calcium supplements?

[JulieF]

My Meyer's is not eating cuttlebones, or any kind of calcium/mineral supplement thing that I offer him. I've offered him the kinds that are available at the stores here, which is just the hard types that you hang on the walls of the cage. Do I need to be concerned about his calcium being depleted? Are there other means to get calcium into him?

[KimM]

Try to get foods in him that have the calcium i.e. collard greens, turnip greens, kale, broccoli, okra, dandelion greens or mustard greens.

[jbwillims2000]

Hello,
Well, BuckAroo has been helping me breed birds for thirty years.And he has a morning snack of cereal soaked in warm milk then drained , not to soggy .Maybe some french toast , or waffels, on weekends we have a cheese and mushroom omlett sometimes just for a change. And he has Beautiful colors strong beak and nails, and his feet are black shiney and look clean and have no white powder like most. I give him breakfest bars for treats as well. And you can figure he gets to much in the way of additive vitamins and minerals.Based on a humans daily intake requirements stated on the box but... he likes it and he is healthy.He always passes his physical at the vets with "flying colors". lololol BuckARoo is a 30 year old Blue and Gold McCaw that stands 12 inches tall and is 42 inches from the tip of his tail to the tip of his beak, and weighs in at 9 pounds. A pretty big boy ! We have been together since he was hatched !He eats like a horse and often and he eats all the bad things as well... We eat everything at our facility. Cooked food is the main staple .we like beef on the rare side ,chicken, fish, sausage, mashed potaoes,almost any root vegetebale, any kind and flavor of pasta, any squash, green beans( any beans for that matter),carrots, celery, peppers, Jicima( just loves it ) fruit of every kind , even bits of the bad ones avacodo I know it's poison, but the likes it and he has eaten it all his life in very small doses ; very very thin layer spread on a piece of bread ,cheese, juice... and yes even chocalate. All said ...take in mind, all is relative to dose and size of the bird . But just give a drink after and a little favorite veg or fruit ,a piece of bread or cracker, and all will be fine .All of my birds eat that way by the way . Even before their freinds meet them , so they sort of come pre spoiled .And they seem to be the bigger size of the species. But because of that they have Much better personalities As I breed them they let me know about the water and fruit after the chocalate. They really do communicate if you learn to listen . Maybe not in words but in actions and squeeks and sqeals and screams and movements. I hope this helps. And always keep an open mind , they will let you know a lot . And yes BuckARoo is very spoiled . He gets loose and lets all the other birds out of their cages as well . He's an escape artist ... or if that fails he is so big and strong he just breaks the cage ! Honest . We have been thru four cages ... McCaw cages ! He just works the bars until they break. He sits on the couch with me , follows me around the shop and house, Has his own room in the house, an out side aviary 7'x 7'x7', the run of my breading facility, a perch in the living room, garage and trailer, not to mention the car perch ! I think that is why we have learned to talk to each other like we do.It is obvious when he is happy , sad , mad , hungry , thirsty, and just full of s.... I get much joy in introducing life long freinds to each other ! And to my amazement In all of the thirty years none of BuckARoos little brothers and sisters have died ! Maybe he keeps me in line and watches them . He tells me when one is not well, he preens them extra long and literaly takes them under his wing ... I guess to comfort or keep warm or both . Just watch and listen ...

Best Wishes
BuckARoo , Me, And the Current Brood ( Four breeder pairs, two Military, two Blue and Gold, two Scarlet, and 6 babies at various ages)

[Northe]

Originally Posted by JulieF

My Meyer's is not eating cuttlebones, or any kind of calcium/mineral supplement thing that I offer him. I've offered him the kinds that are available at the stores here, which is just the hard types that you hang on the walls of the cage. Do I need to be concerned about his calcium being depleted? Are there other means to get calcium into him?

If there is any real evidence that he's having problems from lack of calcium (I assume an avian vet can determine that, but am not certain), the vet can prescribe an oral supplement.

When my peachfaced lovebird is laying eggs, I give her "Neo-Calglucon/#2 cc - Diluted 90mg/ml. Give 0.01 cc by mouth once daily."

Some vegetables are good calcium sources: turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, dandelion greens, broccoli, collard greens, kohlrabi, endive, watercress, bok choy, brussels sprouts.

Remember, though, that other vegetables contain high levels of oxalates, which tend to retard calcium absorption, for example spinach and chard. I understand that many beans, specifically kidney beans, pinto beans and chick peas, can also retard calcium absorption.

Northe

[ASJ]

In my experience if a bird does not need a particular supplement they will not eat it. It is recommended all birds that are layng get calicum supplemention as egg laying depletes them. Check out the bird care company - they have sevreal products that will help with getting your guy to get the calicum that he needs. I provide cali-boost in their wet food or the fresh veggies when I one a week. I offer two bowls of food when I am supplementing allowing them to pick the one they want to eat out of . One has the cali-boost in it and one doesn't. My not all (10) eat the cali-boost food but some do. And it changes from week to week. I have tried several difernt products and get the best response eating wise from the bird care company products.

I do behavior work and work with parrot rescue and re-home. All my birds except for 2 ( CAG/DYA) are rescues. (same with the dogs and cats)

Hope this helps.

Amy Johnson
Unique Pet Therapy

Cece - Hy
Hercules - Scarlet
Percy - M2
Loco & Daisy - G2
Chiquita - RLA
Maxie & Kalika - DYA
Sydney & Boo - CAG
assorted finches and canaries
Ladybug - Cavalier King Charles
Shyla - Mini Schanuser
Prince Weiner - Min Dachshund
Piper - Chihauhau
Magge- Terrier Mix
Dixie - DLH tabby
Oliver - DLH tabby
Mookie - DSH
Devlynn - DSH
Twiggy - DSH
And Nuc - brittlel star fish. ( he ate his salt water companions years ago)

[pam's birds]

When my cockatiel was getting lethargic and not eating as much, I brought him/her into the vet. We had bloodwork done and it showed he was low in calcium. I had tried cuttlebones but he didn't eat it. The vet had recommended - eggs with shell, yogurt, cheese, brocolli, etc.

[Laguna]

When I asked my vet about the same issue for my Senegal and Sun Conure and finches he said to take millet and put it in a baggie with powered supplement and calcium and shake it up. Then put the millet in the cage. Do this twice a week unless they are laying eggs. This way it will keep the supplements out of their food dishes. They will eat the food (which mine was not doing) and they love millet so will get the vitimins through the millet. Works great.

[JulieF]

Well I tried out the dandelion greens from my yard (I know they are not treated), and he just loves them! so that's cool. and i know that cheese is a fave with him too. so i guess if he refuses his cuttle bones, he can always get his calcium this way.
Wally is definitely not low on the energy scale! lol so if lethargy is a sign of calcium deficiency, then i probably don't have to worry! He's actually molting and cranky as all hell. screaming all over the place. i gave him new toys but he won't look at them. he will however, condesend to let me help him out with the pin feathers on his head, so that's good! i can't wait for his molt to end! lol he hates the shower, but i want to work on that. i would love to have him shower with me in the mornings. right now he's all about the mister showers. it's pretty cute to see him get all excited about his shower!