charcoal for gouldian and other finches?

[sharath1]

what kind of charcoal do finches like just normal wood charcoal or lab grade charcoal, can powdered charcoal be given

[Sally]

I've only used charcoal that is packaged and sold for birds. That way, I can be sure of the quality and cleanliness. It is not a powder, but a fine grind.

[sharath1]

thank you sally

[debbie276]

Ditto to what Sally said

[lovezebs]

sharath1

This is the stuff that I use, but I'm not sure if it's available in India. Maybe google it, and it will tell you what type of charcoal is used in their product.

I mix a small amount into my bird grit mixture, and offer small amounts of this mix on the paper on the floor of my flights/cages.

All of my birds love it, and forage around, picking out what they need.

[cindy]

this is from a nutrition guide for hookbills and also applies to finches...I ran the use of mineral grit and charcoal by my avian vet after a friend asked the avian vet to have me look at the findings of a necropsy of a gouldian that had been sick. The crop was solidly impacted with charcoal. The bird had been off for a few days and was seen by the charcoal dish often. The avian vet asked me the reasoning behind charcoal...told her it is to supposably to remove toxins. She said if the bird is ingesting charcoal and going to the charcoal to feel better it will likely keep eating what makes it feel better eventually gorging and becoming impacted. If the bird has "toxins" or is ill it should be properly addressed. Also charcoal can interfer with vitamin absorption.

The gouldian was so impacted nothing could pass from the crop into the rest of the digestive system, and food could not be taken in. The bird literally starved to death. The crop I witnessed was so full it looked like the crop was double in size. The charcoal used was designed for avian use.

I no longer serve charcoal and grit. (Finches shell their seeds as do most hookbills).

From the article:
"The Use of Grit Grit is finely ground stone or shells. This mineral is needed by some birds to aid in digestion. However, these birds eat their seeds whole and have special organs to deal with the grit. Psittacines shell their seeds before eating them, so they do not require grit; in fact, impactions of the crop, ventriculus and proventriculus in Psittacines may be caused by the consumption of grit. The charcoal in grit interferes with absorption of Vitamins A, B2 and K, and it leads to hepatopathy (liver disease), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), renal dysfunction and general malnutrition. Grit should never be given to birds in the parrot family."

[debbie276]

Just throwing this out there not to say your wrong though Cindy. I've seen quite a few pictures of specifically gouldians eating charcoal after the fires go through an area in Australia. Australia does a lot of controlled burns from what I've read.
This may be one of those "everything in moderation", of course if your bird is sick it should be addressed.

[lovezebs]

debbie276

I was thinking the same thing exactly (regarding wild birds gathering over burnt areas and eating charcoal).

Also, I have seen wild birds pecking at dirt, sand, gravel, etc.

I think that some pet birds know Instinctively that these things are important, but have lost the wild bird common sense, to know when enough is enough. Just my opinion .

[ac12]

I put out a little charcoal in a dish, and when its gone its gone.
I did this because I've seen bird just scarfing up the charcoal, and that rang the warning bells in my head. Charcoal is not food, why are they scarfing it up?
So charcoal for me is not something that I leave out for the birds to eat as they feel like it.

Speaking of, I need to restock my supply of charcoal.

[cindy]

Just throwing this out there not to say your wrong though Cindy. I've seen quite a few pictures of specifically gouldians eating charcoal after the fires go through an area in Australia. Australia does a lot of controlled burns from what I've read.
This may be one of those "everything in moderation", of course if your bird is sick it should be addressed.

Those are wild birds exposed to more bacterias, parasites, etc than most domesticated birds. They have to look for or go to things in the wild that will/might help them.

I put this out there as a warning and mentioned if the birds are eating more than usual than perhaps there is something else going on and it needs to be address. The gouldian was young and a stunning bird and the owner was very distraught it passed away from a severe blockage like that. It was not a pretty site either to see the bird opened up and how it died...rather sad.

[cindy]

debbie276

I was thinking the same thing exactly (regarding wild birds gathering over burnt areas and eating charcoal).

Also, I have seen wild birds pecking at dirt, sand, gravel, etc.

I think that some pet birds know Instinctively that these things are important, but have lost the wild bird common sense, to know when enough is enough. Just my opinion .

I agree.... to have a bird self medicating like this and the crop was twice the size it should be packed with charcoal the vet basically said the same thing.

[cindy]

Last week we had another gouldian on our group that became impacted with grit...the grit blocked the upper GI tract, the bird ate seed, the seed could not pass due to the blockage and since it was hungry it continued to eat, the crop was really packed with seed. The bird starved to death, the lower body was thin. Just a warning most the time things like this do not happen but it can.

[debbie276]

Absolutely agree with you cindy.
I've heard several stories of birds becoming impacted when they were given mineral mixes that were never offered it before, they gorged themselves.
Another good reason to ask questions about diet and compatibility to yours. The Benifits of a mineral mix out weigh any danger in my eyes.

[cindy]

Some of the mineral mixes smell enticing too which I image tempts the birds further to eat more of it.

Seeing the necropsy just confirmed for me not to use grit and charcoal.

[debbie276]

It amazes me that people can use a mineral mix and charcoal for 16+ years without an issue and others have a problem the first time they offer it. I would never offer "grit" though.
Wonder what would trigger them to gorge themselves other then not having been exposed to it before.