Must mineral/grit be changed often?

Learn what to feed your birds.
Post Reply
finchandlovebird
Proven
Proven
Posts: 2052
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:35 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Must mineral/grit be changed often?

Post by finchandlovebird » Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:10 pm

I use little cups for a variety of mineral & grit mixtures for my birds. Other than if they get poop in them I don't change them out; just refill if they get emptyish. The packages say something about changing them out & filling with fresh. I can't imagine minerals & grits would get "un-Fresh". What do you think?
Dolly J

1 Canary
, 1 Parakeet
Raised Gouldians & Scarlet Chested Parakeets in past years

Mick M.
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:48 am
Location: Ireland

Re: Must mineral/grit be changed often?

Post by Mick M. » Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:32 pm

If I see poop in the pot's I tip them over onto their cage floor , clean the pot and refill :D
If I have a breeding pair rear a clutch and fledge them to weaning I would also tip out the seed/grit pot's and clean them before use again with this pair .
Grit is such a minor expence and very important for your bird's digestion it's well worth having a supply there for your bird's .
Regards , Mick M.

User avatar
Sally
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 17929
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
Location: DFW, Texas

Re: Must mineral/grit be changed often?

Post by Sally » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:08 pm

I agree, unless the birds have pooped in their mineral cup, I often just top it off.
3 Purple Grenadiers, 1 Goldbreast + 1 cat.

National Finch & Softbill Society - http://www.nfss.org

User avatar
cindy
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 18754
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: west central Florida

Re: Must mineral/grit be changed often?

Post by cindy » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:45 pm

I do not use grit since it can cause impaction and the birds dehull thir seeds but I do a powdered oyster shell, finely grated mineral block and grated cuttle bone....if it gets poop in it is cleaned out and changed. If not dirty, I stir it up a bit.

Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets


~ My Facebook groups ~

*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments

*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only

User avatar
Asym
Callow Courter
Callow Courter
Posts: 188
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 1:41 am
Location: Sac CA

Re: Must mineral/grit be changed often?

Post by Asym » Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:33 pm

I just add a pinch of mineral grit and a pinch of crushed oyster shell to each of the food dishes every day.
~Ali

Slave to an aviary full of birds, an aquarium full of fish, and 2 pharaoh hounds.

Post Reply