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Post by budgiekeeper2011 on Oct 17, 2011 21:54:54 GMT
hi guys/gals didn't know what part of the forum to put this in so put it under health. i was wondering if there was anyway to get my budgie to eat his iodine block and cuttle fish because he hasn't touched it and hes been with me for 2 weeks now thank you for your help  |
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Oct 7, 2011 16:29:59 GMT
MattJ
Normal Green
Puck
Posts: 329
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Post by MattJ on Oct 17, 2011 22:19:13 GMT
How tame is your budgie?
If he'll sit on your finger outside the cage it maybe enough to hold it up to him (this is what I did with puck to introduce him to his cuttlefish). Is it a small or a big cuttlefish? Might find this approach scares him if its a big one.
If not finger tame but you can put your hand in the cage, maybe just scratch it with your nail while he's watching - so it makes a noise, might be enough to pique his interest.
Another ploy could be to attach a single bud of millet spray to/near it in the cage
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Apr 19, 2024 15:01:14 GMT
owain20
Guest
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Post by owain20 on Oct 17, 2011 22:41:30 GMT
Grate the iodine block and cuttlefish up and place in the softfood or small dish on the floor.
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Post by budgiekeeper2011 on Oct 17, 2011 23:00:48 GMT
How tame is your budgie? If he'll sit on your finger outside the cage it maybe enough to hold it up to him (this is what I did with puck to introduce him to his cuttlefish). Is it a small or a big cuttlefish? Might find this approach scares him if its a big one. If not finger tame but you can put your hand in the cage, maybe just scratch it with your nail while he's watching - so it makes a noise, might be enough to pique his interest. Another ploy could be to attach a single bud of millet spray to/near it in the cage hi Matt he is finger tame and i have tried holding it up to him but that hasn't worked so going to try the millet spray trick to see if that helps thank you for your help |
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Post by budgiekeeper2011 on Oct 17, 2011 23:03:18 GMT
Grate the iodine block and cuttlefish up and place in the softfood or small dish on the floor. hi owain i would try this but unfortunately his not eating any softfoods thank you for you help |
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Post by stace on Oct 17, 2011 23:25:27 GMT
Budgiekeeper, I don't know if you have many birds or just a few. If you are feeding Trill, it has iodine in it, so your bird will be getting some iodine at least in his seed mix.
Owain is right though. Try making it into a powder and mixing it in with his seed, if he won't eat softfood.
Egg shell also has a lot of calcium. Hard boil an egg (20 minutes) and either crush the shell and sprinkle in seed/softfood, or if you are only talking about one budgie, you can try feeding the shell by hand.
Mine has a nibble at some of my eggshell most mornings. He doesn't touch his cuttlebone or iodine block either.
Some people mix some type of oil in their seed every now and again. I can't think which one, but someone might know?
If you add one tiny drop in a dessertspoon of seed, the crushed minerals from the blocks will stick to the seed, so they get to eat some as they de-husk the seed.
NOTE: the oil spoils and goes rancid, so only do it for a day's worth of seed.
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Oct 7, 2011 16:29:59 GMT
MattJ
Normal Green
Puck
Posts: 329
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Post by MattJ on Oct 17, 2011 23:51:45 GMT
hi Matt he is finger tame and i have tried holding it up to him but that hasn't worked so going to try the millet spray trick to see if that helps thank you for your help Ahh I was thinking he was ignoring it cause he hadnt investigated it, millet by it probably wont help (I used this to introduce toys which were being ignored), still worth a try I guess |
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Post by Hezz on Oct 18, 2011 1:31:19 GMT
You have only had him for two weeks. I wouldn't be too concerned. Barrie has always maintained that if they need it, they will help themselves. Just make sure it is always available. I am guessing he is a young bird, so the possibility is there that he still has plenty of calcuim and iodine in his system from his breeder for him not to need to replace it. My boys mostly ignore the cuttlefish and iodine block but my hen annihilates at least one if not two cuttlefish each week. They get the same food.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Oct 18, 2011 5:48:56 GMT
Barrie has always maintained that if they need it, they will help themselves. Just make sure it is always available. Absolutely right. Mine don't touch cuttlebone and mineral block at all as they get enough supplements in water. But when I don't want them to have another clutch and stop adding the supplements to water they start eating cuttlebone. |
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Post by budgiekeeper2011 on Oct 21, 2011 2:37:36 GMT
thank you very much for all your help iv noticed that he will take it when he wants it great to have help on hand by experts |
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Post by Hezz on Oct 21, 2011 10:20:10 GMT
I am glad we have been of help but really we are all enthusiasts, rather than experts.
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Post by Rachael Kellett on Oct 21, 2011 14:15:32 GMT
Two weeks is a very short time, it can take a while for budgies to settle in. Plus you haven't said how old your budgie is, maybe he doesn't understand what they are yet. Give him time and he should investigate them eventually. Also, as Stace said if you give your budgie Trill seed mix then that contains iodine so he will at least be getting some. Make sure to start him on fruits and veg, we can advise on which are safe if you would like. Carrots, celery, grapes, and apple are good ones to start with. especially grated carrot and celery.  |
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