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What are they and the nag that never moved

WELCOME TO THE RECIPE PAGE!  By Marcus Pollard – Clifton Finch Aviaries

 Well, here are two to start off the proceedings and they are beauties I might add. So, if you enjoy these then get busy and send us some more in so we can all share them.

1. The McCrae Way!!

This a recipe that Gary McCrae from Kalgoorlie Western Australia gave me at Gunnedah Bird Sale this year. I have made this one of my "must do's" as regards the daily maintenance of my finches.

   Ingredients:
- Soaked seed
- Cod liver & wheat germ oil
- Multivitamin preparation
- Passwells' Finch Soft Food
- Passwells' Finch Crumbles (or some form of finch crumble mix)
Method:
There are many ways of combining the ingredients but I will leave you with mine! 

1. The required amount of soaked seed is placed in a container the night before you need it and the Cod liver & wheat germ oil is added (at the rate of about 1/2 a teaspoon per kilo of seed - you will soon calculate the correct amount for your seed) and the multi-vitamin powder is sprinkled in.   The seed is then thoroughly mixed and left until morning.
2.  Next morning, prior to feeding, 1 tablespoon of Finch Soft Food and 2 tablespoons of Finch Crumbles are added - again, you will need to vary this for the amount of Soaked seed that you use. Thoroughly mix all ingredients together.
3. If you are more adventurous you can take some frozen peas and corn, cover with boiling water then mash and mix into the soaked seed mix.

There you have it! Just a couple of points to remember is to grind up your finch crumbles until they are fairly fine - some come in pellet form (I use an old electric coffee grinder) and any multi-vitamin mix you are happy with will suffice ( I use Golden Boost from the Australian Pigeon Company).
Took my birds about 3 days to take to it, and now they demolish it with a vengeance!!

                                                  
2. Bucko's Sure Fire Gouldian Tonic!

Tony Buxton is a finch breeders from Gunnedah in NSW - home of the famous Gunnedah Bird Sale - and he breeds a number of Exotic and Australian finches. He has had great success with the Tanimbar parrotfinch and the Orange-cheek waxbill. Bucko has a great affinity with the Gouldian finch - especially the Blue mutation(!!). He attributes his success with the Gouldian's to his use of two products in their seed as a 'conditioning agent'.

   Ingredients:
* Breeding Aid (Vetafarm).
* Cod liver & wheatgerm oil.
 Method:
Add 20mls of Breeding Aid for every kilogram of seed to be used and the recommended amount of Cod liver & wheatgerm oil  - this is usually 5mls/400gms of seed. The mix is then placed in seed hoppers and bowls. One point is that this mix will often stick together if too much Cod liver & wheatgerm oil is used so ensure that you check your hoppers and make sure the seed is flowing correctly.
A great winter seed treatment.

FARMER FRED’S FOLLY   Submitted by Rhett Lind

 Farmer Fred had just turned ninety

He was worried ‘bout his health

So to the Doctor for a check up he did go

And the Doctor simply asked him

“How are you feeling Fred?”

Fred said “Great! But there’s something you should know”

“I’ve just wed a new young bride

She’s only 20 years of age

So I’ve got to keep me fit and not feel flat

And now I’ve got her pregnant

And she’s due in six months time

So I ask you Doc – what do you think of that?”

The Doctor thought a little while

Then to Fred he told a tale

“I’ve got a friend who’s just as old as you

He’s a very avid hunter

And goes out bush with trusty gun

And shoots rabbits, wildpig and kangaroo”

“One day he went out hunting

But forgot to take his gun

Absent minded picked up his stick instead

He came across a great big roo

He raised his stick at it

And yelled out “Bang” as he aimed it at its head.

“Miraculously  a shot rang out

And the roo fell over dead

A single bullet tore right into his heart

Now what’s the moral of the story?”

The Doctor now asked Fred

“Just think, I know you’re fairly smart.”

Fred said “there must be someone else

Hiding in the scrub

Who fired the fatal shot that fixed the roo

Your old friend must be crazy

If he thought he did the job

“That” replied the Doc “Is exactly my point to

Kev's Korner

 Morton Goes Fishing

Paddy & Morton Hired a Boat and went fishing,   

Within minutes they were pulling in fish after fish.                                

Morton said "this is a great place to fish, we should come back tomorrow",              

So Paddy drew a large "X" on the bottom of the boat in texta.    

Morton said," that's no good ...... next time we might not get the same boat !!!!!!!!!