charcoal for gouldian and other finches?

[cindy]

one person suggested grinding the mineral grit (you may go through a few coffee grinders in the process!) and other suggested mixing it in with other supplements. The charcoal go easy on though if used, as mentioned it can interfer with vitamin absorption.

[monotwine]

I also offer my birds the choice of charcoal (small volumes only 1:10mineral powder) which is mostly in an almost powdered form. Luckily never had any problems yet. Will keep an eye out though.

The rest is powdered minerals / supplements / finely ground egg shells really. I don't offer sand type grits. Pointless and besides if my birds want sand they got an aviary floor full of it.
However my observation is my birds don't gorge on the mineral dish. It takes a month or more for them to get through a tablespoon or two. Guess this is my saving grace.
Cuttlefish bones they will devour in a week though.

[debbie276]

Absolutely agree with the ratio of charcoal being lower then the other ingredients. I doubt many offer sand or gravel anymore, or at least they shouldn't. Mine is a mixture of the needed supplements for calcium and minerals, not digestion. I had sand on the bottom of their aviary for years and can honestly say they didn't sit on the ground and eat it all day. Can't imagine why a bird would gorge himself, there must be an underlying problem to begin with.