To Much D3

[Angela&Shalamar]

We talk so much about our birds not getting enough nutrients especially D3 that I thought I'd let you know that I submitted one of mine for necropsy after losing several in a couple months and the path report just came back basicly a number of organs had calcified and apparently the vet links this to too MUCH D3. Go figure who would have ever expected that especially from birds kept entirely inside. She's going to help me rework the diet. I am however grateful that it wasn't something contagious. There were worries off it being a fungal issue. I good reminder that sometimes more is NOT better.

[Sally]

Angela&Shalamar So sorry you have lost several birds, but what a surprise to have it be due to too much D3. So a reminder to all of us that too much of a good thing can be bad. It is easy to overdo when we are giving several supplements at the same time.

[debbie276]

So sorry for your loss
Reminds us of the importance of checking all supplements and not over doing the goodies!

[lovezebs]

Angela&Shalamar

Thanks for sharing this information, as so sorry that you have lost several birds recently.

I'm a firm believer in everything in moderation.

If you don't mind sharing, what sort of supplements were you using? And how often?

[Angela&Shalamar]

Avian missing link once or twice a week mixed with their various veggies/or fresh egg food. Egg shells as I have them available, free choose cuttlebone. I also bought one bag of quicko egg food to try as I haven't been able to make fresh egg food lately, although I believe issues started before that.

[Sojourner]

Well that's weird! Nothing you are feeding should have much D3 in it. The Missing Link ingredients are:

Contains ground whole flaxseed, soy protein isolate, freeze-dried beef liver, whey protein concentrate, cane molasses, black-eyed peas, ground pinto beans, rice bran, dried carrot, dehydrated alfalfa meal, primary dried yeast, apple, ground beef bone, dried fish solubles, lemon balm, ground cherries, parsley, ground barley grass, lecithin, dried kelp, yucca schidigera extract, niacin (vitamin B3), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 22%, Crude Fat (min) 26%, Crude Fiber (max) 16%, Moisture (max) 10%, Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) 30mg, Linoleic Acid (Omega 3) 90mg

Apparently there are small amounts of D3 in some beef products (perhaps liver is one of them), and in fatty fishes - which also provide the Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in this product. But given they're only getting it 2x per week, shouldn't have reached toxic levels.

Are you using any sort of vitamin supplement in the water?

[cindy]

If feeding pellets be sure to check the ingredients, most contain D3 and vitamins. I only use liquid calcium with D3 in cases of egg binding.

On the groups I see a lot of over supplementing, a few of the vitamins if overdone can cause some toxicity/health issues. Iron is another you need to be careful not to overdo....A, C, E, D3, K, iodine, sodium, zinc, calcium and protein can all have toxicity/healthy issues if overdone.

[Egret]

I'm sorry you lost some birds. That's rough.
I think I might be a bit skeptical about that diagnosis, though. Sounds like the vet might be just taking a guess as to the cause of the calcification. Unless they get a generous serving of egg food every day (especially if you use eggs with extra D3), nothing you're doing should cause high blood-calcium/calcification.
That said, I personally am very leery of feeding soy, dairy, and meat products to birds (as in the supplement you use). Awful lot of protein there for a herbivorous bird. There's really no situation in nature where they would eat those things. Not even insectivorous birds would eat those particular ingredients. Maybe you could try going without the Missing Link for a while and see if there's an improvement.