Weird Question About Parrots vs. Chickens

[Eggs4Sale]

Okay, a chicken needs grit and oyster shell, right?
Do parrots need them, too, or are they completely different than chickens.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Interesting question! I know about the oyster/calcium...but didn't know about the grit.

I found this:

http://www.petplace.com/birds/grit-what-is-it-and-who-needs-it/page1.aspx

It's about the grit.

I do know they need additional calcium and usually eat those cuttlestones which are a combination of oyster shell and cuttle fish bones in a hard "cake" form. Both contain lime which is a great source of calcium. I used to feed my blue front amazon a powdered cuttle fish bone/oyster shell supplement and would keep it both in a small coop dish and sprinkle on fruit from time to time as well. It also had vitamins and minerals in it.

Hope this helps

 

[MidnightChickenLover]

it is recommended put not the same, they have oyster shell grits for parrots becuase sometimes they have different chemicals in the two grits that can harm the other sort.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Thanks, guys! My mom works at the museum, and they have several parrots and cockatiels in their garden there. It's just something that came up in our phone conversation last night, and neither of us knew the answer. She had said they get cuttlestones, but no grit. Guess I'll suggest it!

 

[elmo]

This is a controversial and often confusing subject. There are two kinds of grit: soluble, meaning the bird's system can break it down and digest it, and insoluble, meaning it's not digestible. Pulverized oystershell is a soluble grit, and parrots can use this for calcium. Typically, though, you give parrots calcium in the form of cuttlebone or blocks since they enjoy using their beaks.

Most experts believe that parrots don't need insoluble grit, such as crushed granite. This is because parrots use their beaks and lips to hull the seeds they eat, and the remainder of the foods they eat tend to be soft. They don't need to store stones in their gizzards to be used to crush foods into smaller, digestible bits like chickens and doves do.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Hi I have 4 parrots and used to breed parrots. They do not need grit. Only soft billed birds need grit. Hook bills don't.
Parrots should be given pellets along with fresh fruit and veggies. Cockatiels are the exception they too can have small pellets, fruit and veggies but they should be given some seed since that is their native diet.

 

[1birdlady]

We have a parrot as well, a Black-headed Caique. (pron Ky'eek).

(S)he is about 17 yrs old now, and has never been given grit. Kiwi's food is natural fruit , nuts and veg, as well as a "bird bread" I make about every 2 weeks or so. (Freeze it in inch squares). Also has cuttlebone available ; used very little.

(We think he's a male, since we have never seen an egg, but who knows...we have not had Kiwi sexed, so dunno ?)

Bird bread had crushed eggshell, flax seed ground and whole, banana, etc.......somewhat long recipe if anyone wants it.

Our 4 BR's get Kiwi's leftovers..........they LOVE it!

We bred Meyers parrots many yrs ago........same diet and they were wonderful!

PS to add..parrots hull their seeds and do not eat them whole as chickens, pigeons or quail et al...most of the "gallus gallus" need grit, as their digestive tracts do not process whole seed etc.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Well, it sounds like the consensus is "no grit needed for parrots". Mom will be relieved that she hasn't blown it!

 

[Amethyste]

Quote:
I would love the recipe if you wouldn't mind

Please?

Thanks!!

 

[BlackBart]

cuttlebones and a good parrot vitamin for their water