Good Seed Mix for Small Birds in Small Quantities

I give Bumble about a teaspoon of seed mix a day in with her Harrison’s pellets. We’re almost out, and I’m having a difficult time deciding what to get. Her breeder recommended ABBA, but the website has a $20 minimum order and shipping is $$$$$$$$$$. I like the Volkmann’s but the smallest bag is four pounds, which is a lot at 1t a day. Everything else I’ve looked at is either mixed with pellets which she doesn’t need, only for big birds, or loaded with sunflower seeds.

Any suggestions?


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If you have a WholeFoods (or similar store) nearby, you could could just go buy small quantities of stuff. Maybe Google "healthy seeds for parrots", pick a reliable site, and make a list?
If you do that, I'd like a copy of your list for myself!

I would go with a good brand of seed mix, and freeze most of it. I'm not sure which brands sell in really small quantities as we buy in 50# bags.

I like Volkman for my cockatoo (Super Hook Bill), but I think it would contain large chunks....

COULD THIS WORK? (Sunflower free) and reviews indicate that it isn't just for cockatiels:

https://www.amazon.com/Volkman-Avian-Science-Cockatiel-Sunflower/dp/B00061UXIW

I haven't tried dr harveys mixes for my parrots since I have a homemade mix for them but my finches love it https://www.drharveys.com/products/birds

noodles123 said:

I like Volkman for my cockatoo (Super Hook Bill), but I think it would contain large chunks....

COULD THIS WORK? (Sunflower free) and reviews indicate that it isn't just for cockatiels:

https://www.amazon.com/Volkman-Avian-Science-Cockatiel-Sunflower/dp/B00061UXIW

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Volkman actually makes a parrotlet blend, but I'm trying to avoid a 4 lb. bag as that is over a year's supply for a one ounce bird. :11:

katiea said:

I haven't tried dr harveys mixes for my parrots since I have a homemade mix for them but my finches love it https://www.drharveys.com/products/birds

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Will you share what goes in your homemade mix?

I usually order one of these two from Amazon, they are 1lb bags and my conures/cockatiel like them. No sunflower seeds either! My guys get a bit of seed each day, but it takes awhile to go through a 1 lb bag even (I store it in the freezer).

Totally Organics All-in-One Seed Mix - 1 Lb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009HYRJQS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_NDFHBbD91HZDN

Totally Organic's Napoleon's Seed Mix - 1 lb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LAT139C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_zGFHBbPGWAQ17

Freezer to maintain quality!

Inger said:

katiea said:

I haven't tried dr harveys mixes for my parrots since I have a homemade mix for them but my finches love it https://www.drharveys.com/products/birds

Click to expand...

Will you share what goes in your homemade mix?

Click to expand...

I use different things every time I make it so there is as much variety as possible, since some of my rescues are still refusing fresh foods. I have a "dry mix" and a "wet mix". Dry mix is seeds, nuts, and a couple different brands of pellets. Wet mix is dried veggies and fruits, herbs, seasonings, and beans. I add water or cook it if there's beans in it.

ONE OUNCE? Good grief, how sweet. So she's about 25-30 itty-bitty grams? No wonder you're interested in smaller quantities. I knew she was teensy-weensy, but... wow!

GaleriaGila said:

ONE OUNCE? Good grief, how sweet. So she's about 25-30 itty-bitty grams? No wonder you're interested in smaller quantities. I knew she was teensy-weensy, but... wow!

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Yep, 31 grams. When the vet weighed her, I had to google it into ounces and then I said “One. My bird weighs ONE.” And then I laughed and laughed. she’s my tiny little bestie. But her personality weighs about one Rottweiler.


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Old(ish) post, I know. I honestly find it cheaper, healthier, and less wasteful to make my own mix.

For Americans, I'd recommend buying from Sprout People, health food stores, and bulk stores (Costco, Bulk Barn, etc.).

For Canadians, buy from Mumm's, health food stores, etc. For example, for my dry mix, I order:
Hulless barley
Buckwheat
Flax (tiny amount)
Millet
Oats

With Mumm's, it's free shipping over $25, which is great! When I sprout for the kids, I use:
Various grains (oats, buckwheat, barley, kamut wheat, etc.)
Mung beans
Garbanzo beans
Lentils
Peas
Millet

I also occasionally mix in small amounts of chopped raw nuts I buy from the health food store and Bulk Barn, as well as sunflower seeds. Additionally, I like to mix in a bit of grit (soluble and insoluble), kelp granules, and Calci-Clay. You can also buy dried, food-grade flowers from the health food store to mix in. My guys like lavender and chamomile the best. You can also buy cereals (puffed quinoa, barely flakes, etc.) to mix in. I get these cereals from the Bulk Barn. These cereals contain single ingredients, and don't have any added zinc, salt, etc.

Throughout the growing season (spring, summer, and fall in the Northern Hemisphere) I collect fresh seeds for my birds. Plantain, clover, grass, etc. Just make sure to collect it away from roads, farm runoff, pesticides, etc. I like to collect extra grass seed and freeze it so they can have grass during the winter. The grass seed should be collected while it's still young (it should be collected after it's flowered but before it's mature enough to germinate), and I like to keep 2"–3" of the stem still attached, with the leaves removed. I collect as many different kinds of grass seed as possible for nutritional and enrichment purposes. There's so many delicious kinds of grass out there, waiting to be collected.

I usually feed Kaylor of Colorado Sweet Harvest, Goldenfeast and/or Golden Gourmet seed blends. I've also fed Sleek and Sassy in the past.

Lately, I've been feeding a lot of China Prairie sprouts rather than dry seeds.