place these in the bowl with the germinated seeds. When feeding fruit during the summer months be vigilant of wasps, not just because they may sting you but also they can sting the bird and if this sting is in the mouth it is possible to lose a bird. You can try


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