Grit or no Grit?

[budgiesmum1953]

After losing Harry we all agreed that we couldn't go through the agony of loss again. It's not all that easy yet but I think we all agree time makes things a little easier and you start to wonder maybe... also at the moment we are all finding it hard to cope with the quiet of a budgieless home! So just in case and in possible preperation I wanted to ask a few questions if you don't mind?

My first BIG concern is whether you give grit or not? I always assumed that birds needed grit to grind their food, but after browsing the forum and looking at links given here I'm beginning to wonder if it might do more harm than good?

I would be really grateful for any input about this, who gives it who doesn't. I think the more in favour/not in favour will sway me either way, as I must admit Harry had access to grit and I have been going through the 'guilt' thing and wondered if this could have caused his problems! :S

Thank you,
Jan.XXX.

[clifff123]

From all I have heard here and other forums , no grit is required for budgies.
But it always seems to be a debate about it. I don't use it for mine.

[redgirl]

I used to use it till I came on this site, I now use budgie sand xxx

[zarrion101]

budgiesmum1953 if you search this forum you may find some quality information about grit and what the debate is about. :)

[Budgiekin]

I highly doubt that grit contributed to Harry's problem, unless perhaps he was eating it voraciously, but I don't think that was the case.

My budgie Apollo used to get grit occasionally since he enjoyed it. My current budgies don't get any, but that is moreso because my vet recommended against it. Since they are already able to hull their seeds (and grit is designed to help break down difficult to digest food), I tend to agree with her and don't offer it. However, many people do use it successfully with their budgies.....;)

[Bea]

I do not offer my budgies any grit or sand. They need neither and both can cause crop impaction over a period of time.

[JPKP]

i dont think grit is healthy for them at all.

[bananaz65]

I use grit and my bird doesnt eat it but sometimes he does and hes still alive and well. Very happy i might addd XD

[Donna]

Hi Jan,

I bought a small box of grit and only used it a couple of times because I later read that our Budgies don't really need it, so I quit putting it out. I agree with Budgiekin in that your Harry would probably have had to eat large amounts to have done that much harm. I don't think using grit had any thing to do with your loss of Harry. Please don't blame yourself. We can always go back and say "What If?" You did the best you could and Harry was very happy, so that is what matters.

It's good to hear from you again, Jan.

Donna

[JPKP]

If your parakeet eats it too much, it will not come out and will clog their digestive system.
The idea that all pet birds need grit is another myth that seems to be taking a long time to die. Some pet birds such as finches and canaries can make use of small occasional amounts of grit-- and most budgies, cockatiels and other larger parrots have no need for it at all.

Why do pet stores persist in pushing ground rock on bird lovers? As with people who feed an all seed diet with no nutrients at all, the answer is ignorance. Folks used to believe that grit helps in the grinding of organ of the gizzard, assisting in the breakdown of foods. But birds do fine without grit--- and grit has been shown to remove vitamins A, K and B2 from the digestive system.

A tiny amount-- as in a couple grains of grit every couple of months-- may be okay for finches and canaries, keeping in mind that nopet bird needs to have access to all the grit they desire. For parrots, skip grit entirely. Over consumprtion of the stuff has led to many life- threatening problems-- grit impaction-- in pet parrots, especially in young and smaller bird species such as budgies and cockatiels."

i have also found out during personal research that it can cause kidney problems as well.

[budgiesmum1953]

Thank you all for taking the time to add your comments about the use of grit, I really appreciate them and it does look like a resounding vote for no grit. I can understand those using it carrying on as they probably only give a little anyway. I'm wondering if maybe here in the UK we have been a little less informed on the grit debate, I know the info is there on the internet if we actively seek it out, but I would have liked a bit more information available at the vets for instance. As it seems a very important issue to me I feel vets, pet shops etc. could have posters on the walls, or leaflets available just to let people know that it might cause a problem, especially as not everyone has access to the internet. The vet could even take time to mention to all bird owners (in the no grit needed category) that there is an ongoing debate about its use. Well I am pretty much convinced that if we are blessed with another budgie companion he will not be needing grit.
Thank you Budgiekin and Donna for your caring words about not blaming myself and for welcoming me back, you are so very kind and your wishes go a long way to healing the hurt.
Love, Jan. XXX.

[Meghanxx4]

hmm well first of all what is grit? is it budgie gravel/sand? because i fed my birds that im nto sure if that was the reaosn they died though, one of mine lasted onlkya year.. anothernlasted 5 years and another 3 years. I dint see them eat that much but then again i wasnt home that much i wa at school most of the time. Now that you mention it i wonder if the reason they died was because of it. My budie pongo(in my avatar) who is dead now who lasted the longest 5 years had a stroke 6 months before he died and im just wonering whther it anything to do with that. I always thaught you needed budgie sand or whatever its called to help them digest there food because thats what the petstore said and the breeder i beleive. I think what ill do is try it without gravel when i get mjy new birds. wow i had no idea.

I remember my freind got a budgie the petstore she got it from said no gravel and i always thaught the petstore she got it from was just kinda i dont know weird and inexperianced for saying that and i told her she should use it but she dint it. its a good thing she didnt listen to me . Also my freind got some sort of parrot it wa slike parrotlet or sumtin i dont know what the breed of it was it was about the same size ofa budgie anyway itw as really sad because wher she got it from they told her to use gravel and stuff and it only lasted a month.

[Bea]

Most petshop assistants aren't all that knowledgable, especially when it comes to birds. While it used to be believed that budgies needed grit/sand more recent research has proven otherwise. :)

[budgiesmum1953]

Hello xbudgieluvax, I was so sorry to read about the loss of your precious budgies as I lost Harry just over 2 weeks now and it still hurts so much I understand how upset you must have been. Firstly I believe that it looks as if there are more or less 3 types of grit/sand. The worst is like small particles of grey gravel and often called grit in the pet shops. Secondly there is Oyster Shell which comprises of tiny flakes of this shell which from what I have been reading isn't quite as bad as it dissolves in the bird's digestive organs, even so it looks as if this might be best avoided. Thirdly is sand which I believe to be light sandy coloured and you also buy this at the pet shop and sprinkle it on the cage floor, I always believed that this was more of a hygene thing as a flooring a bit like sanded cage sheets it soaked up any bird droppings etc. but should be changed very frequently. I never used this for Harry as he never went in his cage or scrabbled about on his floor, all his scrabblings took place on top of his cage or on myself, hubby or our son! Sorting through some of his things today I have noticed that his grit was the Oyster Shell kind, though while not ideal probably not as bad as the gravelly stuff. Please don't blame yourself for the loss of your birds as any number of things can contribute to illness, it might have had nothing to do with the use of grit. But I understand your feelings about being wary of it in future as I will be myself if we do go ahead and share our lives with another little budgie.
Jan. XXX.

[zarrion101]

Most petshop assistants aren't all that knowledgable, especially when it comes to birds. While it used to be believed that budgies needed grit/sand more recent research has proven otherwise. :)

Some pet shop can help and will try and assist you to the best of their abilities while other pet shops are more interested in making more money and will say anything just for you to buy more stuff.

I went into one last week just to buy food clips and came out with a cockatiel swing, 3 pieces of millet and 2 fruitsticks. :o

[BUUZBEE]

as i have put in many other posts on this topic is that if you use grit (i do & always will) you have to FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS! you should never give them access to it 24/7, they should be given a small amount in a seperate container and let them have it for about 10 minutes. from studies done on budgies that have impacted crops (which is not many) they had another underlying problems, and ate the grit to "soothe their tummies" . they had eaten huge quantities. so simply said, if they dont have access all the time, this problem will not occure

[budgiesmum1953]

Thank you for that info too Anna, I will keep it in mind. It's quite a worry trying to keep up with what to give and what not to give. So if given probably very little just now and again and probably the dissolving Oyster shell kind is best.
Jan. XXX.

[BUUZBEE]

I cant remeber the brand name that i get, but its for budgies, and tiels etc. and it does have oyster shell in it, plus cuttlebone & a few other things (im at work, so its of the top of my head, lol)

[budgiesmum1953]

Thanks again Anna, I will give it a lot of thought when we decide to look for another little friend. It's funny this time difference thing, you're at work and I'm about to go to bed soon, it's around 11pm here! :)

[BUUZBEE]

LOL nite nite!

[Meghanxx4]

Hello xbudgieluvax, I was so sorry to read about the loss of your precious budgies as I lost Harry just over 2 weeks now and it still hurts so much I understand how upset you must have been. Firstly I believe that it looks as if there are more or less 3 types of grit/sand. The worst is like small particles of grey gravel and often called grit in the pet shops. Secondly there is Oyster Shell which comprises of tiny flakes of this shell which from what I have been reading isn't quite as bad as it dissolves in the bird's digestive organs, even so it looks as if this might be best avoided. Thirdly is sand which I believe to be light sandy coloured and you also buy this at the pet shop and sprinkle it on the cage floor, I always believed that this was more of a hygene thing as a flooring a bit like sanded cage sheets it soaked up any bird droppings etc. but should be changed very frequently. I never used this for Harry as he never went in his cage or scrabbled about on his floor, all his scrabblings took place on top of his cage or on myself, hubby or our son! Sorting through some of his things today I have noticed that his grit was the Oyster Shell kind, though while not ideal probably not as bad as the gravelly stuff. Please don't blame yourself for the loss of your birds as any number of things can contribute to illness, it might have had nothing to do with the use of grit. But I understand your feelings about being wary of it in future as I will be myself if we do go ahead and share our lives with another little budgie.
Jan. XXX.

Yes im going to get a about 5 or 6 birds next summer budgies of course as they the only ones im really familiar with. Also the kind of grit i fed my budgie im pretty sure was the gravel. Ive enver heard of the oister shell stuff. but ya i gotta go bye.

[Lace]

Well, even though it certainly can help, i dont really use it cus so far i have seen no probes with any of my birds digestion. They way i see it, you give grit when your birds show signs of needing it, so its ALWAYS a good idea to have it on hand, just a box of it so you can be prepared well if any probes do arise.

But like JPKp was saying there, it can also do some small bits of damage as well. Even though its not potentall harmfull, usually budgies do not need it, though some do cus some do have problems digesting there food. Signs of this woulld be to look how there poo looks, if it looks normal no wrries then dear.

[Meghanxx4]

i think i agree with what lace said...