Growing grass for birds?

[failurebydesign]

Can I pick the grass seeds that grow in my yard and plant them in a pot
with some potting soil? My yard is not treated.
Is that safe? Potting soil has some kind of fertilizers I think?
Will my eclectus eat the grass that grows? What about the seeds will he eat the grass seeds that I pick? Is this good for him?

[chapala]

You might want to grow wheat grass for your bird. Just buy whole wheat berries at a natural foods or other grocery store with bulk bins, soak them overnight, and plant them on soil in your pot (shallow is fine). Keep moist, not soggy wet, give them light after germination, and you'll have very nice grass in a short time. The first two cuttings are the most nutritious, and the grass is usually discarded after the second or third cutting.

[failurebydesign]

Thanks, is regular potting soil okay? Doesn't it have fertilizer- is that bad?

[chapala]

If the bird tries to eat the potting soil, that wouldn't be good. You may need to cut the new grass with scissors and let him have the grass to play with/eat. Watch him to see what he does - I wouldn't leave the pot in with him without supervision though. Potting soil often does have fertilizer and a wetting agent added, plus it's not soil at all, but usually peat moss with vermiculite and/or perlite, a soilless mix.

[failurebydesign]

Oh yeah I would be cutting the grass with scissors and mixing it with other food..
What about the seeds I pick out of my lawn? Are those good?

[chapala]

Yes, grass seeds of many kinds can be fed, and are especially loved by Budgies, 'Tiels and other grass-seed eaters. Unripe seeds are fine, less fat. I don't know if your bird will like the seeds or not, but you could try them since you don't treat your lawn with chemicals.

[failurebydesign]

okay thanks for all the info :)

[suzhouchen]

Originally Posted by failurebydesign

Thanks, is regular potting soil okay? Doesn't it have fertilizer- is that bad?

I picked up a bag of organic soil to grow gass with for my RB2. I decided to grow grass for him to play in during the wintertime cause he loves grass so much. I have been working on growing it this summer in a long shallow plastic storage bin. However, the RB2 is a forager so they like to pull up the plant and eat the seed.

You can buy organic grass seed and organic soil, then you have the satisfaction of knowing they are ok.

You can do this with millet too.