How do you get birds to eat cuttlefish!!!???!!

[Zebrafincher]

Hello there,

I recently got a young, fat/plump Zebbie, Beaky. He is an all round sweetie, cutie and very smart....except for one thing! He won't use cuttlefish! I've tried a number of different types (ie freshness) , sizes, etc around the cage. Any suggestions as his beak is growing long, and I don't want to have to grab him to trim it (my eyes aren't great!). If I can't get him to do this, I'll have to get the vet to do it for me. Not a problem, but not ideal!

Any suggestions or alternatives?

Kind Regards

Zebrafincher

[Nanajennie]

all I can think of is make sure the soft side is up and not the hard side. I keep some pinned to the cage next to a perch and some on the ground of the cage. Plain cuttlefish bone is what mine like, I tried the trendy stuff, they didn't like it

Make sure you have some sandpaper on a perches. They also make beak conditioner block

You may have to trim it from some of the posts I have read.

Good luck **(This is my newbie advise)

[cindy]

I also used terracotta plate dishes for seed, a thin layer of seed, they tap their beak on the bottom of the dish as they eat the seed, helps keep the beak trim.

[Bhatta]

A sand-cement block can be used to supply their foods/greens. A cement perch can also serve the same purpose.

[Diana]

None of my birds use cuttlefish. They love crushed egg shell.

[debbie276]

None of my birds use cuttlefish. They love crushed egg shell.

Mine also love egg shell and never touch cuttlefish

[30 Seconds to Bob]

Cuttlebone has always been one of those things that my birds will completely ignore for months, then one day absolutely DEVOUR it. Left in the cages long enough, I've never had a bird not eventually eat some. Just replace them (or scrape them off with a sharp knife) when they get soiled regardless of whether they've been eaten or not. As far as beak trimming, have you tried it using a pair of reading glasses? 2X, 3X even? I've been using them to do bird nails long before I actually needed them. Bob

[nicolino]

Here is what my birds prefer but they also use cuttlebone. It is a simple cbs block I used for water bowl elevation .

[debbie276]

Neat idea

[Nanajennie]

psilocybin6 hahahaha! I love it! That recipe sounded delish! so I made it and the birds ate the whole entire dish!

[Zebrafincher]

Hi Everyone,

I tried the soft cuttle fish, cut down the side, and he's using it now! Thanks for the suggestions!!!

Cheers

Zebrafincher