Calcium

[spiritbird]

Question for members. We all know our birds need calcium and sunshine to promote health. I have been purchasing crushed egg shells on MSBS for a good while now but the delivery charge is now more than the product! I do not eat enough eggs to supplement my birds. I noticed on Amazon there is oyster shells crushed. I am thinking of switching or is this considered grit and not good for my birds? What do you feed your bird(s) for calcium? [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[Macaw Lover]

I feed the almonds. I can get the ones that not have been pasteurized but they also do not have the shells on.

Someone who used to be on another forum and used to breed birds also sells calcium. Send Don an email as ask how much it would cost to ship to you.

He also makes bowl holders that birds are not able to take the bowl out from. I still have not got around to sending him my SS Forever bowls that I want him to make some custom sized holders for.

[PlaxMacaws]

Like Renee', I also give my birds raw almonds and various other calcium-containing nuts on a regular basis. In addition, I periodically give them egg whites with the shells present. There are as well calcium supplement powders to sprinkle on soft foods... perhaps that's what Renee's friend sells.

[Cedardave]

We use the oyster shells.I heat them in the oven to sterilize them ,cool and run thru the blender.Smells a bit fishy, but by all accounts is one of the best ways to get calcium into your bird.Of course there are other good ways.We will use heated and blended egg shells as well.Nuts also.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Casper always has a cuttlefish bone on the bars of his cage. He has great fun chomping them to bits and the cage tends to look like there has been an explosion in a meringue factory when he has finished. Good beak exercise and he may get a bit of nourishment whilst playing. We get them mail order and from friends when they go to the seaside.
Edit:
I know Cuttlefish do not inhabit the Amazon canopy but if you don't tell him, I wont either.

[Pinkbirdy]

Calcium block toys

[spiritbird]

I called MSBS and asked about shipping cost and was told I could get the egg shells for less if shipped in a heavy envelope so that is what I did. I am not sure about the oyster shells. I also stopped using cuttlebones and mineral blocks because I attended a seminar by Phoenix Landing and was told the cuttlebones contain possible toxins depending upon where the cuttlefish were caught. Please do not use the metal piece that comes with it because a friend of mine on another forum was using this and her bird died from zinc toxicity. The vet had the cage and its content tested for zinc and sure enough this metal piece tested positive. Another tip: It seems that the hard backing on the cuttlebone, if ingested in pieces, can be sharp enough to cause perforations within the bird’s digestive system. Suggest scraping the cuttlebone onto food rather than putting the whole piece in the cage.

[spiritbird]

I am considering getting the newest thing on the block for supplementation via cuttlebone. Plan on checking with my vet first to find out about any safety issues. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[jtbirds]

Honestly anything that the birds get calcium from that is already from an animal is probably not a great source of calcium. I just feed plenty of raw nuts, fruits and veggies and have never had a problem or need to supplement.

[Lady]

I also give Lady almonds in the shell as well as broccoli and sometimes a little taste of yogurt. Dandelion is also a good source.

[spiritbird]

Kobe will eat dandelion till he is green. I must drive across town to get it though. I do put both almonds and pumpkin seeds in a processor and grind into a consistency small birds eat. Ends up like a powder and gets added to seed. Guess we are all doing well with bird nutrition.

[plax]

I am considering getting the newest thing on the block for supplementation via cuttlebone. Plan on checking with my vet first to find out about any safety issues. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks] company name: Penn-Plax :D

[spiritbird]

Fishy stuff. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

We don't buy the cuttlefish with clips on, I am too cheapskate for that. I made a fastening from the sprung stainless steel belt clip taken off a builder's tape measure, a long stainless steel bolt with a penny washer between the cuttlefish and the nut. Some of your more mechanically minded birds might need a nyloc nut.
I drill each cuttlefish to take the bolt. Cuttlefish from the beach are boiled to sterilize them.

[spiritbird]

Jean-Pierre you are so handy. That was a bird saving endeavor with the holder.

[Minamommy]

I use the avi calcium. (Pretty sure that's what it's called.). It's a very fine powder. I mix it in her flax and put it on top of her Pellets.