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grit
Oct 27, 2019 17:12:36 GMT
Post by tweetiepiesmom on Oct 27, 2019 17:12:36 GMT
I've seen a reference to grit pots mentioned in several postings. When I was a child (many years ago!) we would spread grit on the bottom of the cage for our pet parakeet. Before getting my little boy I did some background reading. All of the "experts" say that there is no need to provide grit because the birds are eating soft food. I currently have not provided grit for my guy. What is the prevailing wisdom of this group - should I provide grit? If so, what should I look for?
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grit
Oct 27, 2019 17:22:17 GMT
via mobile
Post by jellybean on Oct 27, 2019 17:22:17 GMT
I think almost all of us on the forum provide "Oystershell Grit" for our budgies, including myself.
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grit
Oct 27, 2019 17:30:21 GMT
Post by tweetiepiesmom on Oct 27, 2019 17:30:21 GMT
Thank you - I found it on-line but will check at my local bird pet store. Where in the cage do you put it? In a pot next their feed? My little guy is in a very large cage but he stays in the top 2/3rds of it. He hasn't started exploring or playing with his toys. He spends his time dancing back and forth on the perch near the top, jumping around and climbing the cage bars and calling to the birds outside. I have him in front of a very large window.
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grit
Oct 27, 2019 17:51:36 GMT
via mobile
Post by jellybean on Oct 27, 2019 17:51:36 GMT
Mine is in a seed dish. I change it once a week.
He will get there, the more confident he becomes the more he'll explore.
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grit
Oct 27, 2019 17:53:00 GMT
Post by helenmat on Oct 27, 2019 17:53:00 GMT
I just have a little pot of crushed oyster shell hung on the side of the cage. They never eat much of it but its there if they want it.
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grit
Oct 27, 2019 17:58:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by ladybird on Oct 27, 2019 17:58:44 GMT
Mine is also in a pot next to his seed, and I definitely see him using it .Maybe not every time he eats, but he definitely uses it. Have you also got cuttlefish and an irondine block?
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grit
Oct 27, 2019 19:06:05 GMT
Post by tweetiepiesmom on Oct 27, 2019 19:06:05 GMT
I have a cuttlebone but he has not chewed on it yet. I bought him a mineral block - it contains calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, iodine, and iron manganese. I haven't put it in his cage yet since he's not exploring or using the cuttlebone. He's been with me about four weeks. I'm still trying to decide what to do to help him settle in better.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 28, 2019 0:24:59 GMT
Oystershell (soluble) grit is not necessary for budgies, but like others have commented, the birds do use it. Mine seems to prefer the oyster shell to cuttlefish bone for their calcium so that's what they get. Oystershell, or soluble grit is very different to insoluble grit which is the little pebble-style grit that birds like doves and pigeons need to help with digesting their seed. Our budgies husk their seed so don't need grit for that reason, and insoluble grit can be dangerous to a budgie's health as it just sits in the birds' gut - it is basically a foreign object. Pigeons etc don't husk their seed before swallowing and the little pebbles act as a grinding mill in the gut. It is very important to understand the difference as it could impact on the health of your bird.
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grit
Oct 28, 2019 2:26:20 GMT
Post by tweetiepiesmom on Oct 28, 2019 2:26:20 GMT
Thank you for clarifying that! I'll get him the oystershell grit and leave the cuttlebone until I discover which he likes.
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