Mineral block or Cuttle Fish Bone which is important for parakeet?

[monjur sayad]

Hi, I want to know cuttle fish bone or mineral block which one is important for parakeet?? or both need for them?? I also want to know elements in mineral block ex: pluster of paris, clay, lime stone etc these are need for parakeet or it work as slow poison harmful for bird?? Thanks

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

I have cockatiels, and I have both mineral blocks and cuttle bones. I’m not sure which is more important, but I like them to have a variety to choose from :3

 

[Ripshod]

I have 3 budgies and a cockatiel. They get a good healthy diet, based around a quality 'complete' seed mix along with fresh vegetables and the occasional fruits. They also get a dried greens mix - a nice blend of dried herbs.
I have no want nor need for iodine blocks. I do keep a small supply of cuttlefish bones though, but I only use these as shelf perches - when their nails get too long - as a natural pedicure.
I do appreciate that there are parronts in areas of the world who don't have such luxuries. In this case while I don't disapprove of the use of cuttlefish bone and iodine blocks I still try and push toward healthier alternatives. And, too be frank, cuttlefish bone ain't really a good source for dietary calcium.

 

[Zara]

Cuttlefish bones are good for buffing beaks. It barely does anything for them nutrition-wise. I don´t bother buying them, however waste not want not, I collect them when I go to the beach in Cadiz - I always spend an hour with my man collecting a few nice (whole) shells for the children my mum´s neighbour teaches (she was my primary school teacher), and cuttlefish bones for my birds grooming needs.

If you feel your bird needs the extra calcium, scramble an egg, wash the shell, crush it into a fine powder (important it is powder), mix into the cooked egg. Don´t cook for birds on a teflon pan - use stainless steel.

The mineral block is not poison, but buy it from a good pet shop if you want to use it.

 

[monjur sayad]

Cuttlefish bones are good for buffing beaks. It barely does anything for them nutrition-wise. I don´t bother buying them, however waste not want not, I collect them when I go to the beach in Cadiz - I always spend an hour with my man collecting a few nice (whole) shells for the children my mum´s neighbour teaches (she was my primary school teacher), and cuttlefish bones for my birds grooming needs.

If you feel your bird needs the extra calcium, scramble an egg, wash the shell, crush it into a fine powder (important it is powder), mix into the cooked egg. Don´t cook for birds on a teflon pan - use stainless steel.

The mineral block is not poison, but buy it from a good pet shop if you want to use it.

ok thanks but is mineral block compulsury?

 

[Zara]

ok thanks but is mineral block compulsury?

Not if your bird eats well and has a good diet.

What do your birds eat?

 

[monjur sayad]

Not if your bird eats well and has a good diet.

What do your birds eat?

seed mix,vegetables,cuttle fish bone,powder egsheel,and monthly vitamin,zinc,calcium course

 

[Fergus Mom]

I do keep a small supply of cuttlefish bones though, but I only use these as shelf perches - when their nails get too long - as a natural pedicure.

What a great idea @Ripshod - How do you attach them like a flat perch? maybe between two horizontal bars in the corner? I would love to do this for F&F.

Mine have both mineral blocks and cuttlebones, one mineral block that is a huge (and I mean huge) by accident, not reading the description that good!
They love that one and it's a big clam shell.

 

[Ripshod]

How do you attach them like a flat perch? maybe between two horizontal bars in the corner? I would love to do this for F&F.

I bought a bag of plastic crocodile clips that attach to the cage bars and hold anything. They're dead handy for clipping treats round a cage.

OUCH!!

 

[tka]

I'd be worried that the mineral block contained toxic materials - I would not trust plaster of paris manufactured for industrial purposes to be safe to eat.

 

[Fergus Mom]

I'd be worried that the mineral block contained toxic materials - I would not trust plaster of paris manufactured for industrial purposes to be safe to eat.

You mean that is what the mineral blocks basic content is... plaster of paris?

 

[tka]

I'm just going by what the OP said. I don't know what is being sold as mineral blocks in the OP's country.

 

[Fergus Mom]

I'm just going by what the OP said. I don't know what is being sold as mineral blocks in the OP's country.

Right... I just looked it up and it said that the binder used for the mineral blocks are usually plaster of paris, which they say is calcium carbonate... which they also say is fine for our birds. Does make me wonder though! We used to make a lot of stuff out of plaster of paris as children, and it seems I recall some wild Girl Scouts eating the stuff - UGH... LOL!