I put grit in my budgies cage but how often should it be thrown out for fresh or is it okay to let them just go through it and add more when they need it. Also do iodine blocks and cuttle fish become stale if left in the cage for too long or is it okay to leave them until the budgie has gone through them and then add new ones. Thanks

you might already be aware of this, so sorry if you already know.

 

budgies are a species of parrot and parrots hull their seeds and so they do not require grit in their diet. the cuttlefish bones and mineral blocks are sufficient for their needs.

 

i found this article on grit for you: click here

 

i dont provide grit, so i cant help you on that, but if the cuttlebone or mineral block gets wet or have been chewed and is left for a couple of weeks, i would replace it with a fresh one.

grit is one thing here people will not agree on i feed mine grit although in small amounts about a finger tray every 10 to 14 days i believe that although they dont need it for the seed it is benificial for keeping the gizzard free from ulcers i can only point out that wild budgies that are found dead when checked have found to have eaten grit but it is a personal choice

I am surprised about the grit, I have kept budgies for over 15 years and have always put a pot of grit in for them and they love it. All the books that I have read says to include it in their cage. What will happen if I don't put it in, will my budgies suffer, they haven't suffered from having it all these years, I'm confused now.

if youve done it that way for 15 years why are you thinking of changing it now?

 

like hath said its a personal choice.

 

basically there are 2 types of grit, cuttlebone and/or oystershell is one type (which budgies DO need), and the other type which is the same as grit that they give to poultry (which is not a neccessary in a budgies diet). a lot of the budgie books were published in the 70's, and are way outdated. since then there has been more research and therefore more opinions on the feeding of grit.

I used to occasionally give Bluey grit but had to take it off him as he used to swallow it. He started to make noises as if something was stuck in his throat and he couldnt breath!

My quick two cents...

 

Grit usually doesn't cause a problem. It's just that it CAN cause a problem (crop impaction). This is why it's so controversial. Many people who have used it for years haven't had an issue (or it's gone unnoticed).

 

The way I see it is... if it isn't necessary (and that is a fact, it isn't) why offer it? If there's even the slighest chance of problems that is enough reason for me to avoid it. I mean, why offer something that doesn't help if there's even a tiny chance of it actually causing harm? It wouldn't be worth it.

 

I wasn't trying to preach there, just giving you another point of view to think about.

 

*runs away*

I have debated with myself for a long time over the 'grit' subject and after alot of thought and thoughts from friends and family I have to say I haven't given my birds grit......the seed that I buy (Trill with seeds and vegetable and 5 seed and grains as well as my local pet shop mix that I mix) says it contains grit and on close inspection I can see little flakes of parsley etc. and sure enough little bits of grit. So that being said I have been giving the opportunity to have grit but not actually giving it to them on purpose....so I am going to continue to do it this way as my birds are all healthy (even little Cosmos is comming along nicely) and they're offspring are also happy healthy birds.

Mine have never had grit. They do have access to calcium perches and seashell perches though, and do occassionally eat those. I feel whatever they eat of the perches probably gives them anything "grainy" they might want, but they dissolve through the digestive process so impaction is not an issue. It doesn't stay in the system like grit would.

i used to mix grit in shadows food but he hated it and edded up having only grit in his feed bowl so now ive stopped and hes quit happy!

My quick two cents...

 

*runs away*

 

Kinda reminds me of a whitesnake track