Cuttlebone?

[Pajarita]

That perch has salt, sugar and bentonite clay (bad for kidneys) as well as the same anticaking, synthetic silicon component I mentioned before. Stick with natural things, it's always best.

[Bloodyjack]

Hmm. Well I'll get a cuttlebone if I have to, but now I wonder why all the mineral supplements have to have all that other stuff in it. Why can't someone out there just make a block of pure calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate already...geez. Off to the pet store!

[Pajarita]

Because it would be more expensive than cuttlebone or oyster shell and serve exactly the same purpose.

[Bloodyjack]

Hey Hey! Guess what I just found out! There is someone who makes a safe mineral block for any other cuttlebone haters out there!

The Comfy Clam perch sold on Dr. Fosters (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=23376) is made of only Calcium Sulfate and Kelp.

The only problem is it also has food coloring added, so I contacted Polly's Pet Products directly and asked if I could get a plain one.

They said no problem!The small is $5.50 and the large is $10.20 plus shipping.

If anyone else wants a safe alternative to cuttlebones just contact them here:
http://www.pollyspetproducts.com/contact.php

[Pajarita]

My dear, calcium sulfate is gypsum, a product used as plaster for walls. And this perch only has 10% calcium so most of it is kelp which has way too much iodine and salt and which is not needed by healthy birds. Cuttlebone is 85% calcium carbonate, the chosen supplement in human medicine (no doctor is going to recommend your eating gypsum for a calcium deficiency).