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How Can I Grow my Own Birdseed and what products are safe to use?
I want to grow bird seed, stress seed and millet spray. I then want to feed some of the greens to my two parakeets and harvest the seeds, so I don't have to purchase bird seed. Can I do this? Also, how do I take the seeds from each plant and feed them to the birds, so that it looks like store bought? And what products can I use? I currently have them planted in pots in Miracle Grow Moisture Control. I have watered them with Miracle Grow Quick Start. I have yet to use and pesticides, but since I know I will eventually have a problem with pests, can I use Pesticides and what kind? I currently have Ortho Insecticidal Soap. Is this safe? Thank you for you help!!!!
Stress seed is a specific can of seeds mixed that are really good for the birds when they are molting or stressful times. I figured I would have problems with bugs, because I live in florida and we always seem to get every kind of bug on every flower. But I won't use pesticides. Thanks. So I should only do millet spray and sunflower? Alright, How do I get the millet spray seeds? You know how you purchase them from the store, do they look like that when you harvest the seed? I know how to do sunflowers. Thank you.
Also, can I feed the birds the greenage that grows from the seeds? I heard that it was great for their digestion! My birds are very healthy, one is 10 yoa. I just want to give them a little more and I would feel more comfortable feeding them what I grow, because I know what I did to it. Thank you again for you help.
1 Answer
- Suzi QLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
If you want bird-safe seed, you shouldn't even consider using pesticides, and not sure why you are assuming that you will have problems, either.
Millet, sunflower, canary seed, and oats are the main ingredients found in most bird seed - and they all grow easily and organically. Unless you live in Alaska, all of them can be sowed directly in the garden...there really is no reason to start these crops indoors. And, if you are growing them specifically for birds you should not be using any pesticides, herbicides or chemical based fertilizers.
What is stress seed? Never heard of it....
Your best bet is sunflower and millet. Both have seeds that can be removed by hand - or left on the stalk/flower. Other plants like oats and canary seed are difficult to process without machinery.
Before planting millet - check with your local ordinances. Millet is fast spreading, and in some areas, and with some varieties - is considered to be a problem (weed) plant.
edit***
Millet and sunflower are both super easy to grow, and harvest. If you buy them specifically for planting, the best directions for growing are usually found right on the seed pack.
I've bought small packs of millet seeds for growing..but after searching online at a few nurseries and seed sellers, I had difficulty finding any today.
It can be difficult to find millet seeds for sale to consumers (at least through nurseries), as most millet is grown as a crop, not usually in a garden:)
However, I did find a source that has several varieties, including white proso millet (aka spray millet).
http://www.seedland.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CT...
One good option is to just purchase and plant actual bird seed. As long as the seeds are not sterile, they will grow. I get huge sunflowers every year - and I've never planted any of them.
Drs Foster and Smith sells bird seed in bulk, including the red, white and spray millet varieties. I've never tried to sprout any of it...but if it will sprout, it will grow fine. Since those are the best varieties, that would probably be your best bet. If by chance it doesn't grow, you can still use the leftover seeds for bird food.
