Grit or no grit???

rach · Post by **rach** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:47 pm

Should we give the finches grit or not? The box says it's a digestive aid, but I recently read that it can be dangerous for them.

Post by **Sally** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:52 pm

There is a lot of disagreement on this. I believe that the boxes of 'bird gravel' are not good for finches, but the boxes of 'oystershell grit' are good for finches. I have a fair number of birds, so I just buy oystershell grit in 40lb. bags sold at the feed stores for poultry.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:44 pm

I have to agree with sally on this, bird gravel seems to be more suited to the larger birds eg parrots.
on part of my aviary floor I have used beach sand which contains grit if they want it. oystershell grit and cuttlefish is available to my birds at all times though

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:01 am

For my finches and button quail and budgies i mix the seeds a little grit and powdered cuttlebone all together so when they eat they get a little of everything andin a flat dish i have a little grit and chunks of cuttlebone just in case they werent getting as much as they wanted. i know 3 of my zebras like the cuttle bone a lot but the budgies hardly touch them so i grind in into their seeds.

rach · Post by **rach** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:29 am

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll be giving that box of grit to my mother, who has a cockateal.

I have some cuttle bone for my zebras, but they hardly ever use it, so I was told to crush half a calcium pill in with their food.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:07 pm

yep lots of outlooks on this I personally, offer, cuttle, egg shell, egg food, grit and oyster and so on, lol

HepburnShoeMee · Post by **HepburnShoeMee** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:49 am

My zebras love their grit. I wonder if I should take it away?
argh.

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:03 pm

I guess I'll put in my 2 cents worth as well.

I'm in agreement with Sally. Oyster shell is an excellent source of calcium and my birds (Gouldians and Society's) all love it.

"Bird Gravel" is insoluble (does not dissolve) can *could* cause a blockage.

My avian vet advised me that current research shows cuttle bone has a higher amount of phosphorus in it than calcium. So for now I don't use it, and my birds seem just fine on the Oyster shell.

For the gouldians I offer free choice kelp powder for the additional iodine (rather than force it by dissolving in the water). My birds seem to instinctively know when they need one type of mineral or another and will switch foods and eat the Oyster Shell or Kelp Powder when needed.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:11 am

i stopped using grit for my finches because grit is usually used for birds who eat the whole seed and grit helps digest it but finch husk the seed and dont really need the grit, but i still use it for my quail.