Cuttle Fish for birds

[charlie01]

Is it alright to give birds cuttle fish from the beach? Or is it a no no because of contaminates which may effect the birds health

[dano_68]

Hi Charlie,

It is best to wash it really well with fresh water, but in my opinion cuttle fish are about as good as cardboard as far as nutritional for finches. For calcium I use Polly’s Calcium Mix which is the best on the market.

[gomer]

Collect it from a clean beach.It has trace elements in it as well as calcium.Sometimes I don't wash it.I use it in my eggshell, charcoal and cuttle bone mix. As well as always having another piece available at all times.Anything with vitamin D3 in conjugation with charcoal in it will allow the calcium to be absorbed into the blood system etc.

[charlie01]

Ok thanks

[jusdeb]

Also good for keeping those beaks in shape and some birds just love munching on it for fun .
I put new pieces in to the aviaries whole then when they get a bit ratty they go into the crusher mix ( charcoal , egg shell , grit and old cuttlebones ).
Like Gomer they have access to both .

[charlie01]

Is the charcoal able to be just burnt wood from a fire outside or do I buy some from a pet shop.
With the egg shell what do I have to do to prepare it? And does it ever go off?

[jusdeb]

The eggshells I bake in the oven to kill germs then put into a food processor ( used to use a mortal and pestle ...was fun not ) .
Bake them at about 150 to 200 for half hour .
I have used wood coals from the firepit again these get crushed up ( plastic bag and hammer job )but have also bought them ( not cheap ).
The cuttlebone is a hammer job and the grits are used as is ....

Ive made this up quite a few times and they empty it out fairly quickly at the moment Im using Calcigrits ( from mail order store ) and they dont seem as keen .

[gomer]

I do as Deb bake the eggshells,Make my own charcoal add the cuttle bone. All is sieved to a size that is easily consumed.I dont use to much dust in the mix only a more uniform size.