Lisa Shea Forums Parakeets Off-Topic for Parakeet Owners Making my own lovebird seed mix

I know that ya'll probably aren't exactly sure what should go in a lovebird's mix, don't feel bad, because I don't believe I really know either. I did find this info about what seeds they should have in their diet, "Millets for carbohydrates, plain canary for protein and small quantities of hulled oats, sunflower and safflower."

I know that many people add flax seed, hemp seed (which I find to be rather expensive), barley, or buckwheat.

I have come up with this so far and this totals 13 pounds of seed.

1. White Millet: 1 lbs.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8395&rel=1
2. Red Millet: 1 lbs.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8392
3. Hulled Oats: 1 lbs.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8396
4. Gray Striped Sunflower: 1 lbs
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8418
5. Safflower: 1 lbs
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8416
6. Canary Grass Seed: 5 lbs
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+5911+8539+8389&pcatid=8389
7. Flax Seed:
http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Healthy-Foods-Organic-Flax-Seeds-2-lbs-907-g/7253?at=0
8. Hull-less Barley:
http://www.iherb.com/Bob-s-Red-Mill-Barley-Hull-Less-26-oz-737-g/35551?at=0
9. Buckwheat Groats:
http://www.iherb.com/Bob-s-Red-Mill-Orga...53-g/12088?at=0

My total with shipping from both sites comes to:
13.59 for iherb
and 25.94 from Dr. Fosters & Smith

TOTALING: $39.53

OMG! That's a lot but since I have about a month to collect all this, I am gonna place these orders at separate times so it doesn't kill my pocketbook. I know that I definitely will need the top 6.

Is there anything that I'm missing that should be on the list? I sure hope not, LOL.

I know that the millet and canary grass seed will make up the majority of the mix and I guess I'm gonna have to eyeball the others. I've never used Barley or Flax seed so this will be a challenge for me. I also am wondering if the hulled oats is enough without the Barley???

I hope this thread will also help those who would like to make their own mixes. Of course for the keets, you can eliminate the sunflower and safflower seeds.

your first to links are the same...try to stay away from the flax MEAL stuff and get seeds instead kimmie

and instead of safflower which i bet you will find a lot not eaten you can get herbs from myspice link...

find some fruits they do need their fruits too and a LITTLE nuts

**barley is better than the oats too.

there is food coloring in that canary crap ...giggle...ya dont want food coloring...use the basic canary instead no coloring in that

I fixed the first and second links.

Not sure what you meant by the "meal" thing...maybe the flax or barley? I will change it in the original post to the seed form.

I know that canary seed is essential and this is the only place I could find that sold it individually. I didn't see where it had food coloring in it?

Yoshi does eat some safflowers, I actually ordered some a while back and I give it to her as treats and also during the time, I was trying to get her to gain some weight.

flax meal is a link you posted reg flax seed is better and flax and oats will help with weight ...you need some fruits too kimmie and a wee bit of nuts

Good job Kim
I think she was doing red millet and white millet but posted 2 red millets?
I didn't see any MEAL stuff. What did you mean illuisve?

Kim, when you order from iherb there is a coupon code BUY123 you can use to get $5 off first purchase. Or a customer referral code(mine) QIS916 will get you $5 off first purchase.

I think fostersmith has dried fruits too. Haven't looked in to the processing or preservatives of them tho.

I'll go see if I can find any coupon codes for fostersmith

Missed ur post agin Kim, sorry

The canary seed nor anything else you listed had color added. It's all good

she did have a link showing a type of budgie mix that was loaded with color initially lol

ok i need to breath now...im gonna go chill...cya guys im a bit upset about something and no NOT you kimmie

I fixed the flax seed meal link to just flax seed. (costs 2 more bucks)

Dr. Foster & Smith use justtomatoes.com products for their veggies and fruits but I don't believe they use the organic kind. iherb also sells this brand too.

I found just veggies (organic): http://www.iherb.com/Just-Tomatoes-Etc-Organic-Just-Veggies-4-oz-112-g/37762?at=0

and just fruits: http://www.iherb.com/Just-Tomatoes-Etc-O...84-g/37748?at=0

I really think this is way too much for my budget so if anyone else has an idea for the fruit and veggie part of it, let me know. Plus the fruits look rather large.

I do feed veggies daily...fruits, not so much. What kind of nuts exactly?

Sorry I disappeared. I somehow got booted outa here and couldn't get back on.

I didn't see anything with color added, must've missed it.

Sorry I couldn't find any coupons for fostersmith. The bums. Only coupon is for orders $49 or more.

I am having no luck at all with the fruits or veggies. Myspicesage has some individual things but I'm not sure exactly what kind of fruits Yoshi would like.