My female and male budgie have been together for over two weeks now and have had the same cuttlebone the whole time. in the last three or four days they have totally destroyed it! I don't know whether the male or female is doing the work since it only seems to happen while I'm at school. They've nibbled a huge hole right through the middle and just let the hundreds of little pieces fall to the cage floor, they don't seem to be ingesting much. Is this a normal behavior or is something wrong? Are they bored?

 

Thanks, Joachim.

My female and male budgie have been together for over two weeks now and have had the same cuttlebone the whole time. in the last three or four days they have totally destroyed it! I don't know whether the male or female is doing the work since it only seems to happen while I'm at school. They've nibbled a huge hole right through the middle and just let the hundreds of little pieces fall to the cage floor, they don't seem to be ingesting much. Is this a normal behavior or is something wrong? Are they bored?

 

Thanks, Joachim.

 

Hi, sometimes I've found they just chew them to pieces, for fun, I suppose. Other times I think hens may chew on them a bit more probably looking for calcium before they start breeding, they chew on everything else about then as well I found. Maybe if you have them in breeding cage they may be in breeding mode, if they are just sharing a cage with no breeding box, I'd say maybe just because they can? Liquid calcium in their water could be a better way of making sure they have enough calcium.

If they dont seem to be eating it maybe they are just bored? Have you got them a seed bell for them to chew? You could also leave some greens for them to eat and play with while you are at school.

Thankyou both. There is a breeding box and the hen goes in sometimes but usually only to get away from me when I change the water. The male then jumps up and stands outside the box protecting her. They do get some greens, carrot and lots of fresh grass seed when I go to school and they both seem to enjoy that. There are some toys they have too which the female has no interest in but the male seems to be more interested in the toys than in her :s they I also let them out when I get home from school but the female usually preffers the safety of her cage. I'll buy them a seed bell when I get around to it and see if they focus their energies into that. Calcium supplements might be the way to go if they continue at this rate.

Thanks

Yes some of mine destroy it in seconds and I think it is bordom too, I always put in calcium blocks too.

I try to avoid seed bells as most are put together with glues even the ones marked honey sticks

I try to avoid seed bells as most are put together with glues even the ones marked honey sticks

I had no idea about the seed bells. I found this posted by you though.

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....ebone+destrying

might try it on the weekend