Some calcium info

[casportpony]

Picture above from:http://avianmedicine.net/content/uploads/2013/03/05_calcium.pdf


Picture above from:http://www.slideshare.net/KatarinaValenzuela/chicken-skull-and-sternum

 

[Zinjifrah]

And now I'm curious whether reptile calcium powders could be used with birds. Heh. With reptiles, their food is coated with it, and they ingest it that way, usually with a d3 booster... I would think there'd be the risk with birds of getting excess calcium that way.

 

[casportpony]

And now I'm curious whether reptile calcium powders could be used with birds. Heh. With reptiles, their food is coated with it, and they ingest it that way, usually with a d3 booster... I would think there'd be the risk with birds of getting excess calcium that way.

I think pigeon people use powder and liquids on their or in their water.

 

[Zinjifrah]

I think pigeon people use powder and liquids on their or in their water.

My chicks are all a bit young now - but something to keep in mind for the future, if I need to give a hen a calcium boost. I do have a jar around somewhere... I don't use it for my snakes, which get plenty of calcium from their food's bones, but it's commonly used for other reptiles.

 

[PirateGirl]

I find this article easiest to understand, but there have been studies to show that large particle calcium is needed by laying hens and powders or their own shells fed back to them doesn't cut it.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/for-strong-eggshells-size-matters/

 

[RonP]

but there have been studies to show that large particle calcium is needed by laying hens and powders or their own shells fed back to them doesn't cut it.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/for-strong-eggshells-size-matters/

Larger pieces of calcium stay in the digestive tract longer, soluble grit, allowing better absorption.

 

[casportpony]

more on calcium

• http://avianmedicine.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/calcium.pdf
  
• http://avianmedicine.net/wp/publication/chapter-5-calcium/