FINCHforum

I have seen a few LG sites selling Charcoal and grit, is this something they need? I have a cuddle bone but they ignore it. I was always under the impression that grit could cause impaction but that could be an old wives tale?

Years ago, what they sold in pet shops was gravel. Some bird species don't hull their seed, and they needed the gravel to grind the seed for them. Finches hull their seed, so they don't need gravel for that purpose, but mineral mixes, or oystershell grit, are very beneficial for the calcium they contain. Some birds eat more charcoal than others, but I do add it to my mineral mix--some of my finches eat it readily, others ignore it. I like to offer both cuttlebone and a mineral mix in a separate cup, so the birds can choose what they want.

Thank you Sally

I believe that I recently read the answer to this question here on this forum. Finches/birds that eat seeds require some grit in their crops (gizzards) to grind the seeds. Since they are so small, grit for finches should likewise be fine. Cuttlebone and oyster shell are sources of calcium, not grit.

I personally think that all seed eating birds benefit from grit since none have teeth. Bird stomachs are very efficient, have high levels of acid to break down food, but I would think that some help in the gizzard would benefit the birds as far as nutrition. (I studied parasitology years ago and found that there would be literally nothing in the stomach of a bird that had perished more than an hour before autopsy. The stomach acids literally "melted" everything, including part of the stomach lining. Studying the parasites in the digestive system is particularly important for studying habitat and bird movement within the local region.)

I will leave the subject of carbon/charcoal to someone else. It is useful in some animals to feed charcoal for the purpose of ridding the animal of toxins but I am clueless as to why you would feed it to healthy finches.

Hey Sally that is great information. I buy the Charcoal but I never see my LG's eating it. I will buy the Oystershell grit and mix the the Charcoal in that. Thanks.
What kind of seed do you use. I have tried so many different kinds and now I'm on KayTee. What would you suggest.

PS - I'd love to know what you feed your dog. His coat is so shinny and healthy looking.

Birds that don't hull their seeds need grit (gravel). Finches hull their seeds before eating therefore no grit (gravel).
Like Sally said the "grit" you want to give your finches is really a mineral/calcium mix not the grit of old. Charcoal is beneficial to gouldians and if they need it they will eat it, most add it to their mineral mix if it doesn't already contain charcoal. So mineral mix, oyster shells and charcoal can all be mixed together and left in a small cup always available.

RC Cordon Bleu lover wrote: Hey Sally that is great information. I buy the Charcoal but I never see my LG's eating it. I will buy the Oystershell grit and mix the the Charcoal in that. Thanks.
What kind of seed do you use. I have tried so many different kinds and now I'm on KayTee. What would you suggest.

PS - I'd love to know what you feed your dog. His coat is so shinny and healthy looking.

I am in a seed co-op, so I don't know if this would be available to you, but I feed Hagen's Finch Staple VME mix. My birds eat this very well, except for the canola (rape) seed, which I find uneaten in the hull drawer of my seed hoppers. http://usa.hagen.com/Bird/Nutrition/Basic/B2403

As far as Scooter, those photos I posted are 4-6 years old. He is now 10, so he looks a lot different today. I feed an assortment of dry dog food. I have tried some of the premium foods, but I don't see a big difference, so I don't want to pay the premium prices. I have fed Pedigree and Beneful, and right now, I am trying out Kirkland (Coctco's house brand). He also gets lots of leftovers and snacks, too many probably, as he is now overweight! I also go against all the professional advice and let him have bones--steak and lamb chop bones, and his absolute favorite, ribs!

Where can I get mineral mix? I have just purchased the Miracle meal and Skipio's Egg Meal and hatched egg shells.

http://www.zebrafinch.com/Grit.html

I buy this.

I am in a seed co-op, so I don't know if this would be available to you, but I feed Hagen's Finch Staple VME mix. My birds eat this very well, except for the canola (rape) seed, which I find uneaten in the hull drawer of my seed hoppers.

Thank you Sally for the bird seed and dog food information.

Sally wrote: Post subject: Re: Charcoal and grit needed?

Thank you Sally.

This is completely off track but I wanted to direct RC Cordon Bleu Lover to a fantastic dogs food. Never had a recall and heals the dogs gut from candida over growth. Grain free and Potato free. Brother's Complete Allergy , I have been using it for over a year now when before I had all sorts of allergy issues with my 4 dogs. 3 Chihuahuas and a shih Tzu. Now since on Brother's my dogs coats are amazing. They are located in Florida and ship right to your door free.

LadyGMom, Thank you for that information. I have everyone on Natural Balance Small Breed Sweet Potatoe and Chicken, however, my little one, an 11 month old Chi is a very picky eater. I have tried different flavors of Natural Balance and also the can food, but she takes a few bites and walks away. I will try the Brother's Complete with her. I just wanted to make sure I tried everything before I change her to a different brand. Thanks.