Calcium- How do you give it to your birds?

[vankarhi]

I have dolomite that I used on my birds for a few weeks prior to putting the nest boxes in. It is a powder that a breeder recommended to me and I got it from the local feed barn.

I have no idea if it is good, better or not..........just this guy suggested it to me and I know that when my parents bred German Shepherds and Long Hair cats, they used to put some of this onto their food when the bitches were pregnant and the puppies/kittens were being weaned.

Just read Mikes post

Oh and I realise my birds are not dogs or cats.........but it was recommended to me.

[avinet]

Dolomite for a dog or cat is probably more useful than with birds since a dog or cat has very acid stomach juices like humans and so dolomite will be dissolve dmuch more successfully. I believe birds don't have digestive juices that are especially acid and so dolomite isn't going to get dissolved to any great extent and will mostly just go straight through. I would recommend sticking to calcium carbonate powder or cuttlebone.

cheers,

Mike

[Laraine]

I put the usual cuttle bone in the aviary, but some of my birds don't seem to eat it. As well I give them egg shells left over from cooking. Mainly I buy liquid Calcium from the pet shop and put that in their water. At the moment I am dosing up my quails, budgies and cockatiels before the breeding season starts.