VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

SOAKED SEED FEEDING

Soaked seeds may be fed to young birds that are having trouble in breaking hard seeds, and to birds during breeding and moulting seasons. The seeds should be soaked in warm water for about 24 hours; this will stimulate the germination of the seeds. The chemical changes in the seeds during germination increase the protein content. When feeding soaked seeds, it is important that the water be poured off and that the seeds be washed thoroughly with tap water. Soaked seeds provide an ideal medium for the growth of moulds and fungi; birds must not be allowed to consume seeds that have a mould and fungi on them. Any seeds not consumed by the birds in a few hours should be removed and thrown away. The container that the seeds were in should be washed thoroughly before feeding more soaked seeds.