To try and feed captive Java Sparrow's with a diet that reflects their natural diet, then I believe green food must be given on a regular basis.

How often is regular?

When I first started keeping Java's I offered green food every two or three days. The bird's would take it readily but I did find their droppings to be very wet and loose as a result. I now feed my bird's with green food once a week and in modest portions.

I have given my Java's many different types of fruit and vegetables and have found them to relish broccoli, cress and lettuce. My best result with fruit has been apples.

These four food types are not offered all together. I tend to switch them each week to ensure they consume each one. I have tried offering all four types of green food together but I found that they would devour the broccoli and only take small amounts of the others. Giving them one at a time tends to result in each type being fully consumed....thus giving them a varied diet.

The main advantage to these is that they are easily obtained clean and fresh from the local supermarket.

Chickweed (Stellaria media)

One of the most common wild plants used by bird keepers in their feeding regime is Chickweed.

It is an annual plant that can be found on cultivated and waste ground and thrives in rich soil.

Chickweed is available all year round.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Java's will also readily take this plant and it is one of the easiest to find. The dandelion can be found in grassland, lawns, roadsides, waste ground and just about any location where the slightest amount of soil is present.

This is a perennial plant that is available between March and October.

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

This is an annual or biennial plant that thrives in the same environment as Chickweed. It is available all year round and is fairly east to find.

When I kept Greenfinches I would collect this whenever I could as they would devour it. Last year I thought I'd let my Java's try it and they took to it with no problems.

Do you know to any other wild plants that Java Sparrow's will eat???
Click Here and let me know.

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