Cuttlebone?

[Bloodyjack]

Do I need to give my budgie a cuttlebone or mineral block? People don't seem to recommend them for any other parrots. He's on a good diet (not all seed) so does he need one?

Thanks.

[Pajarita]

It depends on whether you offer any other source of calcium. If you do, it's not necessary but, if you don't, it is (mind you, calcium alone doesn't work because they need vit D3 to absorb it).

All my birds have cuttlebones (I get them by the pound in three different sizes, small for the canaries and finches, medium for the cardinals and small parrots and large for the large ones). Now, my canaries, finches, cardinals and quails also get a 99% soluble mineral grit (a treat cup once every two weeks or so) that also has calcium as well as getting raw broccoli (a good natural source of it) once a week, and all my parrots get broccoli every day (in the gloop) as well as other sources of it (kale, oranges, almonds, sesame seeds- only during breeding and molting season, white beans, figs) and all the hens get a couple of doses of calciboost when they lay so it's not as if they actually need the cuttlebone for the calcium but they do love to chew on it -especially the amazons and the cockatoos, give them a new one and, in a matter of minutes, it's chewed into tiny little pieces. I've tried mineral blocks but they don't seem to like them much so I went back to the cuttlebone. My budgies always have cuttlebone and, although they are not maniacs about it like the zons, they do chew on it until there is nothing but the hard shell of it left.

[Bloodyjack]

Okay, thanks. I think I'll get one of those bee pollen perches though. It's easier to put in the cage.

[Pajarita]

Be careful with bee pollen, for one thing it needs to be from organic wild flowers and, for another, it's very high in protein (over 50% more than beef) so it's not something you can offer all year round or in large quantities.

[Bloodyjack]

I'm talking about this thing:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=17994

It's supposedly a mix if calcium and bee pollen. It says it contains about 15% bee pollen. Is it safe to have in the cage instead of cuttlebone?

[Wolf]

Due to the fact that it can be difficult for many parrot owners to keep the amount of proteins in their birds diet down to a healthy level, I would tend to stay away from these perches.

[Pajarita]

It's not good. Aside from protein and been made from 'regular' pollen (you have read about the bees colony collapse disorder that's killing all the bees, haven't you?) It has sugar, salt, a synthetic anti-caking agent, aluminum (bad for birds), silicon and an agent that absorbs moisture (real bad for their kidneys). Just get the cuttlebone, it's safer, much cheaper and the bird will like it just as much. The bird industry is not what one would call bird-friendly, all they want is your money.

[Bloodyjack]

Oh, well, I won't get one then. Nice save guys. But, I've been told cuttlebones are not as good as mineral blocks and such since birds shred them too easily and can't use the calcium in them. Can I get a mineral block instead, or are those bad too?

[Harpmaker]

If the perch is easier than a cuttlebone you can try this:
http://www.amazon.com/Pollys-Cuttlebone ... cium+perch

My bird loves them at certain times of year. She likes cuttlebone too, but not as much. Be warned, though, cuttlebone is cheaper.

Be warned. There is a long bolt through the middle, and if Corsair chews the end near the cage bars I have to tighten the nut to keep the perch firm. If she chews the other end, it exposes the bolt, but she has taken no harm from it.

[Wolf]

If your bird gets sunshine that is not coming through glass daily then its body can use the calcium or you can check your feeds to see if it contains vitamin D3 and use a supplement of it if not.