Aussie Finch Forum

After overindulging in pizza and some time went past, the inevitable heartburn came to me. So i reached for the Rennie's whilst chewing them i was reading the packet and it said each tablet contains 680mg of Calcium Carbonate and 80mg of Magnesium carbonate.

Now my question is, Could one tablet or part there of dissolved in water, be a calcium substitute for the finches?

Just thinking outside the square.

At the risk of being shot down in flames by some forum members . I have started to add calcium carbonate powder to my shell grit to boost calcium levels . the logic is that if the birds are eating shell grit they are looking for calcium if they were not they would be eating the insoluble grit (sand )Ok I’ll just just stand back and cop the flack .

I posted an article a while ago that ran with the theory that birds chewed on cuttlebone when they needed extra calcium , cuttlebone wasnt going to give them the calcium fix they needed so other forms of calcium / D3 should be added at this time .

So I agree with your theory west finch .

ill try and find the article although I fear its on my old computer .

each tablet contains 680mg of Calcium Carbonate and 80mg of Magnesium carbonate

Calcium and magnesium carbonate are relatively insoluble in water. Most of it precipitates into a white powder. It reacts with acid to neutralise it, hence its use as an antacid.
It would be just as easy, and equally as effective to grind up some limestone or cuttlefish and add that to your water.
I am not suggesting that this is of no value, just the amount dissolved is relatively small.

Cheers
Brett

No problems with doing that Westfinch.
You are just adding powdered calcium carbonate to non-powdered calcium carbonate with other trace minereals (ie shellgrit)!!
Cuttlebone is just a less pure form of calcium carbonate.
They can all have their place in a bird's diet.

Hi,

just to say that i use oister shell and grit all mixed.
And to this mix and join a spoon of marine salt. That kind of salt that we use on marine aquariums.
The % of potassium and iodine will help to restore some deficient levels they might have.
Of course, we have to get more attention on the level of the water they drink.


Regards
Gustavo

I mix all my fine grit & mineral supplements together: fine shell grit, crushed cuttlebone, crushed eggshells, canunda shell, Biocal, F-vite & PVM.

I do the same thing, but feed egg shells separately.

I was under the impression that it doesn't matter how much calcium you give your birds, if they are lacking in vitamin D3, they cannot metabolise the calcium and therefore it passes straight through them. Is this correct? Is vitamin D3 obtained through sunlight? I have ben giving my birds a vitamin supplement daily, vitastress, sprinkled sparingly on the soaked seed, and not experienced any egg binding problems since. Maybe I'm lucky!
TCPF and Stawberrys going great, Blue caps trying! Very!!!
Cheers Tony