Posted August 10, 200520 yr hi all, some of you may already be aware of this, but i didnt know so i thought i would post it here to advise everyone! a cuttlebone should be left in the cage no longer than 2 weeks. they should be replaced fortnightly to prevent risks of contamination any longer than this and they actually help to harour bacteria, which your budgie can chew on! not good. i just left the same old cuttlebone in for as long as they took to chew it down. when it starts looking a bit ratty i replace it. if i had known this fact then i would have been changing it way more frequently. there is nothing on the cuttlebone packet to suggest this, i only found out because i recieved a leaflet about parrot diets and supplements from my vet!
August 10, 200520 yr This is the first time I've seen it. Like you, I just left them in there till they were demolished! Thankfully the cockatiels go through one every week but the budgies don't usually touch them. Thanks for sharing this!
August 10, 200520 yr in not really sure. it doesnt say anything about mineral blocks. but i have had the same mineral block for a few months now! i will definitely start changing it more often now though. probably every few weeks as they dont use it as much.
August 10, 200520 yr I'd like to read/hear more about this actually. Something about cuttlebones just doesn't make them seem like a very good place for bacteria unless they get wet or messy? Does it explain why?
August 10, 200520 yr well this is what it says: ''cuttlebones are often left in the cage for long periods (weeks). this carries the risk of build up of contamination on the bone. cuttlebones, if used at all, should be changed weekly or fortnightly.'' the leaflet is called 'feeding pet parrots', and it is supplied by an avian and exotic animal veterinary surgery. i would have thought that with it being a natural product and very soft, it makes sense. if the budgies chew it, possibly poo on it, climb all over it, bacteria could build up in all the little cracks and ridges. i has definitely made me think though! i will be changing mine more frequently now, peanut really doesnt need the extra bacteria being present! bless him.
August 10, 200520 yr hmmm, i have looked it up on the net and i cant really find much. some say 'place at head height in the cage' - to keep it as clean as possible. i would think it isnt something that needs to be done religiously, esspecially if your birds hardly touch it. but definitey something to be aware of.
August 10, 200520 yr I have just bought a new piece of mineral block combined together with the cuttlefish. I wonder if the rule applies to both the mineral block and cuttlefish or just cuttlefish?
August 11, 200520 yr i would only be worried about changeing it frequently if the cuttlebone gets wet or they poop on it.
August 11, 200520 yr I wonder if cutting or breaking them in half would be good? They use so little of them at a time. Just to make it more economical. Risha
August 11, 200520 yr I wonder if cutting or breaking them in half would be good? They use so little of them at a time. Just to make it more economical. Risha <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I rub my cutttlebone, calcium bells, mineral blocks etc with fine sandpaper once a week to keep them clean. That takes off the poop and anything else that may be on the outer layer. Cindy
August 11, 200520 yr I break mine into smaller pieces to make them last longer,mine sometimes gnaw on them or just leave them alone for ages. That's a very interesting thing to read though as I never really thought about it. I do make sure I scrape the surface regularly and I suppose keeping it as high as possible does help. Julie
August 11, 200520 yr I need to change my cuttlebone in my outside avairies more often than my indoor pets. In the flight areas, which are exposed to the elements, the dew causes a green stuff to grow on the cuttlebone. As soon as I see it, the cuttlebone is replaced. I have seen snails slither all the way to the top of the avairy I'm talking 3 meters high here and munch on the cuttlebone so I need to change it often. In the sheltered area I don't have to change it as much.
August 11, 200520 yr UGH SLUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eww I'm all creeped out. :glare: But that is interesting that you mention this. It seems like if they're kept clean and dry they should last longer than a week? I was going to look up some information on cuttlebone but I'm scared I'll see pictures of the fish they come from and if I see a picture like that I will be grossed out and sickened and never touch a cuttlebone again. Then, my budgies will suffer and I'll be a bad pet owner all because I finally saw what they're supposed to look like and was grossed out. Not that any of that information was helpful or necessary...
August 11, 200520 yr Aww come on Tez be brave, I could put you out of your misery if you want hehehe. I buy flavoured cuttlefish, banana and strawberry, they do go down better with the birds but Ive smelt them and they dont smell of anything to me but I guess they are pretty cheap to change every week or so!
August 11, 200520 yr That's true. I really should start buying several a week just for those blasted cockatiels! I have the hardest time keeping them clipped to the cages.
August 11, 200520 yr Charlie hasnt touched his but then he hasnt touched anything yet hehe. Hey have you dried drilling a hole through then and stringing them to the cage thats what I do in the boys big cage.
August 11, 200520 yr UGH SLUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? Eww I'm all creeped out.? But that is interesting that you mention this. It seems like if they're kept clean and dry they should last longer than a week? I was going to look up some information on cuttlebone but I'm scared I'll see pictures of the fish they come from and if I see a picture like that I will be grossed out and sickened and never touch a cuttlebone again. Then, my budgies will suffer and I'll be a bad pet owner all because I finally saw what they're supposed to look like and was grossed out. Not that any of that information was helpful or necessary...? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> :(Laughing out loud): hahaha! eterri you crack me up! (Laughing out loud) but yes, the general idea does seem to be that they are fine if they are clean. i didnt think of scraping mine, because they bite at it so much i never thought of it. Edited August 11, 200520 yr by pixie25
August 11, 200520 yr well mine has been in for 9/10 months and its fine, i think this is people just covering their backs. ATD
August 11, 200520 yr Aww come on Tez be brave, I could put you out of your misery if you want hehehe. I buy flavoured cuttlefish, banana and strawberry, they do go down better with the birds but Ive smelt them and they dont smell of anything to me but I guess they are pretty cheap to change every week or so! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ahhh, you smelt, but have you nibbled??? (Laughing out loud) :(Laughing out loud):
August 11, 200520 yr i have never thought of it! my gang goes thru about 1 a month. i guess just to be safe, i could change it every 2 weeks. its only about $2.50 for a bag of 6
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