cuttlebone

alwaysfullofjoy · Post by **alwaysfullofjoy** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:47 pm

Ok I'm a dumb (you get what I mean). Why no cuttlebone? Every thing you see in the stores say a cuttlebone is a must. I know don't believe everything you see in a store. I have been giving mine egg shells but had a cuttlebone on hand. The two society's went nuts for it. I have removed it from the cage but would like to know why it is so bad.

Winston · Post by **Winston** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:59 pm

Are you breeding finches? Females that are laying eggs need especially high levels of calcium.

Here's an article that might help...

http://www.birdtalkmagazine.com/bt/deta ... &category=

alwaysfullofjoy · Post by **alwaysfullofjoy** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:14 am

Yes, I have a pair of zebras with their first clutch right now. I have been giving them the hard boild egg shell for calcium. So by reading that its ok, than how can it be problomatic as it states in the Information Center? Will, they get to much calcium and OD if they are not breeding?

My other birds don't need them we get calcium from other sources. This is my first go round with seed eaters. I am so a begginer.

Thank you for the help.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:19 am

I realize this is a point of confusion on my site and I intend to explain it better in the article(s) which tell people to steer clear of cuttle bones as calcium sources if at all possible, so no more confusion is created... here is the reasoning for and against cuttle bones:

Cuttle bones are recommended to use as a calcium source because they are highly bioavailable to the bird. They may not be necessary if you are feeding your birds a formulated diet, but a calcium supplement is definitely necessary for breeding hens and birds which are on a seed-based diet. To err on the side of safety, always provide a constant and safe source of calcium to all birds to let them regulate their own intake.

Cuttlebones may be dangerous, however, because cuttlefish bones are farmed from oceans which may have been contaminated with pollutants. The cuttlefish bone could then potentially accumulate the toxins present in its environment (mostly heavy metals). The information about recommended use and potential toxicity of this product comes from the book Avian Medicine: Principles and Application by Ritchie, Harrison, and Harrison.

Personally I feel that providing a constant source of calcium to finches is important (for them to consume at their leisure), and that cuttle bone can achieve this, but that it might not be the best product to use. Egg shells peeled from boiled eggs seem to be a better choice, as they are also highly bioavailable but have a lower potential of containing toxins related to environmental pollution.

Hope that helps clarify things,
-Crystal

alwaysfullofjoy · Post by **alwaysfullofjoy** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:38 am

Thank you. I got it now and it makes perfect sense to me. So the Egg food that I have been making for them should be enough but go ahead and give them a little extra shell on the side just incase they need it.

I don't want my birds to kill over because I gave them something that could kill them slowly.

This site is fantastic and I'm so thankful that all of you are willing to share what you have learned.