Cuttlebones or Mineral Blocks for LARGER Birds?

[WeimerHeimer]

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]

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]

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]

I scrape cuttlebone into fine powder and add it that way to their food....

 

[birdwhisperer717]

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]

Actually, I crush the egg shells, and scramble them in with the eggs...

The birds suck that stuff down.

 

[Abigal7]

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.