Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
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Posts: 369 
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Post by rae on Mar 24, 2015 20:17:18 GMT
I can't seem to find anything online on how I might clean my budgie's cuttlebone toy. It is a mineral outer ring and cuttlebone inner. I'm going to be cleaning everything but since he will be potentially eating this toy how can I properly clean it?
Thank you all for all your help.
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Post by Budgies Retreat on Mar 24, 2015 20:55:53 GMT
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Mar 24, 2015 21:08:49 GMT
This is a store bought. I wish I lived near a beach that I could collect some. I'll use F10 when I get some. Should it be okay to leave it for now if I'm cleaning because of mites? I'm not sure if they can live in/on the cuttlebone. The package doesn't say anything about cleaning it.
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Post by Budgies Retreat on Mar 24, 2015 21:37:44 GMT
The cuttle bone and mineral blocks I buy from shops don't get cleaned, mites are usually found on wood, cannot see what nourishment they would get from calcium and iodine? Perhaps someone else might be able to shed some light?
You can still boil your cuttle bones, but only if you're worried about the origins. I would say the iodine blocks will be fine, and if you were to get them wet they will just go to mush and crumble. |
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Post by starlingqueen on Mar 24, 2015 21:50:25 GMT
The cuttle bone and mineral blocks I buy from shops don't get cleaned, mites are usually found on wood, cannot see what nourishment they would get from calcium and iodine? Perhaps someone else might be able to shed some light?
You can still boil your cuttle bones, but only if you're worried about the origins. I would say the iodine blocks will be fine, and if you were to get them wet they will just go to mush and crumble. Mites don't get their nourishment from wood, they get it from the bird by sucking it's blood. They hide in the wood when not feeding. Spraying with F10 should do the trick. |
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Mar 24, 2015 22:05:37 GMT
Thank you. I will leave it for now until I can get some F10.
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Post by OP on Mar 25, 2015 8:30:10 GMT
If it was mine I would toss the cuttlebone and mineral block and get some new. They are not very expensive and to me that should be a safer way.
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Post by Rachael Kellett on Mar 26, 2015 11:05:10 GMT
I'm curious as to why you wish to clean it? I time my budgies cuttlefish and iodine/ mineral blocks but have never had to wash them, if the budgies poop on them then they're thrown away and a new one put in. I'd be wary of cleaning something that they are going to bite and swallow incase the cleaning solution soaks into the cuttlefish and then is eaten.
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Post by starlingqueen on Mar 26, 2015 11:13:45 GMT
I'm curious as to why you wish to clean it? I time my budgies cuttlefish and iodine/ mineral blocks but have never had to wash them, if the budgies poop on them then they're thrown away and a new one put in. I'd be wary of cleaning something that they are going to bite and swallow incase the cleaning solution soaks into the cuttlefish and then is eaten. I think it's because it's a toy rather than just the bone and block. F10 is ingestible. |
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Mar 26, 2015 11:50:45 GMT
I'm curious as to why you wish to clean it? I time my budgies cuttlefish and iodine/ mineral blocks but have never had to wash them, if the budgies poop on them then they're thrown away and a new one put in. I'd be wary of cleaning something that they are going to bite and swallow incase the cleaning solution soaks into the cuttlefish and then is eaten. I wanted to clean it in the off chance it could carry even one mite. Basal is now being treated for scaly mites (brought from his store, we have no other birds). But I didn't want him to be without toys until I could get to the store (not going to the same store). Everything was washed very well and allowed to air dry but some of this toys will take more time, except the cuttlebone. I made a temporary unused shoe lace and paper toy and once I get to the store I'll replace the cuttlebone toy because I don't have F10 yet. He hasn't gotten comfortable with us enough to play or move from one spot much, but I would still rather him have options. Thank you everyone. Everyone I've interacted with on this site has been so helpful and I appreciate any dialogue and advice. F10 will be a must for my cleaning supplies, don't worry, I just didn't have it yet. |
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Post by Hezz on Mar 27, 2015 0:54:42 GMT
If my birds' cuttlebone gets pooped on, I scrap off the offending bit of the bone and give it back to them. After all, they will go down to the floor of the cage and eat poop anyway. (Unless someone is sick, of course).
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Post by Budgies Retreat on Mar 27, 2015 11:16:45 GMT
cannot see what nourishment they would get from calcium and iodine? starlingqueen thanks for picking me up on my post. I didn't write it very well did I? Nourishment is definitely not the right word to use, and what I meant was I see no reason why mites would be on either a cuttle bone or iodine block as they do nothing for them. You are absolutely right that they feed on the blood on the host, and retreat back to any wood, usually the ends of wooden perches or any nooks and crannies found in a wooden cage or aviary.
I hope I did not confuse Rae in any way by saying this.
rae it is a good idea to have a small but decent magnifying glass to hand so that you can inspect your bird/s at a distance if they don't like being handled, and also for looking for those pesky mites! I personally soak my wooden perches in a bowl of correctly diluted F10 for about 20 minutes, and allow to dry but I do not rinse off the F10. You can also buy Ivermectin which is a mite treatment that you apply between the shoulder blades, and mite spray and powder to cleanse the cage, but as with any medication please make sure you read the labels and follow the instructions carefully. It is another good idea to have spare perches so that you can swap them out to clean those that are already inside.
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