fireman 10,884 Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Brilliant pics KittleRox 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j j m 6,539 Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 very good post well done 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lutra Lutra 611 Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Some of the wildfoods which folks can give there birds. I reckon theres nothing better you can give your birds as far as keeping them healthy and in condition, I,ll try my best to give times of year to collect, what part of plants to use and properties of each plant, some descriptions will have ??? as I am unfamiliar with these plants myself but there is some reference of people using these for there birds.Many references to properties and health benefits are from herbal medicine and there effects on human biology but imo will benefit birds in similar ways. Apart from the goodness gained from the plants themselves feeding these is a great way to keep your birds occupied, Hopefully this will help some of the folks new to collecting wildfood, cheers coltsfoot - early spring - seeding heads - general tonic alder - Jan - April - catkins and seed cones - protein and oils dandelion - spring - whole plant, birds go mad for seed heads - high vit A, C, B6, iron, magnesium, one of the best conditioners/ tonics chickweed - spring - autumn, can grow all year round however - whole plant - similar properties to dandelion meadowsweet - summer - seeds although worth trying flowers ??? essential oils milkthistle - summer/ autumn - seedheads - anti inflammatory, antioxidant ( hangover cure ) sowthistle - summer - whole plant - properties similar to dandelions groundsel - early spring - autumn although can grow all year, whole plant/ particularly seeding heads - general conditioner mugwort - summer - seeds/ possibly leaves ??? - essential oils/ tonic ragwort - summer to as late as November - seeding heads - funny one this, toxic to most animals, greatly enjoyed by finches - properties unsure ??? dock - summer into winter - seeding heads - one of the best, thought to be a great conditioner for plumage, contains oils which are greatly beneficial, good oils though so birds don't become fat. burdock - late summer through winter - seeding heads - goldfinches are particularly adept getting at the seeds contained in the heads ( burrs ) - calcium, potassium, blood purifier ( powerful antioxidant ), anti inflammatory, fatty oils plantain - summer/ autumn - seeding heads although young leaves may be worth a try ???as they have similar properties to dandelion ash keys - spring - buds enjoyed by bullys - keys hang from tree in winter, unsure which birds feed on these but most likely bullys - properties ??? rowan - autumn ( winter has begun when the waxwings have ate the last of the rowan berries ) - for softbills mostly, possibly bullys - high vit C knapweed - summer - seedheads although worth trying flowers as they are high in nectar - general conditioner goatsbeard - summer - seedheads although flowers are high in nectar so maybe worth trying - general conditioner/ healing properties/ preventative shephards purse - summer - seedheads - properties unsure ??? healing properties evening primrose - summer - seeds although young leaves worth a try - essential oils/ acids fat-hen - summer - seeds - protein, vit A, calcium, phosphorus, potassium teasel - autumn winter - seedheads - highly nutritious, anti inflammatory weld - summer/ autumn - a bit obscure this one but probably seed heads and may be worth trying flowers ( high nectar content ) , good reference to be used for enhancing plumage colour ( yellows/ greens ) when fed to birds herb robert - all summer - unfamiliar with this one but reference to bullfinches will eat the buds flowers and stems, also other finches enjoy these ??? essential oils, boosts immune system, preventative blackberries - autumn - superfood, antioxidant, high vit c, omega 3, essential fats etc etc rosehips - late summer/ autumn - antioxidant, vit c, vit a, vit b, fatty acids pyracantha - late autumn/ winter - highly nutritious, birds known to get drunk eating berries cotoneaster - late autumn/ winter- highly nutritious white campion - summer/ early autumn - seeds - similar nutritional value to chickweed red ( pink ) campion - as above charlock ( wild mustard ) summer - seed pods - properties ??? hawksbeard - summer - a bit obscure this one - very similar to dandelion so may have similar benefits ??? elderberry - late autumn/ winter - berries but worth trying flowers - highly nutritious, high vit c, vit a, vit b, antioxidant persicaria - a bit obscure - most probably seedheads - properties ??? if anyone has any more please share An excellent informative and well put together article. A must for all bird lovers and enthusiasts. (Very good and so interesting)! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lutra Lutra 611 Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Some of the wildfoods which folks can give there birds. I reckon theres nothing better you can give your birds as far as keeping them healthy and in condition, I,ll try my best to give times of year to collect, what part of plants to use and properties of each plant, some descriptions will have ??? as I am unfamiliar with these plants myself but there is some reference of people using these for there birds.Many references to properties and health benefits are from herbal medicine and there effects on human biology but imo will benefit birds in similar ways. Apart from the goodness gained from the plants themselves feeding these is a great way to keep your birds occupied, Hopefully this will help some of the folks new to collecting wildfood, cheers coltsfoot - early spring - seeding heads - general tonic alder - Jan - April - catkins and seed cones - protein and oils dandelion - spring - whole plant, birds go mad for seed heads - high vit A, C, B6, iron, magnesium, one of the best conditioners/ tonics chickweed - spring - autumn, can grow all year round however - whole plant - similar properties to dandelion meadowsweet - summer - seeds although worth trying flowers ??? essential oils milkthistle - summer/ autumn - seedheads - anti inflammatory, antioxidant ( hangover cure ) sowthistle - summer - whole plant - properties similar to dandelions groundsel - early spring - autumn although can grow all year, whole plant/ particularly seeding heads - general conditioner mugwort - summer - seeds/ possibly leaves ??? - essential oils/ tonic ragwort - summer to as late as November - seeding heads - funny one this, toxic to most animals, greatly enjoyed by finches - properties unsure ??? dock - summer into winter - seeding heads - one of the best, thought to be a great conditioner for plumage, contains oils which are greatly beneficial, good oils though so birds don't become fat. burdock - late summer through winter - seeding heads - goldfinches are particularly adept getting at the seeds contained in the heads ( burrs ) - calcium, potassium, blood purifier ( powerful antioxidant ), anti inflammatory, fatty oils plantain - summer/ autumn - seeding heads although young leaves may be worth a try ???as they have similar properties to dandelion ash keys - spring - buds enjoyed by bullys - keys hang from tree in winter, unsure which birds feed on these but most likely bullys - properties ??? rowan - autumn ( winter has begun when the waxwings have ate the last of the rowan berries ) - for softbills mostly, possibly bullys - high vit C knapweed - summer - seedheads although worth trying flowers as they are high in nectar - general conditioner goatsbeard - summer - seedheads although flowers are high in nectar so maybe worth trying - general conditioner/ healing properties/ preventative shephards purse - summer - seedheads - properties unsure ??? healing properties evening primrose - summer - seeds although young leaves worth a try - essential oils/ acids fat-hen - summer - seeds - protein, vit A, calcium, phosphorus, potassium teasel - autumn winter - seedheads - highly nutritious, anti inflammatory weld - summer/ autumn - a bit obscure this one but probably seed heads and may be worth trying flowers ( high nectar content ) , good reference to be used for enhancing plumage colour ( yellows/ greens ) when fed to birds herb robert - all summer - unfamiliar with this one but reference to bullfinches will eat the buds flowers and stems, also other finches enjoy these ??? essential oils, boosts immune system, preventative blackberries - autumn - superfood, antioxidant, high vit c, omega 3, essential fats etc etc rosehips - late summer/ autumn - antioxidant, vit c, vit a, vit b, fatty acids pyracantha - late autumn/ winter - highly nutritious, birds known to get drunk eating berries cotoneaster - late autumn/ winter- highly nutritious white campion - summer/ early autumn - seeds - similar nutritional value to chickweed red ( pink ) campion - as above charlock ( wild mustard ) summer - seed pods - properties ??? hawksbeard - summer - a bit obscure this one - very similar to dandelion so may have similar benefits ??? elderberry - late autumn/ winter - berries but worth trying flowers - highly nutritious, high vit c, vit a, vit b, antioxidant persicaria - a bit obscure - most probably seedheads - properties ??? if anyone has any more please share An excellent informative and well put together article. A must for all bird lovers and enthusiasts. (Very good and so interesting)! People have told myself about the wikipedia site which I have started to read about all sorts of information. However, picking up a good book is hard to beat, it is something so different I think. But also there is no substitute for experience..... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KittleRox 2,147 Posted February 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 Some of the wildfoods which folks can give there birds. I reckon theres nothing better you can give your birds as far as keeping them healthy and in condition, I,ll try my best to give times of year to collect, what part of plants to use and properties of each plant, some descriptions will have ??? as I am unfamiliar with these plants myself but there is some reference of people using these for there birds.Many references to properties and health benefits are from herbal medicine and there effects on human biology but imo will benefit birds in similar ways. Apart from the goodness gained from the plants themselves feeding these is a great way to keep your birds occupied, Hopefully this will help some of the folks new to collecting wildfood, cheers coltsfoot - early spring - seeding heads - general tonic alder - Jan - April - catkins and seed cones - protein and oils dandelion - spring - whole plant, birds go mad for seed heads - high vit A, C, B6, iron, magnesium, one of the best conditioners/ tonics chickweed - spring - autumn, can grow all year round however - whole plant - similar properties to dandelion meadowsweet - summer - seeds although worth trying flowers ??? essential oils milkthistle - summer/ autumn - seedheads - anti inflammatory, antioxidant ( hangover cure ) sowthistle - summer - whole plant - properties similar to dandelions groundsel - early spring - autumn although can grow all year, whole plant/ particularly seeding heads - general conditioner mugwort - summer - seeds/ possibly leaves ??? - essential oils/ tonic ragwort - summer to as late as November - seeding heads - funny one this, toxic to most animals, greatly enjoyed by finches - properties unsure ??? dock - summer into winter - seeding heads - one of the best, thought to be a great conditioner for plumage, contains oils which are greatly beneficial, good oils though so birds don't become fat. burdock - late summer through winter - seeding heads - goldfinches are particularly adept getting at the seeds contained in the heads ( burrs ) - calcium, potassium, blood purifier ( powerful antioxidant ), anti inflammatory, fatty oils plantain - summer/ autumn - seeding heads although young leaves may be worth a try ???as they have similar properties to dandelion ash keys - spring - buds enjoyed by bullys - keys hang from tree in winter, unsure which birds feed on these but most likely bullys - properties ??? rowan - autumn ( winter has begun when the waxwings have ate the last of the rowan berries ) - for softbills mostly, possibly bullys - high vit C knapweed - summer - seedheads although worth trying flowers as they are high in nectar - general conditioner goatsbeard - summer - seedheads although flowers are high in nectar so maybe worth trying - general conditioner/ healing properties/ preventative shephards purse - summer - seedheads - properties unsure ??? healing properties evening primrose - summer - seeds although young leaves worth a try - essential oils/ acids fat-hen - summer - seeds - protein, vit A, calcium, phosphorus, potassium teasel - autumn winter - seedheads - highly nutritious, anti inflammatory weld - summer/ autumn - a bit obscure this one but probably seed heads and may be worth trying flowers ( high nectar content ) , good reference to be used for enhancing plumage colour ( yellows/ greens ) when fed to birds herb robert - all summer - unfamiliar with this one but reference to bullfinches will eat the buds flowers and stems, also other finches enjoy these ??? essential oils, boosts immune system, preventative blackberries - autumn - superfood, antioxidant, high vit c, omega 3, essential fats etc etc rosehips - late summer/ autumn - antioxidant, vit c, vit a, vit b, fatty acids pyracantha - late autumn/ winter - highly nutritious, birds known to get drunk eating berries cotoneaster - late autumn/ winter- highly nutritious white campion - summer/ early autumn - seeds - similar nutritional value to chickweed red ( pink ) campion - as above charlock ( wild mustard ) summer - seed pods - properties ??? hawksbeard - summer - a bit obscure this one - very similar to dandelion so may have similar benefits ??? elderberry - late autumn/ winter - berries but worth trying flowers - highly nutritious, high vit c, vit a, vit b, antioxidant persicaria - a bit obscure - most probably seedheads - properties ??? if anyone has any more please share An excellent informative and well put together article. A must for all bird lovers and enthusiasts. (Very good and so interesting)! Cheers 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meroman 105 Posted April 12, 2016 Report Share Posted April 12, 2016 Really informative thread for those who keep natives and have access to wild food... Thanks for the time & effort put in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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