Mixed Beans!

[huz]

just a quick question, at the moment my breeding greys arnt eating properly, so im trying to give then as many different foods as possible. i was in the kitchen 2day and saw a big tub of mixed beans(i think) pink, brown, yellow, green and just wanted to ask should i boil them befor serving them to make them soft or should i rinse then and serve them as they are(hard).
any info would be much obliged as im scared that when the eggs hatch wot will they feed them?

i may have to take the chiks out as soon as they hatch, and i dont want to do this as it is my first time breeding a bird!!!


ow i just found out they are lentils!!!!!!!!!

[Monica]

Lentils you can either cook or sprout. Sounds like these beans were meant for the stove top, but nonetheless, yes cook them first before feeding.

[The Outlaw]

This is a recipe one of my assistant managers on my board created. Its fairly typical of many other excellent bean recipes, but really is exceptional. If you fed this once a day, your birds would thrive.

Lissa Buja's Kitchen Sink Mix

Soak a bag of 16 bean soup mix overnight OR 1/2 cup each of 5 or 6 different types of beans...lentil, split or whole yellow or green beans, garbanzos ( a huge favorite here) hominy, navy, pink beans, let your imagination be your guide. Put these on to boil with PLENTY of water covering them along with a cup of natural brown rice ( I use River Brand). Let this boil gently for about 1/2 hour..longer is okay if your fildren like their beans really mushy...it is up to you. Now get the largest pan you can find....now get another one. drain the rice/bean mix and add...... 1 bag of frozen peas, 1 bag of broccoli florets, one bag carrots, corn, green beans. Also add two boxes of a favorite chopped green..you can also omit the broccoli here in favor of frozen chopped. Greens include mustard, spinach, kale, etc.
Hot peppers, if available can be added now- about a pound will do. You can chop them if you want or leave them whole depending on how big the fid is you are feeding. Dont forget to add a bag or two of wild blueberries, or cranberries, or BOTH. I freeze in two day portions- usually 4 cups worth to be shared between my 4 birds- 1 large, 1 medium and 2 small. This is in addition to the seeds/pellet mix they get on a daily basis, and the extra nuts for the large macaw.

THE OUTLAW

[huz]

thatnk you both very much at the moment i have just boiled them and put them in but i will surly try the recipe.
however i am in a new pridicament now
my CAGS have not been in their nest all day, i hope its not what i think it means, can any one assist me. iv put lots of food out today and all they have done is eat,
shuold i go in my aivery and chq on the eggs or should i just leave them alone
im realy worried,
iv been walking up and down since i realised about 4 hour ago
what should i do?
is there any thing i can do?

[The Outlaw]

OK, I'm going to be as tactful as I can. You REALLY need to get some breeding books on African Greys. You also need to personally contact other breeders in your area so that you can learn the subtleties of this species. No parrot species are the same. What works for TAGS doesn't necessarily work for CAGS. There are very specific nesting material needs, diet requirements, temperature and humidity issues and so many other things. Also, feeding grey babies is an art. YOU MUST BE TAUGHT BY A SEASONED BREEDER.

We would love to help you, but I really think that if you depend on us to guess what's going on in your aviary, your birds will likely suffer. All breeding birds need extra fresh foods while they are breeding and feeding baby birds. Knowing when to pull chicks, inspect eggs, etc. comes from long time breeders with experience.

Please, I'm not trying to blow you off. Not at all. I just think your time is better spent persuing those avenues now. After all, once you encourage pairs to breed, you become responsible for the outcome. I hope I haven't offended you. If so, please accept my apologies. I just have to put the birds' best interests first. Good luck. Keep us posted. I wish I bred greys. I'd certainly be willing to mentor you.

THE OUTLAW

[peeker]

Hi huz,

Sorry I can't offer much advise. I am only a hopeful future breeder with my pair. I can recommend a yahoo group I am on that might be able to offer support. It is for breeders and there are grey breeders there that might be able to answer your question.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Birds-Breeders/

[huz]

thank you for both your replies and no you wernt being too harsh, it probably doesent show but iv been reading up on greys and cockatoos for the past 6 months, iv been on so many websites and have read so many books but it seems actually doing and reading how to do is two compleatly different things. i dont know any breeders in thease nek of the woods though hoped i did as first hand experiance canot be replaced by any written information.

over the past 6 months iv read this phrase ' thers no tecniqe to breeding, its an art' and now i know what it means.