Calcium Question

[MoonMaid]

I was just wondering if I can use my own calcium supplement for my birds.....for example....just grinding a calcium pill up and adding to the water?

I just joined and hope this is not too dumb of a question!

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[birdlady49]

I say no. There are usually additives or coatings that might be detrimental to your bird. The least expensive and easiest calcium additive would be taking a cuttlebone and scraping some onto your bird's soft food.

On another board, someone was feeding Tums to their bird for its calcium value. This is pretty much the same thing. What you're taking is not made for birds.

[MoonMaid]

Thanks for the reply....that is what I kind of thought but just wanted to be sure!

[christie99]

There is also a liquid calcium supliment with vitamin D and Magnesium that is made for birds. This is made to add to the water, and can be administered directly in emergency situations.

If your bird does not get unfiltered sunlight or have full spectrum lighting, it will not absorb enough calcium since it also needs the vitamin D to make this happen.

[Valo's Moirana]

cuttlebone is great - easy to mix into their foods. you can also add (washed and baked) egg shells to their food - also a great source for calcium

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by christie99

There is also a liquid calcium supliment with vitamin D and Magnesium that is made for birds. This is made to add to the water, and can be administered directly in emergency situations.

I would not use anything that has to be added to the water as you can't know for sure how much the bird is ingesting, especially if a bird is sick. Besides, unless you change the water several times a day, it quickly grows bacteria etc. and becomes a cesspool.

If you are faced with an emergency situation, an avian vet should be the only one who suggests administering any additives.

[birdsnreps]

in my case, i cant use cuttlebones, all my birds completely ignore them. i use a supplement called calicium care, made by phoenix unlimited. it has directions on the bottle, dosages for both pet and breeder birds. its a white powder, i sprinkle it on top of their food, i use it for the breeders and havent had a problem (knock on wood) wtih any of my females laying eggs :)

[birdlady49]

birdsnreps, would your birds not eat their soft food if you mixed cuttlebone shavings into it?

I have liquid calcium as well but I save that for emergencies. For example, when my ringneck dove started seizuring, she received oral doses of liquid calicum (upon my avian vet's directions) since a calicum deficiency may be a cause of seizuring. (In Carnation's case, it was not.....)

It's expensive stuff....relatively .... compared to the cuttlebone.

[birdsnreps]

i think the calcium care is better for us....i dont like shaving the cuttlebones, whenever i do it, they come out in little chunks :( i get a little bottle of calcium care, and even with our 60 birds, it lasts a LONG time :) and it only costs me a few bucks, like $5-6. i also have a little bit of liquid calcium supplement, but i am saving that in case of an emergency :)