Cuttlebone is a common calcium supplement provided to pet birds. It comes from cuttlefish, a type of mollusk related to squid and octopus. Cuttlefish have an internal shell called a cuttlebone, which is made of aragonite. The porous structure of cuttlebone allows the cuttlefish to control its buoyancy. When cuttlefish die, their cuttlebones wash up on beaches and can be collected and dried for use as a calcium supplement for pet birds.
What is cuttlebone?
Cuttlebone is the internal shell of cuttlefish. It is composed of aragonite, a mineral form of calcium carbonate. The cuttlebone is divided into tiny chambers filled with gas and surrounded by small pillars. By adjusting the amount of gas in the chambers, the cuttlefish can control its buoyancy and move up and down in the water column.
When cuttlefish die, the soft body decays, leaving behind the cuttlebone. Waves and tidal action wash the cuttlebones onto beaches, where they can be collected. Cuttlebones range in size from about 2-10 inches long. Their shape resembles a rounded, flattened oval.
Why do birds need calcium from cuttlebone?
Cuttlebone is commonly fed to pet birds because it provides a good source of calcium and other minerals like magnesium and phosphorus. Calcium is essential for birds for the following reasons:
- Helps with egg laying – Hens need a lot of calcium to produce eggshells. Lack of calcium can lead to soft or collapsed eggs.
- Bone health – Calcium keeps bones strong and healthy.
- Nerve and muscle function – Calcium enables normal nerve impulses and muscle contractions.
- Blood clotting – Calcium is needed for blood to clot properly.
- Enzyme function – Calcium is required for many metabolic enzymes to work.
In addition to calcium, cuttlebone provides trace minerals, including iodine and manganese. Birds are unable to synthesize calcium themselves, so they need to ingest enough in their diet. Providing cuttlebone gives pet birds an excellent calcium supplement.
What types of birds need cuttlebone?
All pet bird species can benefit from cuttlebone, including:
- Budgies
- Cockatiels
- Lovebirds
- Parakeets
- Conures
- Macaws
- Cockatoos
- African greys
- Parrotlets
- Lories and lorikeets
- Finches
- Canaries
Egg-laying females have the highest calcium needs, so it is especially important to provide cuttlebone to breeding hens. But males and non-breeding birds also require calcium for bone health, nerve and muscle function, and enzyme activity.
Young, growing birds need extra calcium while their bones are still developing. So cuttlebone is especially beneficial for chicks and fledglings.
How to Choose Cuttlebone for Birds
When selecting cuttlebone to feed to your birds, look for the following qualities:
- Natural shape – Avoid cuttlebones that have been reshaped or modified into rounds or other shapes. Natural, raw cuttlebone has the best texture for birds to nibble on.
- Good size – Choose cuttlebones that are at least a few inches long to give your birds plenty to chew on. Small pieces tend to get lost at the bottom of the cage.
- No dyes or additives – Make sure the cuttlebone has no artificial colors or scents added. Pure, natural cuttlebone is healthiest.
- From reputable source – Purchase cuttlebone from a trusted pet store or bird supply retailer.
The highest quality cuttlebone will sink when placed in water. Cuttlebones that float are more dried out. But even lighter ones still provide beneficial calcium.
How to Prepare and Offer Cuttlebone
Once you have selected high quality cuttlebone pieces for your birds, there are a few simple steps to prepare and offer them:
- Rinse the cuttlebone under water and scrub off any debris or sand. Allow to fully dry.
- Trim off any sharp edges or thin parts that could break into small pieces using clean scissors or pliers.
- Drill, cut or shape the cuttlebone if desired to create grooves and ridges. This makes it more enticing for birds to chew.
- Hang the cuttlebone in the cage using string, chains or clips so it doesn’t rest on the cage bottom and become soiled.
- Move to a new location periodically so the birds don’t get bored. Rotate out old pieces as they get worn down.
- Offer at least one cuttlebone piece per 2-3 birds so competition is minimized.
Always inspect the cuttlebone weekly and remove if it gets covered in droppings. Rinse, scrub and replace with a fresh piece as needed. This will encourage your birds to continue using it as a calcium supplement.
How Birds Use Cuttlebone
Birds use cuttlebone in a few different ways:
- Chewing/nibbling – Birds will chew tiny bits off the cuttlebone to ingest the calcium and minerals. The rough surface makes a good beak conditioner too.
- Perching – Birds like to sit or stand on top of the cuttlebone, keeping their beaks and feet healthy.
- Sharpening beaks – Rubbing their beaks back and forth across the cuttlebone helps sharpen and trim the beak tips.
- Playing – Birds, especially smaller ones like parrotlets and budgies, will toss and play with the cuttlebone as a fun toy.
Watch to see how your birds interact with the cuttlebone. Some may chew more vigorously than others. Female birds often scrape more intently when they are getting ready to lay eggs.
Signs Your Bird is Eating Enough Cuttlebone
It can be difficult to monitor exactly how much cuttlebone each bird is consuming, but there are some signs that indicate they are nibbling sufficient amounts:
- Worn down edges – Look for small grooves and scratches around the edges and ends of the cuttlebone from beak scraping.
- Beak condition – Dry, overgrown beaks show a lack of chewing, while healthy, trimmed beaks indicate ample use.
- Weight of cuttlebone – Replace pieces that feel significantly lighter and dried out, signaling they have been well-used.
- Droppings – A small fraction of powdery white specks from the cuttlebone in droppings is normal when being consumed.
- Egg shells – Hard, dense egg shells show the breeding hen is getting enough calcium.
If you don’t notice signs of chewing, consider getting a different cuttlebone shape/texture, changing the cage location, or taking the bird for a veterinary check-up if calcium intake seems deficient.
How Often to Replace Cuttlebone
Over time, pieces of cuttlebone will become worn down and depleted. It’s a good idea to replace them with fresh pieces periodically. The frequency depends on factors like:
- Number of birds – Replace more often for larger flocks.
- Rate of chewing – Aggressive chewers may warrant more frequent switching.
- Breeding status – Breeding hens often require weekly cuttlebone replacements.
- Piece size – Smaller pieces for small birds will need replacing more often.
- Sanitation – Replace immediately if soiled by droppings.
A good general guideline is to provide new cuttlebone pieces at least every 2-4 weeks for small birds like budgies and cockatiels, and every 4-6 weeks for large birds like macaws. Have spare pieces available for replacement when current pieces become worn down.
Other Ways to Provide Calcium
While cuttlebone is the most popular calcium supplement for birds, there are alternatives to help provide additional calcium:
- Mineral block – Special bird mineral blocks also contain calcium, often along with other vitamins and minerals.
- Calcium carbonate – This pure, crushed calcium powder can be sprinkled on foods.
- Millet spray – Hang spray millet which is naturally higher in calcium for birds to nibble on.
- Calcium-fortified treats – Look for bird treats enriched with extra calcium.
- Calcium supplements – Liquid calcium supplements can be added to drinking water.
- Greens – Dark leafy greens like kale, dandelion and broccoli leaves have higher calcium.
Rotate different calcium sources to give your birds variety. Check with your avian veterinarian if you have any concerns about your bird’s calcium intake and health.
Potential Risks of Cuttlebone
While cuttlebone is very safe for most birds, there are a few potential risks to be aware of:
- Choking hazard – Very small pieces could pose a choking risk for small birds. Supervise carefully.
- Heavy metal buildup – Cuttlebones may contain traces of heavy metals if sourced from polluted waters.
- Bacterial contamination – Bacteria like psittacosis could be present if collected from areas with sick birds.
- Pesticides – Chemical contamination is possible in some coastal areas.
- Zinc toxicity – Excessive consumption could lead to zinc toxicity in some bird species.
These risks are minimal with high quality cuttlebone from reputable sources that undergo processing and cleaning. Avoid collecting cuttlebone yourself from unknown areas. Rotate cuttlebone with other calcium sources for safety.
Monitoring Cuttlebone Use
To ensure your birds are consuming adequate cuttlebone, be diligent about monitoring their use. Some tips include:
- Observe chewing – Watch to see which birds are chewing and how vigorously.
- Check worn areas – Look for scratch marks and nibbling traces around the edges.
- Weigh pieces – Compare weights of fresh vs. used pieces to estimate quantity consumed.
- Tap for resonance – A hollow, crisp tapping sound means the inner matrix is still intact.
- Inspect droppings – Small white flecks show it is being digested.
- Replace frequently – Switch out older pieces before they get too small.
Adjust calcium supplementation accordingly if you notice little evidence of cuttlebone use. Providing a fresh, rotated supply increases the chances your birds will use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give my bird crushed oyster shell instead?
Crushed oyster shell can be used as an alternative calcium supplement, but is not as ideal as cuttlebone. The hard, smooth pieces are more difficult for birds to chew and digest. Cuttlebone provides better texture and absorbability. However, oyster shell is safer if you have concerns about heavy metal levels in cuttlebone.
Is boiled egg shell a good calcium source?
Washed, boiled, dried and crushed egg shell can provide usable calcium for birds but is not as easily digested as cuttlebone. Only offer very finely crushed shells to avoid a choking hazard and don’t exceed one teaspoon per kilogram of bird weight daily.
Do I need to givevitamin D if providing cuttlebone?
Yes, vitamin D and calcium absorption are linked. Without adequate vitamin D, birds cannot properly utilize the calcium from cuttlebone. Provide vitamin D supplements or ensure your birds get direct sunlight for optimal calcium metabolism.
Can I feed cuttlebone to baby birds?
Cuttlebone is safe for young birds but should be grated or pulverized into fine pieces to prevent choking. Nestling hand-feeding formulas are also supplemented with proper calcium levels for growing babies.
How do I get my birds to chew cuttlebone?
If birds seem disinterested in the cuttlebone, try grating the surface, hanging it in a busy area, coating it with millet paste, or demonstrating chewing. Moving location and rotating new pieces helps renew interest. Species like lories often prefer mineral blocks.
Can I give too much cuttlebone?
Feeding cuttlebone according to guidelines is not harmful. While excess calcium won’t provide added benefits, it also does not appear toxic. The biggest risk is unbalanced ratios with other vitamins and minerals if over-supplementing calcium exclusively.
Conclusion
Cuttlebone is an invaluable supplement that provides beneficial calcium and other minerals birds need for bone health, egg production, and essential functions. Following proper sourcing, preparation, monitoring and replacement guidelines will help ensure your birds can safely consume cuttlebone ad libitum as part of a balanced diet. Be observant of chewing activity and watch for signs of beak, feather, egg and overall health that show the cuttlebone is being utilized. Rotate in new pieces frequently and from diverse sources for purity and freshness. With sound supplementation habits, cuttlebone can give great nutritional and behavioral enrichment to pet birds for many years.