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Post by greyeagle1 on Oct 14, 2012 6:54:27 GMT 10
I am not sure if I might have posted a similar thread on this in the past. It's been a while since I've been on this thread. But here it is:
Does anyone have a recipie for for making calcium/mineral perches? I still have the hardware from the store-bought ones they had and was hoping I could use them for a homemade version. Thanks!
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Post by avinet on Oct 14, 2012 21:33:43 GMT 10
I had a quick Google and couldn't find any information - lots of places selling but none on how to make them. I suspect that plaster of paris is a major component but beyond that have no suggestions.
You might care to have a look at the Youtube clip at - Ross Perry is apparently against them, but I have to say I have found no issues at all when using them, just don't make it the perch they want to spend all their time on. While I respect his views I don't necessarily agree in this instance.
cheers,
Mike
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Post by greyeagle1 on Oct 17, 2012 6:58:40 GMT 10
Yes, I also heard that there was some controversy on the plaster of paris. Thanks!
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Post by greyeagle1 on Oct 20, 2012 5:52:47 GMT 10
I wonder if I make one out of flour and water with ground-up oyster shells and let it harden, if that would be acceptable? I don't think the flour would hurt them, and it would have the same hard surface as the regular calcium perches you see in the pet shops.
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Post by avinet on Oct 20, 2012 13:27:29 GMT 10
I wonder if I make one out of flour and water with ground-up oyster shells and let it harden, if that would be acceptable? I don't think the flour would hurt them, and it would have the same hard surface as the regular calcium perches you see in the pet shops. I haven't heard of flour and water before - would it be hard enough to not get destroyed in a day? Flour shouldn't be a problem - most of it will end up on th ebottom of the cage anyway, but since the shell grit is the only source of calcium and the bird is on a see dbased diet then why not just add a good pinch of shell grit to the seed cup each day. If the bird needs calcium it will eat some shell grit. If it is on a pellet diet then it doesn't need calcium supplementation at all. I've never heard of any issues with Plaster of Paris being used to make either bells or perches from - the calcium bells that pet shops sell are basically Plaster of Paris. cheers, Mike |
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Post by greyeagle1 on Oct 21, 2012 6:18:18 GMT 10
If you don't feel the plaster of paris is toxic or will harm them, I will consider that for a perch. Was there any actual proof that the plaster of paris was toxic, or is it just a controversy?
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Post by avinet on Oct 21, 2012 21:39:07 GMT 10
If you don't feel the plaster of paris is toxic or will harm them, I will consider that for a perch. Was there any actual proof that the plaster of paris was toxic, or is it just a controversy? Pure Plaster of Paris is harmless - perhaps the urban myth occurred because it used to sometimes be mixed with either silica powder or asbestos. One could cause silicosis and the other asbestosis is the dry powder was inhaled. Both additives would have been safe is digested after mixing with water and setting. If you make sure you get pure Plaster of Paris and be careful not to inhale the powder when mixing, then it is perfectly safe. An article at www.birdkeepinginaustralia.com/articles/article18.html describes making calcium bells, and that recipe could probably be adapted to making perches if you have a suitable mold. Just a comment on that article - Plaster of Paris is not calcium carbonate but is actually anhydrous calcium sulphate. Also note that Plaster of Paris can generate a lot of heat when mixed with water so your mold has to be heat resistant. There was a case in England where a schoolgirl put her hand in mixed Plaster of Paris to make a mold of it and the heat generated caused severe burns to her hand and she lost some fingers. cheers, Mike |
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Post by greyeagle1 on Oct 24, 2012 7:17:36 GMT 10
Thank you for the safety information concerning plaster of paris! I have never worked with plaster of paris before and would have never known this.
One more question: Are oyster shells an easily absorbed form of calcuim? I am wondering if I should substitute something else for the calcium, because I thought I read somewhere that these weren't the best form of calcium...
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Post by avinet on Oct 24, 2012 21:39:44 GMT 10
Oyster shells are made form calcium carbonate while Plaster of Paris is calcium sulphate - it will make no difference to the bird which is a source of calcium. Both are a fairly poor source of calcium in that little of what they eat is absorbed - most just goes straight through and out the back end  However they can make up the low absorption rate by the relatively large quantity a bird might eat. I wrote an article on calcium for birds a while ago - at scas.org.au/html/calcium_for_birds.html which might be worth reading. cheers, Mike |
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Post by greyeagle1 on Oct 26, 2012 8:15:21 GMT 10
Thanks! I will read it.
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Post by owszat on Apr 4, 2013 21:11:24 GMT 10
Great info again Mike... plaster of paris, isn't that also in Tofu?
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However they can make up the low absorption rate by the relatively large quantity a bird might eat. I wrote an article on calcium for birds a while ago - at 