Cuttlefish

[stevecatlin]

I received a lot of Cuttlefish from a person near the coast. It still has the fish smell but looks fairly clean. My question is does it need to be sterilised or is it safe for the Finches as it is?

[noah.till]

All I do mate is give mine a bit of a rinse under some fresh water, that's all
Then just leave it out in the broad sun for a day or two to make it dry
Then just feed it out as you please
Thanks
Noah Till

[Craig52]

Agree with Noah, just a quick rinse and dry it out in the sun. I am able to get mine locally after a good storm surge washed up on the beach and they are as clean as a whistle although they have a bit of beach sand on them which the finches seem to eat as well, these ones i don't wash and haven't had any problems.
I have found if you get a large amount for future feeding out and leave it in a seed bag or box it disintegrates very quickly into a powdery mess so best to get fresh every now and again than getting in bulk amounts.
I find my birds eat more of it if is shredded or shaved and fed out with crushed cooked chicken eggshells. Craig

[finchbreeder]

Have been doing the same as Noah for years now. And Ditto to Craigs first two sentences. Haven't tried shreding or shaving it.
LML

[noah.till]

I think also that because I do not really completely and thoroughly wash them, that little bit of extra salts from the seawater also does the birds a lot of good
Thanks
Noah Till

[noah.till]

Some cuttlefish I have found at times appears disclosures or grey or other not healthy colours
When I find them I either throw them out or break off the dodgy bits
I store my cuttlefish in ice cream containers and they hold out pretty well
Thanks
Noah Till

[Rod_L]

As long as it's free from bird poop and other hazardous things, it should be fine.

I rinse it off in the ocean when collecting and take it home in a plastic bag, then give it to the birds. They seem to enjoy the salt on it and get stuck into it when it's offered to them.

If you don't live near the beach then rinse it with freshwater. I you have lots, make sure it's dry before packing it away in bags or plastic containers otherwise it can get mouldy.

[stevecatlin]

Thanks for all the replies