Grit?

[grahamthegasman]

Hi i have had my ducorps cockatoo for a week now and heard conflicting advice so i thought id ask the people who know.Should i give him grit or not . My budgies has grit,cockatiel doesnt but what about my too does he need it or not,If so any special stuff or just normal grit what budgie uses,thank you.

 

[weco]

Hi Graham, glad you decided to stay around.....actually no parrot requires grit, because their bodies process food differently than non-psittacines.....grit can stay in a bird's (parrot's) gizzard for over 10 years, without passing it...also, there have been cases of birds (parrots) being treated for infections caused by grit damaging a bird's gizzard.....



Just because some packages of grit/gravel have pictures of parrots on them does not mean parrots need them.....those manufacturers are interested in selling product, not the best interests of our feathered friends...actually there are quite a few things sold in pet stores that are not required by companion parrots for their health or safety...on the contrary, there are some things that can be dangerous.....

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Only birds with a gizzard require grit

 

[weco]

Actually Copper, it's birds that don't pre-process (chew) their food, like canaries, finches, etc., that need grit to help them digest their food.....all parrots remove shells from seeds/nuts and do not require grit, sand, gravel for their digestion process.....

Canaries, finches, doves, pigeons, etc., are passerines and they require grit/gravel because they don't remove the shells/hulls from the seeds they eat.....

 

[MonicaMc]

Pretty sure canaries and finches hull their seeds like parrots do....

Pigeons on the other hand don't....


Interesting fact. Wild parrots eat grit! Grit can be a part of the diet as it can provide minerals and calcium to parrots. But with anything, there are different types of grit. There's soluble grit and insoluble grit. One passes through the system better than the other! Birds that are sick or fed too much grit may get an impacted crop from eating too much. There's also the worry of grit cutting up the inside of the birds crop (already mentioned).


Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - A Bit About Grit - Do Birds Need It?
Grit: Is It Necssary for Pet Birds?


So ya, you *CAN* give grit to your birds, but if you feed a healthy diet, it's not really required at all....



Oh, and funny thing! Cuttlebone (from the cuttlefish) is considered grit! Cuttlebone is generally considered safe.



Although, there is another kind of grits that birds may enjoy eating with their humans... that is, assuming you like grits!
http://quisineandquirks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Southern-Grits.jpg

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Actually Copper, it's birds that don't pre-process (chew) their food, like canaries, finches, etc., that need grit to help them digest their food.....all parrots remove shells from seeds/nuts and do not require grit, sand, gravel for their digestion process.....

Canaries, finches, doves, pigeons, etc., are passerines and they require grit/gravel because they don't remove the shells/hulls from the seeds they eat.....

doves, finches, and canaries are all birds that have gizzards...

Here's from the bird blog, by one of our own fantastic members
link

Seed-eating birds utilize a unique process in order to digest their hard-shelled diets. Digestive enzymes cannot penetrate the seed shells (for doves and other species that swallow the shells) nor, in some cases, the inner seed covering (species that crack seeds before eating). To get around this, birds have evolved a muscular organ known as the gizzard, or ventriculus, to help grind their food into smaller pieces.
Seed-eating and certain other birds increase the gizzard’s effectiveness by swallowing stones and gravel, which are stored and act as grinding surfaces. These stones are periodically regurgitated or passed in the feces, possibly to prevent their becoming smooth and, consequently, less effective.

 

[weco]

Carol Highfill’s 2001 article references the 1994 version of Avian Medicine: Principles and Application and appears a virtual extrapolation of the relevant text of that publication and the current version of that text has not changed appreciably, however, I am inclined to also follow the directives of these few examples of current teachings on the matter of grit…..and while I did include erroneous data concerning passerines, 1994 data is in agreement with 2013 data that psittacines do not require grit…..



VCA Animal Hospitals

Senegal Parrots - Feeding | VCA Animal Hospitals

Does my bird need gravel or grit?

Controversy exists over the need for gravel. It was believed that grit was necessary for the mechanical breakdown of food in the gizzard as an aid to digestion. However, now we know that birds do fine without grit in their diet. Some birds will in fact have problems if grit is over eaten.



Drs. Foster & Smith
Grit: Is It Necssary for Pet Birds?

Most authorities agree that healthy psittacines (e.g.; parrots, budgies, cockatiels) fed a proper diet do not need grit. Some studies have shown that passerines (e.g., canaries and finches) have a behavioral or nutritional need for the ingestion of soluble grit. No evidence suggests that the provision of insoluble grit in the canary diet has any benefit and oversupplementation may lead to health problems. Soluble grit offered to passerines should only be in very small amounts - several grains every few weeks. Birds with pancreatic disease (the pancreas produces most of the digestive enzymes) or certain digestive problems may benefit from the addition of small amounts of grit to their diet. If your bird has a digestive problem, consult your veterinarian regarding your bird's need for grit.



Lafeber Company

Basic Information Sheet for the African Grey Parrot « LafeberVet.com

Since psittacines hull seeds before ingestion, they do not require grit. In fact, some individuals will overeat grit when ill putting them at risk for impaction.



Margaret A. Wissman, D.V.M., D.A.B.V.P.

20 Things You Must Know About Nutrition


Grit is Not Required By the Normal, Healthy Psittacine or Passerine Bird

Grit, usually defined as a granular, dense, insoluble mineral material (generally granite or quartz), is required for birds that consume whole, intact seeds. Examples of some birds requiring grit are pigeons, doves, free-ranging gallinaceous species (Red Junglefowl, Common Turkey, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Domestic Fowl, quail, megapodes, pheasants, grouse, and more) and ostriches. Notice that parrots, canaries and finches aren't on the list. The smaller psittacines (budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds and parrotlets) may overeat grit when they aren't feeling well, and this may result in an impaction of the gizzard. Psittacines and passerines will get all the minerals they need from a balanced diet.


The Oasis Sanctuary

The Oasis Sanctuary - The Dangers of Grit in a Parrot's Diet

The Dangers of Grit in a Parrot's Diet

By Sybil Erden, November, 2004
Many birds arrive at The Oasis with a box filled with seed, pellets, toys... the things the bird had used in their former home.
Homer is a Citron cockatoo who arrived with, among other things, a bag of grit. Grit is generally a calcium fortified sand, rock and/or shell mix. Grit is an important aid in helping certain birds digest food but NOT parrots!!
Birds such as finches and canaries (Passerines) and even chickens, must have access to grit or sand to help digest seed, as their system does not have the powerful muscles that the parrot's (Psittacines) system has. Passerines also have a larger opening to pass these non-digestable particles out into the intestine. Parrots have strong muscles to grind their foods internally, but a small exit opening, so that rocks, sand and shell can remain trapped within the bird.
Homer's blood tests prior to his arrival at The Oasis six months ago appeared normal. However, we noticed he displayed faint neurological problems. His neurological problems intensified over time. A few days ago it was obvious something was seriously wrong and we realized that he had begun to lose weight and was quite thin. We immediately took him to our veterinarian in Phoenix, Dr. Todd Driggers who did new bloodwork on him and took x-rays of the sick bird. The diagnosis was not good. Homer, fed this long-term diet of grit, is impacted ...
He cannot get enough nourishment to sustain himself. Food is not properly digested. He cannot even get enough fluids to keep his kidneys functioning properly. As his kidneys became involved, and high uric acid levels were released, calcium began to be deposited throughout his body, attaching to his spine, fusing vertebrae.
Homer is in foster care at our Veterinarian's office, on life supporting gavage feedings and fluids. We do not know what his prognosis is at this time; i.e., we are not sure whether the grit will pass through and the kidneys will regain full use.
Homer may die ....
We ask you to take note! If you are feeding your parrots grit, throw it away. If your bird - including little ones like Parakeets and Conures - no matter what the "pet store" told you - has been on this diet for any sustained period, please take him to your avian Veterinarian for an exam and, if necessary, an x-ray.
The life you save may be the life of the bird you love!


The Parrot Society UK

Parrot Diets

Parrots have no need for grit (Diamon, 1998; Corbett, 2000).

 

[aliray]

I have 3 small parrots and a spanish timbrado canary that I bought from a breeder a few years ago. None of my birds get or have access to grit. They don't need it as they all shell their seeds before eating them. When I grew up it was thought all birds needed it but now they realize they don't If they shell their seeds. Mine all get other foods as well and no problems

 

[grahamthegasman]

Hi thank you for your replies i have removed all grit from his cage.I think previous owner neglected the bird he had full bowl of grit when we went to look at him.They had huge bucket of grit at side of cage.He is only eight month old so hopefully no damage,He now has a healthier diet plenty of fresh veg and fruit and loads of free flying time.He seems really happy and getting more talkative by the day.Thank you all