What in the way of green food can be given?
This is an often asked question. I believe that greens should be given regularly (daily). In the wild, birds will be chewing on all manner of grasses, seeds, fruit etc. Why not provide them the same opportunity in captivity? Greens can be put into two groups – leaf type, where most of the plant is consumed or seed type where only the seed heads are eaten. Of the leaf type the list can include – Spinach (Silver Beet), Endive, Dandelion (rich in vitamins) and Chickweed. A small garden plot (1.5m x 0.5m) is all that is needed to provide a supply of spinach and endive, whereas dandelion and chickweed can usually be gathered from semi-shaded areas in local parks and along fence lines. The other type of greens, the seed head type, are usually available from spring to the end of summer. These include Rye grass, several varieties of wild oats, numerous millets – wild and cultivated. Japanese millet is often used by land developers and RTA to stabilise newly cleared land and road embankments, u
