Does Budgies need grit

[countryhen]

I am still researching before we get our Budgie. I thought I read somewhere and I cannot find it again now where Budgies don't need grit. That they hull their seeds before eating them and the grit only harms them. Can anyone confirm this or advice me on this subject. I know many many many years ago when my mom had Budgies we put grit in the bottom of the cage I was thinking or am I just to old to remember:rolleyes:

[Kelly27]

"Budgies are also hookbills and crack open their seed to eat, so they do NOT need grit as many people believe they do." I searched on google for you huni, and found the above statement ^^^. Hope this helps! xx ;) xx

[BUUZBEE]

Its a VERY controversial topic!

most people beleive that budgies do no need grit because they do hull their seeds, BUT it has also been studdied that small qantities of grit does help with the digestion.
Many people claim that giving grit has led to crop impaction, this is true in a handfull of cases... BUT (always a but lol) further tests revealed that the budgies that did die of crop impaction had other health issues. The birds kept eating the grit to soothe their bellies. overeating it gave them the impaction and killed them.

If given PROPERLY, grit can benefit them. I give mine grit a few times a week for no more than 10 minutes and only a small amount in the dish. DONT offer it to them 24/7!

my aviary also has sand on the floor, they are always eating that.

When it comes down to it, go with your own gut (no pun intended! lol) if you are worried about giving it to them, dont :)

[Amy]

Summer and Spring had been given it once a week previously, I'm continuing with that, but once I run out, I'm stopping.

[redgirl]

I dont use grit I use sand xxx :)

[Amy]

Sand to eat? I think Summer and Spring have sand mixed in with their grit... Hmmm.. I'll check, I'm not sure.

[redgirl]

Well I buy it from the pet store sweetie, I used to use grit but heard all bad things about it and now use bird sand, it has little bits of grit in I think, just not too much of it. my budgies are fine with it xxx :)

[BUUZBEE]

The funny thing is i've yet to meet anyone that has had a bad experience with using grit, having a bird die from crop impaction. With all the bad rap it gets, you would think there would be more people on forums that would talk about it. I'm on a lot of forums and know lots of breeders, no one actually has a story of it thats their own. Its always negative articles read off the web! There are just as many possitive articles that come out of australia from avian vets there. And I lean more toward vets that come from the birds home origins than some owner in timbucktoo nowhere, you know what i mean???

[redgirl]

Yer I agree Anna, I prefer sand though as it is softer for their feet xxxx

[BUUZBEE]

lol, well you wouldnt want to put grit on the bottom of their cage/aviary! ;)

[Periwinkle]

I give my bird grit around once a month and it is a very small amount. I mix it into her food and she really seems to like it. She does it sand off of one of her perches so I am guessing it is perfectly safe to use since Peri is quite healthy!