Breeder's Brew

As keen finch breeders our willingness to try out different approaches to feeding finches can at times result in the feeding area of our breeding aviaries being littered with more than a handful of different bowls of this, that and the other in a constant quest to provide our birds with a complete and varied diet.  This led us to thinking of which of the various separately offered breeding foods could be combined into a single blend which would radically simplify our feeding routine and yet be presented in a form which all of our finches would readily take to and consume with vigour.  After considerable trial and error experimentation with various combinations of ingredients tested on a wide range of finch species and with numerous ongoing alterations to the recipe over many months we have finally arrived at a combination of finch foods which provides the most complete and palatable single-serve dry diet for breeding finches that we believe is possible.  This combination is Breeder’s Brew.

Breeder’s Brew contains 28 varieties of Australian grown seeds from various grasses, herbs, cereal grains and oilseeds.  It also includes extruded finch crumbles, vitamised minerals and grits which are all blended together with various seed oils and several nutritious and palatable powdered foods.   It is presented in a dry form dominated by grass seeds which in itself enhances its palatability to the widest possible range of finch species.  After all, finches are primarily seed eating birds evolved to be attracted to eating seed first and foremost.  This makes a highly varied seed mix the ideal vehicle for feeding additional dietary components which at times are contained at low levels or are altogether lacking in dry seed alone.  The wide variety of seeds used in the brew serves to maximise the nutritional value of the dry seed component of the diet as well as enhancing its attractiveness to a wide range of finch species. 

The additional non-seed ingredients comprise a lower proportion of the overall mix compared to the seeds so that their inclusion does not deter the more finicky species from readily eating the brew.  Over many years we have found without exception when providing formulated (unnatural) recipes to finches including various processed softfoods, crumbles, cakes, biscuit mixes, etc. the higher the proportion of the processed items, the fewer birds will readily partake of the final mixture.  The additional items included in Breeder’s Brew have very impressive and complete nutritional contents which convincingly justify their inclusion in a healthy diet for breeding finches, however their relative proportions must be carefully adjusted in order to maximise widespread acceptance of the diet by all finch species.  This balance between inclusion and proportioning has been achieved with Breeder’s Brew if our experience with feeding this diet to a varied finch collection is anything to go by.

Avian vets will often espouse the benefits of formulated finch crumbles stating that they provide all essential nutrients which finches require in a balanced formula which a typical dry seed diet does not provide.  We don’t necessarily believe that a single food type such as crumbles can possibly provide a fully balanced diet to all types of finches by itself but accept that crumbles do provide more complete nutrition than the basic dry seeds, hence the inclusion of crumbles in Breeder’s Brew.  We have genuine concerns when crumbles are recommended as the primary diet item alone, so we have deliberately left the diverse seed mix as the dominant feature of the diet so that our finches may still indulge their obvious natural preference for seeds and so that our surplus birds once passed onto other breeders don’t have any problems adapting to the typical seed-based diet used by most backyard finch breeders. 

Different finch species tend to favour different components of Breeder’s Brew but within a typical mixed species finch aviary we have found that all of the brew is eaten.  Our birds often tend to be creatures of habit and can at times take a considerable deal of perseverance before a new food item is fully accepted.  Bearing this in mind, our initial trials involved introducing the brew to aviaries in addition to all of the separate offerings of pasture grass seed mixes, oilseed and herb based tonic seed mixes, red pannicum supplemented with seed oils and yeast powder, grit & mineral mixes, softfood as well as the usual basic dry seed mix.  Many of these separate offerings were a highly sought-after part of our breeding birds’ diet, however once the birds found the Breeder’s Brew (typically within the first few days offered) their feeding efforts were concentrated almost exclusively onto it and it very soon became rare for them to be seen taking any of the original individual offerings.  Once Breeder’s Brew became a regular offering, the multitude of separate bowls soon became pointless and wasteful.

With one serve of Breeder’s Brew you can completely satisfy your breeding finches’ needs for seeds, minerals, crumbles and grit all blended with a cocktail of seed oils and a special combination of powdered foods including spirulina, livamol and inactive dried yeast which inconspicuously combine with the brew to significantly enhance its nutritional value and palatability.  In particular this combination provides a higher content of amino acids (I8 of them), B-group and other important vitamins, lipids, beta-carotenes, chlorophyll, organic minerals, and vegetable protein compared to a typical dry seed diet.   

If served separately in addition to drinking water and regular fresh greens, Breeder’s Brew provides a complete and nutritious breeding diet for all non-insectivorous finches.  For insectivorous species add some livefood as well and you have an excellent breeding diet for any finch species. 

The simplicity of feeding Breeder’s Brew is particularly highlighted during absences from home when spouses or other non-bird people are often called upon to feed our birds where a minimal effort is now required to provide a high quality and varied dry diet in one simple serve.  This helps to avoid confusing the holiday helpers with a complex list of multiple feeding requirements and minimises any feelings of guilt that we may have burdened our helpers with a daunting imposition.  This simplicity also negates the option of forcing our birds to go without valuable extras by omitting them from the foods offered whilst we are not at home to give them the usual full range of varied items.

Breeder’s Brew is a premium product containing a wide range of high quality ingredients.  Commonsense dictates that measured and unwasteful feeding techniques are the best way to make the most of such a high quality diet.  Either a regular (ideally daily) offering of Breeder’s Brew in an open bowl or every few days in a small gravity feeder such as a “Mason” jar feeder (our personal preference) inside a larger flat dish such as a large plastic pot base to catch any husks are ideal ways to be frugal with the diet.

This diet is intended for breeding birds whilst they are breeding, however it is also suitable for conditioning birds for breeding immediately prior to the breeding season and also for young birds which are weaning and/or moulting.  It is not intended as a regular diet for non-breeding adult birds outside of the breeding season.

Quality, variety and choice are immensely important considerations in providing a complete and nutritious diet to finches.  This can now be achieved in such a simple way with all of the best dry components of a finch diet which will greatly assist many finch breeders to easily provide their birds with a complete dry diet in one offering. Breeder's Brew should be stored and fed dry.

If you feel that you and your finches would benefit by simplifying their feeding routine without compromising on the quality and variety of their diet, we simply recommend that you try a small quantity of Breeder’s Brew and let your birds’ reaction to it be the judge of whether it warrants a place in their ongoing regular diet.

Breeder’s Brew is available in 1kg, 2kg and 3kg bags.

Prices plus postage/freight at cost are:

1kg  $10.00

2kg  $19.50

3kg  $28.50

5kg  $47.00 

10kg or more $8.80 per kg.

We use Fastway Couriers who deliver to the door at most locations in the Eastern States.  Alternatively Australia Post can be used to other locations.

To obtain some Breeder’s Brew call Graham or Leonie on 02 66544306 before 8pm or email on g.lbull@bigpond.com .