Here in india we get mostly of natural cuttlebone as it just comes outoff from the cuttle fish (uncleaned and untrimmed) and everyone here feed there birds as it is without any prior cleaning and no one so far had any problems.

 

But recently I read in some article that we have to clean it before giving to birds, but personally not sure on this and so thought to take all of your opinions and advices on this.

 

Please help me with the following questions:

 

1. Whether this is true and if so how do we clean natural cuttlebones?

2. Is cuttlebone hard back is not good for birds and if so how do we remove it?

3. Also once in few days whether we need to clean the cuttlebones which are placed in the cages, some sort of recycling is needed?

4. I was under impression that full cuttlebone is better to birds compared to cuttlebone powder, since it will help to keep the beak in good shape and prevents overgrowth in addition to calcium supplement. So what is right way to feed birds - full or powedered or both.

 

Thanks

In my view full cuttlebone is better but budgies often just play with it rather than eat it anyway.

If i find a nice cuttlebone on the beach i give it a good clean in the sea water then clean it again in tap water when i get home.

1. Whether this is true and if so how do we clean natural cuttlebones? **Rinse in boiling water with a little salt and then dry on the windowsill before returning clean and dry

 

2. Is cuttlebone hard back is not good for birds and if so how do we remove it? it is fine you can leave it on or you can scrap it off?

 

3. Also once in few days whether we need to clean the cuttlebones which are placed in the cages, some sort of recycling is needed? **no you can just leave it in there

 

4. I was under impression that full cuttlebone is better to birds compared to cuttlebone powder, since it will help to keep the beak in good shape and prevents overgrowth in addition to calcium supplement. So what is right way to feed birds - full or powedered or both. **You can make the powder from the cuttlebone you buy, by scraping it off with a spoon that is what I do and then I sprinkle it over Merlin's food since he doesn't use his cuttlebone much. I leave a cuttlebone perch, a regular cuttlebone on the side of the cage and when he needs it he will use it. Many times he uses his branches in his cage to keep his beak clean and conditioned.

Thanks Liv and Elly.

 

1. Whether this is true and if so how do we clean natural cuttlebones? **Rinse in boiling water with a little salt and then dry on the windowsill before returning clean and dry

I read in some article that salt is NOT good for budgies health and so only we have to clean cuttlebone before feeding to budgies. Any comments on this?

Hay guys I'm a bit confused ...

Is the cuttlebone toxic to the bird...

why I'm asking is because when I get

the real cuttlebone some of them

are black stained in color...I try to

scrape the brown/black color from it..

Sometimes I think its a bacteria..

can you please help me and answer !!!