Grit

[Islandzoo]

Ok, so every shop selling birds (in the UK) will tell you that they absolutely need grit.
Even most vets will say so, because most vets in the uk are not avian specialist.
As before discussed my vet is lovely but knows diddly about birds:( (Obviously I'd go to an avian vet if there was one)
My grandmother has a little budgie (which she keeps in to small a cage, on her own, calls her a he even though I keep teling her it's a girl, and other things which really make me cross....anyway..)
She bought a book on budgies - produced by the RSPCA (animal charity against cruelty to animals = like aspca??)
which says budgies MUST have grit to aid their digestion. I have been told in the past on a forum NEVER to give grit.SO am I right in saying it can damage their crops and never to give it?:shrug2:
My granny won't beleive me by the way, if it's written in a book - By the RSPCA it surely must be true:doh:

[Majj]

I have read that its not good and that Parrots don`t need it ...
I will see if I can find something about it tomorrow and post it here ..maybe you can print off all our responses and show your Grannie (that is if we are correct )..
Good night ..back tomorrow..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/Maj/Gifs%20and%20siggys/NotPerfect-LMG3.gif

[Majj]

Found in the link below...


True Grit
Q: How much grit does my cockatiel need? Should I just let her have all she wants? -- P.R., via e-mail
A: Some pet birds, such as finches and canaries, can make use of an occasional small amount of grit, but most budgies, cockatiels and other parrots don't need grit at all.

It's still commonly believed that grit helps in the grinding organ of the gizzard, assisting in the breakdown of foods. But birds do fine without grit, and the material has been shown to remove vitamins A, K and B2 from the digestive system.

A tiny -- as in a couple of grains of grit every couple of months -- is fine for finches and canaries, keeping in mind that no pet bird needs to have access to all the grit he or she wants.

For parrots large and small, though, skip grit entirely. Overconsumption of grit can lead to life-threatening problems in pet parrots, especially young birds and smaller species, such as budgies or cockatiels.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com (petconnection@gmail.com).)

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1967&S=0&SourceID=28

This link on Grit below is very good also..

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww58eii.htm

:wavey: :wavey:

[Islandzoo]

thanks Majj!!!

[Islandzoo]

So where did this idea come from that they do need it?
99.9% of bird owners in the uk i would guess give birds grit. seems to be one of those 'urban myths' or whatever... strange isn't it?
parrots spend their time in trees - you don't get much grit up there!

[SadennaAndFlock]

actually birds that hull their seeds and other foodsdon't need grit..as they don't have to break down the fiberious shell or husk of their food. I if you watch your birds eat they eat the insides of alot of fruits and veggies and only the insides of seeds so no grit is required..not even canaries and finches as the gal I work for has both and they hull their seeds to...Grit is an unecessary thing for some reason petstores seem to want to sell you it can cause impaction in the birds digestive track. I have never had an avian vet tell me to give grit. Most of the books that say to give it are outdated or written several years ago

[Shirley]

Correct... Budgies, canaries, finches, parrots etc hull the seeds and eat the edible parts. Chickens and ducks do not hull their seeds, but have gizzards; our companion birds do not have gizzards. The gizzards use the grit to hull the seed, corn, etc. Our birds therefore do not need grit, and in fact their crops can become impacted with grit if they ingest too much of it. Some grit is actually a mineral grit, not a gravel, and is beneficial in very small quantities given on rare occasion to breeding canaries and finches. Higgins Snack Attack sells this and it is blue in color. I never offer it free choice.

In the old days... but this is not the old days... :)

[vmtwriter]

:thanx: for the great advice. I never understood the grit theory but now I think I have a handle on it. I won't be giving Bailey any grit.

[Jean]

Correct... Budgies, canaries, finches, parrots etc hull the seeds and eat the edible parts. Chickens and ducks do not hull their seeds, but have gizzards; our companion birds do not have gizzards. The gizzards use the grit to hull the seed, corn, etc. Our birds therefore do not need grit, and in fact their crops can become impacted with grit if they ingest too much of it. Some grit is actually a mineral grit, not a gravel, and is beneficial in very small quantities given on rare occasion to breeding canaries and finches. Higgins Snack Attack sells this and it is blue in color. I never offer it free choice.

In the old days... but this is not the old days... :)

I would say this defines my knowledge on this issue perfectly!:goodjob: