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spiritbird
06-21-2015, 01:15 PM
Do you grow plants for your birds? This is a very good way to provide them with healthy greens. Container gardening is fairly easy, time saving and take up little space. Many flowers are edible too. Best to use organic soil.

Here is a list of what can be grown in containers: Basil, Beets, Broccoli, Celery, Chamomile, Cilantro Dandelion, Fennel, Kale, Mustard Greens, Plantain, Pansies, Peas, Rosemary and Swiss Chard. Right now I am growing wheat grass for my birds and cat. Some flowers that are safe: Bee Balm, Borage, Butterfly bush, Sweet William, Fennel, Dill, Lavender, Lilac, Marigolds, Nasturtium, Red Clover, Sage, Yarrow, Violet.

The soil should not have pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Containers should be made completely of non toxic materials. The soil should not be in reach of your bird.

Small pinecones make for good toys that can be safely played with. Best to get newly fallen pine cones. Put in oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. Then turn oven off and let the cones stay in oven for 2 hours to dry out. Do not heat higher than 200 degrees. My birds were afraid of them at first so gradually introduce them.

Grasses and Grain seeds can be sprouted. Some examples are Barley, Buckwheat, Millet, Oats, Quinoa and Wheat. Legumes must be fully sprouted, Examples are Adzuki, Fenugreek, Lentil, Mung and Peas. Birds seem to love Pea sprouts. You can also purchase a mix of sprouting seeds.

Mr Peepers
06-21-2015, 03:34 PM
I have some dandelions growing for the boys as well as millet. The fresh ripe strands of millet are SPX's favorite treat in the late summer, however our summer type growing weather hasn't really been that great for plants yet.

And the endless packs of squirrels that have dug in my planters to plant their own seeds they find elsewhere hasn't been very helpful either.

spiritbird
06-21-2015, 09:14 PM
Oh those squirrels can be a nuisance sometimes.

Mr Peepers
06-21-2015, 10:15 PM
Oh those squirrels can be a nuisance sometimes.


I put chicken wire around the planters but the raccoons sat on the wire making it a useless pile, which then allows the squirrels to be gardeners in my planters. Vicious cycle here. :th_biggrin:

I'm in the middle of a huge noisy city and have more wildlife here then my brother has at his place and he lives in the suburbs with a huge ravine out his back door.

spiritbird
06-21-2015, 10:41 PM
I once put chicken wire around a vegetable garden and a rabbit got caught in the wire. He could not get out because his leg was twisted. I went to help him or her out and the rabbit panicked and ran leaving behind his leg. OMG I felt so bad. Never again to use chicken wire.

Lady
06-21-2015, 11:16 PM
Nice thread, I like to garden and have tried time and time again to get herbs to grow to no avail, so I purchase organic sprouts from the market. I have tried sprouting my own as well and did okay but stopped due to the fact I kept forgetting to rinse them and they would of course, dry up :(.

Maybe I can try some flowers. Everything does fairly well outside but our house has awnings and getting direct sunlight is a problem.

Mr Peepers
06-22-2015, 05:13 PM
I once put chicken wire around a vegetable garden and a rabbit got caught in the wire. He could not get out because his leg was twisted. I went to help him or her out and the rabbit panicked and ran leaving behind his leg. OMG I felt so bad. Never again to use chicken wire.


That would be horrible to witness :th_eek:

spiritbird
06-23-2015, 12:54 AM
I cried when I watched the rabbit hop away. I hope it did not suffer too long.

Mr Peepers
06-23-2015, 03:04 PM
I cried when I watched the rabbit hop away. I hope it did not suffer too long.


:th_hug8: