My parakeet won't use his cuttlebone. What can I do to help him?

The cuttlebone helps to provide the bird with minerals, but they don't really tend to eat it massively. As long as it is available in the cage the bird will pick at it as necessary. One cuttlebone could last a small bird years. Ensure you are feeding a good quality seed mix and Ringo should be great.

Birds require calcium for more than just egg laying. It strengthens bones, aids in enyzme and hormone function, muscle development, nerve transmission and certain metabolic processes among other biological functions. A cuttlebone or mineral block should always be available. Limit dehydrated fruits that can be high in sugar. Fresh fruits, vegetables and greens would be preferred. They should make up no more than 25% of the diet. Pellets should make up the majority of her diet at 75%. Fresh foods can make up the remaining 25%. Generally, anything good for you is good for her except for chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and avocado.

Hello, A well formulated pelleted diet, cuttlefish bone, and dark leafy greens are all good sources of calcium in the pet bird. Here is a link for more information on pet bird diets: https://www.petcoach.co/article/bird-nutrition-feeding-pet-birds-parrot-diets-and-nutrition/ I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cuttle bones are great for keeping the beak naturally trimmed, as well as providing a source of calcium and an appropriate balance of other minerals. Budgies can consume boiled egg whites however, I have found that they typically do not go for new foods especially those that aren’t colorful. If you do decide to provide egg whites for your bird, I recommend replacing them every day to prevent them from spoiling.

Cuttlebone should be fine to give as most birds will self-limit when chewing on it, and if she is actively laying eggs it will help ensure she has enough calcium to form and safely lay them. She should be fine with only the cuttlebone and a balanced lovebird diet without needing to add additional calcium supplements. A lot of the controversy comes with grit style calcium supplements, which can sometimes cause obstructions in the crop. If you do not wish to have her lay eggs, removing any nesting material can help stop this behavior. Otherwise, just removing any eggs that are laid is fine. Respiratory disease usually will present with signs and symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, discharge from the nose, lethargy, heavy breathing, etc. If you suspect this is a problem, first ensuring the cage is kept clean, well-ventilated and that any bedding isn't kicking up dust is best, as well as scheduling a veterinary exam to rule out any other health issues.

Unless your vet recommended it specifically, I would be giving eggfood or even cuttlebone/oyster shell as a calcium alternative to the Tums if you need a long-term calcium boost (Tums is great for short-term after an egg-binding episode, but longer term eggfood or oyster shell may be easier on your bird's GI tract). Otherwise, her diet and routine looks pretty good!

Thanks for reaching out about Spyke. Cuttlebone does not need to be offered unless the diet is not balances. Cuttlebone is not a source of calcium that is readily digestible/absorbable. Depending on the type of tortoise, calcium is provided in the diet in different ways. Aquatic turtles will sometimes eat green vegetables, but normally consume whole prey (fish) with bones, in the wild. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is also important for calcium metabolism. Check and correct these problems. Good luck.