IndianRingNeck.com

I am wondering why this is not discussed on any thread here? As birds have no teeth the grit in their craws act as teeth. I have only had Klaatu for 3 months and know that once they eat stone or grit it pretty much stays in their craws until it wears out. I never knew if he had been fed grit so I bought some today and added it to his mash. He totally devoured all of it. I'm wondering what would happen if a domestic bird was raised without grit what would be the consiquences? Do all of you provide grit on a regular basis? How about oyster shell and charcoal?

my vet said that only birds such as budgies, canaries you know smaller birds needed grit so i don't feed mine grit

A IRN is only 1 step above a budgie? I know all birds pick up stones and store them in their craws. It grinds the food in place of teeth. Hummmm. I also am reading in a IRN breeding book that " calcium and grit "can" be added". Can be added and should be added are 2 different things. Anyone else have an opinion on this? I know Klaatu swooped on the opportunity to eat grit.

Grit is used to help digest seed hulls/husks. Parrots take the husk off the seed, so they don't really need it and it can harm their tummies. Where as others such as doves, pigeons, canarys, chickens.. don't hull seeds so feeding them grit is good.

I do not feed mine grit. As I don't believe they need it. Some people also line the bottom on cages with grit. But its messy. Newspaper is much easier to clean up.

Parrot type birds do not need grit. Grit can cause crop impaction and the bird will be unable to digest food properly and can lead to death. And as far as a domesticated parrot there is no such thing. Their all wild birds.


Donna

budgies don't need grit either.

its a great marketing campaign if your a seller of grit, to also market to parrots.

Imagine swallowing a bunch of rocks.. that sit in your belly, and won't come out. Without being poo'd out, it can cause WAY too many problems.

oyster shell is.. for chickens for calcium... If you have a cuttle bone, you don't need Oysters.

and he probably ate it cause you made it into a mash for him with his food, right?

Yep , parrots/parakeets (hooked beak birds) hull their seeds and therefore do not need grit in their diet, infact it is harmful to them to have it, it can irritate the crop and cause all kinds of complications and infections.

Also if you feed seed choose a seed that has no shell grit.

I'm wondering why Phil Robson author of the IRN Breeder's hand book says you "may" provide it if it is harmful?

First you have to look at what year this book was copy written. Aviculturist have come a long way in the last 7 to 10 years and what might have been ok back then their finding out it's not such a good idea. This also pertain to the way they handled behavior problems back then to what is appropriate today. We never stop learning!


Donna

OK, I just found the definitive answer! http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=120 So I'm taking away Klaatu's grit.

Thanks everybody!

you can give some egg shell and dry vegetable pasta which act as grit when bitten but are digestible

Hmmmmmm..... I wonder if Klaatu would eat dried pasta. He won't eat cooked macaroni but loves the small alpha bets when cooked with beans and rice.