Can We Please Discuss Cuttlebone/Calcium

[AussieBird]

I've seen it generally said cuttlebone cant provide a much if any calcium to birds, because it's calcium carbonate?
So can birds absorb calcium carbonate, and if yes how much?
Reason for this discussion is that I was talking to someone about cuttlebone, and this person went and discovered that oyster shells are also calcium carbonate. Oyster shells seem to be the number 1 reccomendion for supplementing calcium in laying chickens. Can anyone explain why this is so if birds can't absorb much calcium carbonate?? Are chickens just better able to absorb it??
Anyone able to resolve my confusion?

 

[Xoetix]

Huh. That makes me curious too, because I think I read in a thread here that you can’t give oyster shells to pet birds (I can’t recall why though) - but if the shells and the cuttlebone are the same thing, why give one and not the other?

 

[Kiwi's Dad]

Hmm

Maybe @Mizzely could inform us

 

[Emma&pico]

Huh. That makes me curious too, because I think I read in a thread here that you can’t give oyster shells to pet birds (I can’t recall why though) - but if the shells and the cuttlebone are the same thing, why give one and not the other?

Aren’t the shells/grit a no as they can’t digest them well sure I’ve seen that somewhere when I had my budgie 8/9years ago The grit was recommended but when I researched it before getting pico I read you shouldn’t

 

[Mizzely]

I'm trying to find the article I read this all in once upon a time

 

[Mizzely]

Also one thing while I'm looking - calcium carbonate is what egg shells are made of, so it's not that there are NO benefits to using it. Calcium carbonate is abundant and cheap - both things that are attractive to manufacturers and keepers alike.

 

[Zara]

Aren’t the shells/grit a no as they can’t digest them well sure I’ve seen that somewhere when I had my budgie 8/9years ago The grit was recommended but when I researched it before getting pico I read you shouldn’t

Softbills need grit to hull seeds. Hookbills can hull seeds so they don´t need grit.

 

[Zara]

Oyster shells seem to be the number 1 reccomendion for supplementing calcium in laying chickens.

Maybe @fashionfobie can help with the chicken aspect of this.
Keep in mind what is true for poultry might not be true for parrots. They´re all birds but it´s like penguins and pigeons.

 

[Mizzely]

Not the article I'm thinking of but good information

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617120301094

 

[Mizzely]

This one is about human females

Relative Bioavailability of Calcium from Calcium Formate, Calcium Citrate, and Calcium Carbonate

Calcium is an essential nutrient required in substantial amounts, but many diets are deficient in calcium making supplementation necessary or desirable. The objective of this study was to compare the oral bioavailability of calcium from calcium formate, a new experimental dietary calcium...

jpet.aspetjournals.org

 

[Mizzely]

Parrots and Calcium discussion

Calcium in the Avian Patient - LafeberVet

The most widespread mineral in the body, calcium is required for normal metabolism and bone mineralization. Physiology Calcium homeostasis is under the control of calcitonin, which is produced by the ultimobranchial gland, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone. In laying hens, most dietary...

lafeber.com

 

[Emma&pico]

Softbills need grit to hull seeds. Hookbills can hull seeds so they don´t need grit.

That’s explains it thank you

 

[Kiwi's Dad]

Thank you for explaining it @Mizzely and @Zara

 

[fashionfobie]

Another one for the pile of articles

https://avianmedicine.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/calcium.pdf

I will add this is the organ that digests calcium in birds. Proventriculus - Wikipedia

I will also add that from my understanding cuttlebone is made of crystallised calcium carbonate. This is the difference.

Sorry to edit whilst others were reading!

 

[AussieBird]

Thanks everyone I'll read it all properly when I get a chance today.

 

[Winn]

My dad gave oyster shell to his chickens. He said it helped grind their food (in the gizzard).

 

[Lady Jane]

The 10 Best Types of Calcium for Birds

thinkindoor.com

.

 

[tka]

The 10 Best Types of Calcium for Birds

thinkindoor.com

.

I'm a bit concerned that this doesn't cite any sources, sometimes contradicts itself, is repetitive and the author information doesn't indicate expertise in the area. This is characteristic of content farm material - unfortunately it's not a good source of information.

 

[Lady Jane]

Okay thanks for your input. I cannot delete it now but perhaps a @Staff member could.

 

[Mizzely]

It's okay left as is, we all learn this way