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Post by frankensteinsmother on Jan 13, 2021 17:41:49 GMT
I have a mineral block (sometimes used briefly) and a cuttlebone in Frankie's cage right now. He's gone through my stash of cuttlebones in the past week or so by wreaking absolute havoc on them one by one (he's gone through probably two and a half in the past week). I ordered a big pack to be delivered, but for whatever reason they're having issues and are refunding the order without delivering. Anyway, if I have a mineral block with calcium, should I just fork up the extra moolah for expedited cuttlebones? I've never really used a mineral block before, and I'm kinda wondering if he'll gravitate towards it a bit more in the temporary absence of a cuttlebone...
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Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
Normal Green
Posts: 300
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Post by reenie on Jan 13, 2021 22:22:56 GMT
I don't know if you need both or not, although my two do have both. I wouldn't worry about doing without for a short time though, but if your budgie really likes the cuttlefish, as he seems to, I would let him have them.
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Post by yellowfacedviolet on Jan 14, 2021 1:09:57 GMT
What's the rest of Frankie's diet? Does he need supplemental calcium? The calcium in cuttlebone is not all it was once cracked up to be. Though cuttlebone is still a good beak-trimming medium and shredding toy.
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Post by Hezz on Jan 14, 2021 1:14:27 GMT
I’d replace it with something else that will give him the same crunch. Mineral blocks generally don’t get used to the same extent as cuttlebones do, but are cuttlebones necessary? Not if there is something else. I gave up on cuttlebones long ago and now supply a finger drawer of soluble oyster shell grit instead. The cuttlebones either went mouldy (tropics), were ignored, or pooped on.
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Post by frankensteinsmother on Jan 14, 2021 18:11:07 GMT
So I did order more after all (where there's a will there's a way lol). yellowfacedviolet right now he's on Hagen's budgie blend, Roudybush pellets (I'm not sure whether he's eating or picking through at the moment), and fresh veggies/fruit. (He happily chews the veggies but I'm not sure he's actually consuming). I've also been giving him a bit of store bought egg food in his dish. Hezz I'll write down and look into the soluble oyster shell grit next time I run out! (At this rate it won't be long.)
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Post by yellowfacedviolet on Jan 14, 2021 19:21:30 GMT
If you are unsure whether he's ingesting the pellets and veggies, then, yes, supplementation for calcium, vitamins A and D, and iodine are probably in order.
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Apr 18, 2024 7:40:52 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 22:12:36 GMT
I give my birds mineral block and cuttlebone, the cuttlebone doesn't get soiled that much. The mineral block always gets pooped on as they stand on top to eat it.
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Post by Hezz on Jan 15, 2021 5:56:42 GMT
If he has a source of egg food readily available all the time, I doubt you would need any other source. It can be used as a bird raising formula so is rich in all the things a young bird needs to thrive.
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Post by frankensteinsmother on Jan 15, 2021 17:41:24 GMT
If he has a source of egg food readily available all the time, I doubt you would need any other source. It can be used as a bird raising formula so is rich in all the things a young bird needs to thrive. Okay. That's what I was banking on for now. I stopped giving it to him for a minute and then realized he needed more vitamins than he was most likely getting (I read something about vitamin D and Top's pellets and it lit a fire under me), and put it back in the dish. Thanks, Hezz
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