Types of Songbird Feed Every Bird Keeper Should Know
Choosing songbird feed takes care. See how voer pellets and soaked seeds support a bird's health and song, and why to avoid feed scented with Heisen.
Knowing the best types of songbird feed matters to songbird hobbyists (known in Indonesia as "kicau mania"). Many of them still go by price alone, looking for feed that is cheap but good. Since feed is a staple, it is no surprise that many people try to cut costs by buying cheap feed. Yet the price will match the quality. Price should not really be the main yardstick. It is better to match the feed to your bird's needs and condition. Feed A that suits your neighbor's songbird will not necessarily suit yours, so the choice has to be exactly right and selective. There are three kinds of feed you can give your songbird, as follows:
Contents
Voer
Voer, a packaged bird feed, is the first food you can give. It is usually a high-protein packaged food. Besides helping the bird grow and develop to its full potential, voer also makes its song louder. Before buying in large quantities, it is better to buy a sample first and see whether your pet songbird eats it eagerly and has no digestive problems. If the droppings turn watery and smell stronger than before, you can be sure the feed does not suit that bird.
The best voer is also high in minerals and antioxidants, nutrients that keep the bird's body healthy and in top form when it competes. Antioxidants also protect a songbird's body from free radicals, which can disrupt metabolism or damage organs.
Seeds
The next feed you can give your songbird is seeds. Songbirds need seeds to meet the fiber their bodies require. When feeding seeds, give ones that are in good condition and clean. The method is easy: soak the seeds overnight, then feed the bird the seeds that stayed submerged. Seeds that float are not good for the bird because they are already in poor condition. If they are fed to the bird anyway, its voice will turn hoarse and lose volume.
Avoid Feed That Smells of Heisen
Besides the types of feed above, you should also avoid feed that smells of Heisen. Heisen is a chemical liquid whose scent is made to smell like apple, jackfruit or cucumber. It is very dangerous: if a bird eats it, it can cause serious health problems and damage the bird's voice. This substance is now often added to home-scale bird feed. The aim is to make feed that looks appealing on the outside, even though its contents are very harmful to songbirds.
Do not be tempted by a cheap price, because cheap does not mean good for your songbird. Hope the information above on the types of songbird feed is useful to you.
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