Oyster Shells

[Skymaster]

Should these be offered? How much?

[Marsheliah]

No, you don't need to offer Oyster Shell. You should offer cuttlebone, at all times.

[Babyluv12]

Cuttle bone and mineral blocks.

[Kerry C]

Some mineral block makers put crushed oyster shells in their mix to increase the calcium level in their blocks. This small amount that a bird really has to work for is ok for a day to day use.

Crushed oyster shells offered by them selves it not a good idea, for the same reason offering grit to a hookbill. Hookbills hull their seed so they don't need the grit to crush the hard outer coating of the seed. Bird have been known to eat too much and impact themselves and a not so quick death.

[BUUZBEE]

If you choose to offer grit/oystershell (most grit has oyster shells in it) only give a small amount, offer it no more than 5 minutes, only a few times a week. When given properly, i find it does benefit them. As in the wild, they fourage on the floor picking up small stones/sand, so I offer it a few times a week, and they love it. A lot of studies done show birds that have died from crop impaction, have had other illnesses that caused them to overeat it, to sooth their tummies. So obviously, dont offer it if you think your bird is under the weather, or has been eating too much. This is entirely up to you as to feed or not, I can only say in my experience having them, i've never had a problem.

[Celyste]

I'm with Buuzbee on the grit question. My guys don't get free access to it, but when I offer it they are all over it - which makes me think that there is something in it they want/need. I'm sure that they can do well without it too. My flock won't go near cuttlebone, but they really like the calcium perches which have oystershell ground into it.

[Angie]

I don't offer cuttle bones or oster shell. If you feed a varied diet of veggies, fruit, pellets and a pinch of seed you wont need to use the other stuff.

[budgiebuddie]

you dont need an oyster shell just a cuttlebone and a mineral block :)