Cuttlebones or Mineral Blocks for LARGER Birds?

WeimerHeimer

New member
Sep 11, 2012
90
0
York,PA
Parrots
Finches, Conures, Amazon Parrots, Cockatoos, & Macaws
Got thinking of this the other day ..... I offer cuttlebones to my finches and smaller conures, but what about the Amazons, 'Toos, and/or Macaws?

I would think if some birds need cuttlebones why wouldn't the larger ones need it too?

I know a Macaw would destroy a cuttlebone in mere minutes, but does anyone offer their Macaws, or any other large hookbills?
 

Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
I've always given my lovebirds and budgies cuttlebone, so I naturally gave it to Dominic the Galah and the Beaks (Alexandrines). They turned it to powder within seconds. Not minutes, seconds! I give the larger birds pumice perches these days.
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
My macaw never touched that stuffs and I had them on his cage for years and eventually took them off and never give it to him again. They should get their mineral and calcium needs through their food that they eat anyways.
 

Echo

New member
Dec 7, 2009
1,479
3
USA
Parrots
Green Cheek Conures, Crimson Conures, CAG, Pionus, Budgies, Goffin Cockatoo
I scrape cuttlebone into fine powder and add it that way to their food....
 

birdwhisperer717

New member
Oct 25, 2013
6
0
Reading, PA
Parrots
Two Yellow-Naped Amazons - Baby and Sunny, Senegal Parrot - Bailey,
Lutino Cockatiel - Citrus,
White-Faced Gray Cockatiel - Cricket, Four Parakeets - Jerry, McTweeter, Whyte, Jade
On a similar note, does anyone feed their larger birds dried out/cleaned egg shells? I've thought about it with my Amazons, but want to see other peoples suggestions.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Actually, I crush the egg shells, and scramble them in with the eggs...

The birds suck that stuff down.
 

Abigal7

New member
Jun 17, 2012
853
1
United States of America/ Kansas
Parrots
Captain Jack (Hahn's macaw)


Clover (green cheek conure)
I feed my bird eggs but will have to try the egg shell suggestion when I scrabble him a egg. I remember my budgie and cockatiel loving cuttlebones but I remember when I tried it with my conure Clover she wanted nothing to do with it. I set a manu mineral perch in Captain Jacks cage. I have seen him chewing on it. That said I am wondering if people with large birds especially Amazons and macaws find their bird likes manu mineral perches. I also considering bee pollen perches. Captain Jack eats pellets and fruits and veggies (and of course eggs, beans, nuts, and bountiful harvest blend from mysafebirdstore ) so I am not too concerned about lack of Calcium.
 
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