When visiting other breeders I am always on the
lookout for natural products I can offer to my birds that provide missing
nutrition, offer a specific benefit, or are an alternative to medications.
During my visits with
Maarten Heylen in Belgium, and
other breeders in Holland, Germany and Switzerland during May 2016, I
noticed several were feeding a very small brown seed I had never seen
before.
At Maarten’s, where I first noticed the seed called
“Fornio”, it was fed in a separate dish in the baby flight. The birds
obviously preferred the Fornio to other seed offered, maybe they loved the
taste, or an indication it was providing certain nutrition they craved.
Maarten explained an interesting benefit of Fonio,
aside from its nutritional value, is it’s natural properties to prevent
coccidiosis.
What is
Foniopaddy?
Foniopaddy is a natural grass seed grown in
plantations in Uganda.
Fonio grains are part of millet family. In fact,
fonio has the smallest seeds in millet speicies. The name is derived from
Wolof name foño. Digitaria exilis or Fonio has long history of cultivation
in Africa. This millet is harvested within 6-8 weeks since cultivation,
making it world’s fasted maturing cereal.
Like other cereals, Fonio is rich in carbohydrate
which makes it a good energy food.
Fonio composition compared to other cereals:
Carbohydrate, protein and fat profile of Fonio can be
closely compared to Sorghum. Fonio grains also supply body with good amount
of Vitamin B and minerals like calcium, iron and phosphorus. It offers a
good amount of amino acids; nearly 10% of the cereal by weight comprises
protein.
It’s Protein profile suggests that it offer spectrum
of essential amino acids. When compared to amino acid profile of eggs, it
shows that while eggs offer more lysine compared to fonio, fonio is superior
in other amnio acids like isoleucine, valine, tryptophan, theronine,
phenylalanine, leucien, cystine and mentionine.
Fonio is richer in calcium, magnesium, zinc and
manganese than other grains.
Health and
Nutritional Value of Fonio Grain
• Highly rich in amino acids and iron.
• The husked grain of fonio contains 8-10 %
proteins, 85% carbohydrates, 4% fats and 1% ash.
• Fonio grains are immensely rich in methionine,
cystine and other amino acids which play a vital role in nourishing health.
These nutrients are missing in today's major cereals.
• The protein analysis of white fonio in
comparison with a whole egg is: 7.3 percent of methionine, 46 percent of
lysine, 72% isoleucine, 90-100% of valine, tryptophan, threonine, and
phenylalanine, 127% of leucine; 175% of total sulfur; and 189 percent for
methionine.
Foinio and Coccidiosis:
More than three years of studies under vet
supervision has proven that Fonio dramatically decreases coccidiosis. Birds
were infected with coccidiosis and their faeces checked, after one week
feeding on Fonio, the faeces were checked again and coccidiosis could not be
found.
How to use Fonio
During the first week allow the birds to determine
how much they would like. After the initial week give the birds one-teaspoon
of Fonio per week.
Larger aviaries with 30 to 40 birds should be given
two to three tablespoons per week.
The Fonio should be fed in a separate container,
Like they do at Maarten Heylen and his partners birdrooms, as
its fine structure can cause it to sink underneath other seeds.
What is Coccidiosis?
Coccidia are microscope parasites that live in the
small intestine of birds; their eggs are passed through the bird and remain
in the bird’s faeces, spreading via their long-living hard-shelled eggs.
They can cause a range of problems for birds including diarrhea with or
without blood, weight loss, poor appetitive, prolonged illness and death in
the young.
It is believed that coccidiosis can be contracted by
food ingested with the infected faeces or eggs. Fonio gives a natural,
non-chemical treatment and preventative.
My Experience with Fonio:
Unfortunately I was not able to buy a supply of Fonio
during my stay in Belgium. Every stockist we visited was temporarily out of
stock.
Maarten Heylen was kind enough to give me an extra
pack he had to try on my birds.
When I returned to Kansas City my birds were all
resting in the flight, so the Fonio was provided in a 12 inch dish on the
flight floor, initially just a few heaped teaspoons. It did not take long
for the birds to try it and within several hours all the seed was consumed.
Each day thereafter another six heaped teaspoons were
added to the dish. Within a few days the birds were all down to start
picking through the new fonio as soon as it was in the dish, similar to the
feeding frenzy when they get new softfood, vegetables, or mealworms.
To ensure they did not become addicted to the Fonio,
as they have with some supplements over the years, the amount given each day
was kept at six teaspoons.
Observations:
I have been fortunate in recent years to rarely have
sick birds, perhaps because I only occasionally introduce new outcrosses,
and when I do I quarantine them and use some precautionary supplements/meds.
I did on occasion have a bird with a wet or stained
vent which required attention.
After a few months on Fonio the “wet/stained vents”
disappeared.
I also noticed that younger (current year) birds
developed and muscled up faster, although while this may have been
influenced by Fonio, it may also be attributed to the new “foraging” system
I am using for seed.
Where to Buy Fonio:
To my surprise while hulled White Fonio is available
in USA for human consumption, the “raw grain” suitable for budgerigars is
not readily available. In fact it is currently on a restricted import list.
Fonio is available from some online vendors in other
countries, and depending where you live, can be mailed in 1kg packages with
reasonable shipping costs.
Comments:
If you were not aware of Fonio I suggest you give it
a try. It is not inexpensive, but Its benefits in aiding the health of your
birds is well worth it.
