The Lizard Canary Association

There are many commercially prepared 'supplements' on the market just waiting to seperate a bird man from his hard earned , all will make fantastic claims (which I have to admit are true in most cases) about the benefits they will give to your birds. But when you read the list of ingredients you will , nine times out of ten , realise that the main one is a natural occuring product that you can buy elsewhere for half the price.

I call these products 'snake oil' , they put them in a fancy package , use scientific names and charge you heavily for the privilage .

So if you want to Keep It Natural (and save a few bob ) here are some alternatives:

Fish Oils , Cod liver oil etc. A source of Vitamin A & D . Can be mixed with seed , place seed in a container and pour in a little cod liver oil ---the only way to make sure all seed is coated is to get your hands in there and give it a good mix up. A small drop of cod liver oil can be used in the eggfood.


If you make the seed too 'wet' with Cod Liver Oil dry it out with my next product. Brewers Yeast.
Brewers yeast contains many different vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The major vitamins are:-
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) – releases energy from carbohydrate in the diet, and is important for the heart and nervous system.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – releases energy from carbohydrate in the diet, and maintains healthy skin, eyes and digestive tract.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) – releases energy from carbohydrate, and helps to maintain healthy skin, digestive tract and nervous system.

What about calcium ? Leafy green vegtables such as Brocolli, Cabbage, Watercress , and natures own Dandelion . Just type in Calcium Rich Vegtables into your search engine ---you'll never buy a calcium supplement again and you'll get rid of that cuttlefish which nine times out of ten is just a poo covered extra perch! The only green to feed sparingly is Spinach . The rest use everday little and often.

Do you buy Garlic Tonic? Why? Break the back of a clove of garlic , steep it in hot water overnight , drain off and mix the fluid with (calcium rich ) tap water and serve in the drinkers . Do this early morning and remove before the midday sun can scour it --replace with clean water . Its reputed to keep mite at bay as well .

I pay 26p for a kilo box of Glucose D and when I mix the eggfood the measure I use is a healthy dollop----easy assimilation and replenishment of essential nutrients. It's a ready source of energy . We give it to mothers who have just had a baby why not to a hen (and her chicks) ? Who doesn't like Lucozade ----its the same thing.

I'll let you take all this on board for now and will revisit this thread next week , but in the meantime why not share your 'natural' products with the rest of us.

Regards Paul.

I think you need to keep things as natural as possible because if you go away and ask some to feed your birds it can be a problem.
I give my birds danelion's and water cress. But other than that they may have a little crated apple & carrot. but nothing more. You need to keep it simple during the breding season because the more you add and give your birds the m0ore time it takes and then it becomes chore not a hobby and lets not forget thats what it is a hobby.
But to get your birds into breeding condition you can't beat danelion leaves.
thats my views on it anyway.
david.