ETAHoffman
04-25-2006, 01:59 PM
Over the past few weeks, I've read several posts mentioning that Grit is not only unnecessary but can actually be bad for parakeets. All the information I can gather, from books and other breeders, is opposite of this. Here are three examples:
From: Budgerigars In Colour - Their Care and Breeding by A. Rutgers and Cyril Rogers. (Chapter 5 - feeding)
"A plentiful supply of oyster grit and mineral grit is very important, and crushed, dried, domestic hens' egg shells will also be valuable. Quite apart from the fact that the birds need the grit to help them grind the seeds in their stomachs, it also contains a number of minerals indispensable for bodybuilding purposes."
From: Pet Library's - Parakeet Guide (Chapter 5 - Feeding and nutrition)
"Since the chief part of a budgie's diet is hard seed, it is essential to supply the bird with an ample quantity of mixed grit or gravel to help digest it. Budgerigars, like all birds, lack teeth, and "mastication" is performed internally in an organ known as the gizzard. The gizzard retains a quantity of these sharp-edged grits. The swallowed seeds go first into the crop, and then by degrees into the gizzard. There it is ground so that it can be assimilated. By constant grinding, these bits of gravel lose their sharp edges, wear down and are passed along and out of the body. Naturally, they must be replaced if the bird is to be kept in first rate condition, is it is necessary to always have a cup of mixed grit in the cage."
From: "Budgerigar Handbook" by Ernest H. Hart (Chapter 6 - Management and feeding)
"Grit and Cuttlebone - Grit acts as the teeth of the bird and is necessary for bird digestion. There are several commercial grits which contain supplementary minerals and are good products. ~ (In addition in this same part.) Milk is one of the best ways to feed calcium for it possesses a perfect balance of calcium and phosphorus. It is low in iron and copper but is a food rich in many other essentials, such as protein, fat, and sugar, all in a form which is almost completely assimilated."
I know, from having lived on a farm that chickens eat grit. Is there some new discovery that I've missed about feeding grit? All the breeders that I know and have had dealings with use grit and with no ill effects. What have I missed?
My birds devour grit and have had no problems.
Please share your comments on this as I'm quite confused on this issue. Thanks.
From: Budgerigars In Colour - Their Care and Breeding by A. Rutgers and Cyril Rogers. (Chapter 5 - feeding)
"A plentiful supply of oyster grit and mineral grit is very important, and crushed, dried, domestic hens' egg shells will also be valuable. Quite apart from the fact that the birds need the grit to help them grind the seeds in their stomachs, it also contains a number of minerals indispensable for bodybuilding purposes."
From: Pet Library's - Parakeet Guide (Chapter 5 - Feeding and nutrition)
"Since the chief part of a budgie's diet is hard seed, it is essential to supply the bird with an ample quantity of mixed grit or gravel to help digest it. Budgerigars, like all birds, lack teeth, and "mastication" is performed internally in an organ known as the gizzard. The gizzard retains a quantity of these sharp-edged grits. The swallowed seeds go first into the crop, and then by degrees into the gizzard. There it is ground so that it can be assimilated. By constant grinding, these bits of gravel lose their sharp edges, wear down and are passed along and out of the body. Naturally, they must be replaced if the bird is to be kept in first rate condition, is it is necessary to always have a cup of mixed grit in the cage."
From: "Budgerigar Handbook" by Ernest H. Hart (Chapter 6 - Management and feeding)
"Grit and Cuttlebone - Grit acts as the teeth of the bird and is necessary for bird digestion. There are several commercial grits which contain supplementary minerals and are good products. ~ (In addition in this same part.) Milk is one of the best ways to feed calcium for it possesses a perfect balance of calcium and phosphorus. It is low in iron and copper but is a food rich in many other essentials, such as protein, fat, and sugar, all in a form which is almost completely assimilated."
I know, from having lived on a farm that chickens eat grit. Is there some new discovery that I've missed about feeding grit? All the breeders that I know and have had dealings with use grit and with no ill effects. What have I missed?
My birds devour grit and have had no problems.
Please share your comments on this as I'm quite confused on this issue. Thanks.