Why is my budgie doing this?

[Budgieguy]

In my budgerigars cage We have this perch with cement rocks on it that help the file the toenails and one time I found him eating rocks off of it! Is this good for budgies or is it not? Please help!

[Wolf]

Budgies are seed eaters primarily and may need a bit of grit to help grind their food up so that they can digest it. I am not positive about that as they also crack open at least most of their seeds and while it was thought for many years that parrots needed grit, that has been revised which is why I said that they may need the grit. Their are several people here who could give you the correct answer to that better than I.

Parrots do need a source of calcium, I am positive about this, the cement will provide calcium but it may cause other problems if budgies don't need grit. Their are better sources of calcium such as a cuttlebone. If you are not providing one I would suggest that you start putting one in his cage. It may stop him from eating cement rocks.

[Pajarita]

Wolf is correct, he needs a mineral block. Besides, cement perches are too rough on their tender soles and end up causing bumble foot UNLESS it's the kind that has a smooth top and rough only on the sides but those are not made out of concrete, they are plastic. And, no, they don't need grit, only birds that swallow the seeds whole do and parrots always 'peel' them.

[Budgieguy]

Budgies are seed eaters primarily and may need a bit of grit to help grind their food up so that they can digest it. I am not positive about that as they also crack open at least most of their seeds and while it was thought for many years that parrots needed grit, that has been revised which is why I said that they may need the grit. Their are several people here who could give you the correct answer to that better than I.

Parrots do need a source of calcium, I am positive about this, the cement will provide calcium but it may cause other problems if budgies don't need grit. Their are better sources of calcium such as a cuttlebone. If you are not providing one I would suggest that you start putting one in his cage. It may stop him from eating cement rocks.

Thank you for the help