I was wondering if there is an expiry date on cuttle fish? It takes my budgies ages to eat them but they're always getting used so i was wondering if they go off or anything? :mellow:

I think it will be the same as most dried food, it will have a long lifespan. And, as Dwells says, if you are not sure, sling it! My birds hardly bother with their cuttle fish, so what I do is scrape a bit into their food every day, so I know they are getting some, and the same with their mineral block.

I am quite sure there isnt really a limited shelf life on cuttlefish, but its so cheap that after a month id bin it and replace with fresh anyway.

Anne

Thanks for your help guys! :fear

 

Chirpy, how on earth can you stand the noise the cuttlefish makes when you scrape it? It makes me shiver!!!!

Hi,

 

Cuttlebone basically don't have an expiry date on them. Simply because they are cartilageous skeletons of cuttlefish. They won't go off as such, but they do become more brittle over time and become a lot more powdery. I usually just go down to the beach every so often and scowl (spelling??) the beach for any washed up cuttlebone, and soak them in fresh water a couple of days (changing the water a few times), then sun dry the cuttlebones before sticking them in the cage. I've got a bag full at the moment sitting in my storeroom. They'll last for a long time to come.

 

I've noticed that at most pet stores/bird stores, the cuttlebones they sell are fresh from the beach, so I guess it's okay to just give them that as well without the fresh water rinsing. Then again it might be harmful to the birdies because of the salt content.

 

Cheeta

(Laughing out loud) Bea! I just scrape the soft side, and use the handle of a teaspoon to scrape with, then there's no ''nails on a blackboard'' noise to contend with!

Anne

Gee...i wish Blinkie was considerate enough to scrape the soft side! I have to hear the fingernails on blackboard sound everytime he uses his cuttlefish! :bluebudgie: :bluebudgie: :(Laughing out loud):

Edited April 27, 200520 yr by Bea

I have noticed Charli eats alot of cuttlefish but the 2 boys never touch it.

can a bird eat too much? since charli has been moulting she is at it every day, sometimes see her there 2 or 3 times a day.

Moulting can take a lot out of a bird cooper, so she will just be topping up her calcium supplies, dont worry. Does she have a mineral block aswel? She may make good use of that too while she is moulting

Anne

Edited April 27, 200520 yr by chirpy

Merlin doesn't eat his cuttlefish. Also we can't buy it where we are so we get it from the beach!

I think sometimes you have to watch for the metal holder that is usually included with the cuttlefish bone for signs of rust. I quite like it when Snowy gnaws at the cuttlefish....doesn't seem to bother me that much.

Sparky has never touched his cuttlefish, is there any way to tempt him to eat it.

You could scrape it into his seed like Chirpy does.

o.k I'll give it ago, but I'll make sure I will scrape the soft side so I don't have to hear the nails on the blackboard. :glare:

Thanks Bea

I think sometimes you have to watch for the metal holder that is usually included with the cuttlefish bone for signs of rust. I quite like it when Snowy gnaws at the cuttlefish....doesn't seem to bother me that much.

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rust looks awful in a cage/avary. i bought the plastic cuttle clasp holder from riversway. cheap as chips and works great (also choice of colours too!)

I think sometimes you have to watch for the metal holder that is usually included with the cuttlefish bone for signs of rust. I quite like it when Snowy gnaws at the cuttlefish....doesn't seem to bother me that much.

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rust looks awful in a cage/avary. i bought the plastic cuttle clasp holder from riversway. cheap as chips and works great (also choice of colours too!)

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not only does rust look awful, it is also fatal to birds if they come into contact with it.