In early JUNE 2001, I read with much interest in a German ornithological journal an article written by a breeder about the use of the FONIOPADDY seed.

He explained he had heard about this seed at an exhibition in Holland in late 2000. He reported that FONIOPADDY was actually a wild seed coming from Africa, more accurately from Uganda.

This is a Dutch importer, whom I happened to meet in NOVEMBER 2001 during the IPOS international exhibition, at LORRACH, Germany, who discovered this seed and its specific virtues completely by chance.

In fact, it happened that as he was one day on a trip, his Ugandan employees captured various African species of grain-eaters and then realised that the usual seeds given to the birds were missing.

The employees had thus no other choice left but to pick up wild grasses and seeds to give to the birds.

Much to everyone's surprise, all the birds - including those obviously suffering from COCCIDIOSE - were in great form after less than a week of that diet.

In fact, the main virtue of the FONIOPADDY is to prevent - and above all to cure - COCCIDIOSE.

During three long years this seed was planted by the Dutch importer and analysed by the Ugandan veterinary authorities.
Each week, the faeces of all the captured birds were analysed and examined.
According to the declarations of the aforementioned veterinary authorities, the results were amazing!

After less than a week of FONIOPADDY diet, there was not the slightest trace of coccidiose left in faeces!

Besides, the birds that were obviously healthy but had been in contact with sick birds had not developed the disease!

According to the tests carried out, this light brown seed - which is thin and very small - must be given 2 to 3 times a week to the tune of 5 to 7 grams per bird.

I was quite sceptical, but as I had the opportunity to buy as soon as JUNE 2001 2 kilograms of this seed directly to the aforementioned Dutch importer, I decided to try it and to give it to my canaries of posture.

As it was a wild seed, I had no risk to lose all my birds in case of a possible overdose.

As soon as I received the FONIOPADDY , I immediately - following the instructions - distributed this seed to my birds in separate feeding dishes.

Actually, due to its small size and weight, it would fall at the bottom of the dish if added to the traditional mix of seeds and the birds would then be unable to eat it.

At once, my canaries of posture fell upon the dishes like starving birds and after less than a half-day all the dishes containing the FONIOPADDY were empty!

After a couple of days, I noticed that some of my birds, especially the oldest ones and those looking unwell and that I could not resign myself to kill, made slightly more liquid droppings than the others.

In fact, after a few other days, all the birds had recovered an excellent health, including the oldest and the "unwell".

Since then, my birds make well-shaped droppings with no trace of diarrhoea nor constipation.

All the newly acquired birds went through the same "treatment" and presented after one week the aforementioned symptoms, but got over it very quickly.

To ensure that all the birds would eat the FONIOPADDY , I decided to mix the seeds with my slightly moistened mash.

After six months of use, I am fairly convinced this seed has only advantages and above all, the health of my birds improved significantly. Since then, I have lost no bird because of coccidiose!

According to German breeders who have been using the seed for more than one year, and with whom I had a chat, the results as regards reproduction seem to be very spectacular.

Indeed, as the risks of diarrhoeas among the nestling are ruled out, the chicks develop quickly and beautifully.

Some breeders of canaries are used to medicating their birds with antibiotics before the breeding season to avoid the coccidiose. They must also give them afterwards multivitamin complexes to counterbalance the side-effects of antibiotics. But they can avoid all these nuisances simply by using a natural and wild seed that has undergone no processing!

I must reckon that I have been, like all the users of FONIOPADDY , truly amazed by its effects on the health of my canaries of posture.

Of course, FONIOPADDY is not exclusively reserved for the canaries but also for all the other grain-eaters and especially those which are more sensitive to coccidiose.

I cannot help but recommend you to try it.

Of course, I remain at your disposal for any further detail about that seed.

A few remarks about the use of the FONIOPADDY seed

After the release of an article in a breeder's journal, many readers contacted me to have further information about that seed.

I want to thank them for their kindness and I did my best to answer their questions.

The most frequently asked question was to know where the FONIOPADDY could be bought.

When I discovered this seed during the summer 2001, my only address was the FLORALIA company, in the Netherlands, where I bought my first two kilograms.

The only problem was actually the very significant stamp charges for the postal parcels between the Netherlands and France, nearly 18.3 €!

It is not until the NATIONAL exhibition of the UOF COM France in Belfort on December 8-9, 2001 - to which I had the pleasure to participate as a volunteer - that I happened to know that a company located in Franche Comté (French department) sold the FONIPOPADDY .

Besides, the price was much lower than that of the Dutch importer, and the company dispatched by the post the prepaid commands at a normal postage rate!

This company is EXOTIC 2000, (click here for further details)

Please note that I am in no way interest in that business.

Another frequent question concerned the proportions and the way to that seed must be given to the birds.

As regards its use, I provide my birds with FONIOPADDY every day and all the year long, mixed with an excellent mash slightly moistened, to the tune of one yoghurt pot for approximately one kilo of mash.

As soon as I notice that a bird is looking unwell (somnolent, ruffled, etc…) I do not hesitate to double the proportion of FONIOPADDY , or even to give the pure seed in a small cup instead of the seed mix and the mash.

If the bird eats the FONIOPADDY , then it is alright. On the contrary, if the bird refuses the FONIOPADDY , I mix a large amount (two thirds) with mash or with the seed mix (one third).

Similarly, during the breeding season, I do not hesitate to increase significantly the amount of FONIOPADDY .

I also noticed that if I give a small amount of charcoal powder to my canaries, they no longer suffer from the diarrhoea seen shortly after the first absorption of FONIOPADDY (see above).

In any case, it is useless to alter anything else in the diet of the birds.

Note that since I have been using the FONIOPADDY , I have not lost a single bird by disease.

Of course, that does not authorise us to be less vigilant. We must absolutely see to the perfect hygiene of the breeding room and bring all the care and attention necessary for the birds we love so much.

I hope I have answered the most frequent questions and remain at the disposal of the readers who wish to have further details.