Will my budgie get hypercalcemia?

[round]

My 2 budgies love their cuttlebone and chew on it constantly, so I would imagine that they get a significant amount of calcium from it. But the pellets I feed them claim to have the daily calcium requirement for budgies. So I was just worried/curious if the calcium derived from the cuttlebone + the calcium derived from the food would cause hypercalcemia to my budgies. And if it does, what symptoms should I look out for?

[Hezz]

Cuttlebone isn’t actually as high in calcium as most of us think, and the amount that the birds get through ingesting the calcium carbonate is minimal. I really think your budgie will be absolutely fine. Most of the cuttlebone will not even be ingested but rather ground up and left on the floor of their cage!

[Marianne Marlow]

Agree with Hezz.

[yellowfacedviolet]

I agree. The only thing I'd ask is if you are also feeding calcium-rich vegetables. I feed Harrisons and those folks recommend removing cuttlebones and mineral blocks if feeding Harrisons AND calcium rich vegetables.

[Morgan]

Dec 25, 2020 19:31:01 GMT yellowfacedviolet said:

I agree. The only thing I'd ask is if you are also feeding calcium-rich vegetables. I feed Harrisons and those folks recommend removing cuttlebones and mineral blocks if feeding Harrisons AND calcium rich vegetables.

Thanks for that yellowfacedviolet. I recently removed my birds’ cuttlebone and mineral blocks and was feeling uncertain if I should replace them.

However, I am only feeding half Harrison’s and half soaked seed - plus calcium rich veggies (focused primarily on dark leafy greens and orange veggies - boiled sweet potato, squash, carrots). I also put a small amount of vitamin supplement on their soaked seed once a week, in case feeding less than the prescribed amount of Harrison’s High Potency means they might be lacking in some nutrients - but I also figure the seed being soaked and sometimes sprouted (rinsed in ACV water) plus the veggies daily would cover most of the gap.

I guess I don’t know anyone else who feeds Harrison’s so can I get your opinion on what I am doing currently? The idea is that I don’t want to feed exactly as Harrison's packet calls for because I feel personally that is too much processed food, and so far my birds weights are stable and they are very lively and happy - more so than when I was feeding just the sprouted seed and veg.

[Hezz]

If you are seriously concerned about this issue I suggest you have this conversation with your vet. They are the ones truely qualified to answer such questions.

[yellowfacedviolet]

Morgan, sorry, but I have no experience with liquid vitamins on seeds...or in/on anything else, for that matter.

[Morgan]

Edited for brevity:

Hezz , yellowfacedviolet - they aren’t liquid vitamins, sorry. It’s just daily essentials by the Bird Care Company - the same company that makes Guardian Angel. My avian vet in LA doesn’t take phone consultations and I live 12 hours away from them now, so that is not an option.

The closest avian vet who would be able to help me with avian diet specific knowledge is in Chico, four hours away, and where I would go in a health emergency that would allow that much time. Otherwise, the nearest general vet is about two hours away for something more urgent, such as a physical injury. I would not trust them to be entirely knowledgeable about budgie nutrition, however.

But I will talk to an avian vet the next time I have need to see one. Knock on wood that won’t be for a long while though. 🤞