grit

[Dan Sr]

Hi All, I'm Back, Had to get another keet lol

I was reading a new book I saw on Parakeet Care. The question I have is; I have always put a small dish of grit in my birds cage. Now reading a book by Nikki Moustaki, I am told it is a myth that keets need grit for digestion. In fact the book claims the grit can cause serious health problems. Is this true and I have been misinformed all these years. I am glad to be back, and thank you all for the letters of kindness.:-)

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Dan,

It's great to see you back again,:wink: there have been debates on Grit for quite sometime now, but I believe that as long as you provide Oystershell Grit then your Birds should be fine, but there have been concerns about the use of Limestone Grit as this isn't soluble were the Oystershell is.
Limestone Grit has been reported to lead to crop impaction, I think this is the reason why some people say it is wrong to offer it to your Birds.

Paul.:wink:

[Waxbillman]

welcome back Dan

i'll second what Paul has said, and the grit debate is as old as the hills, some top breeders on the continent have written that mineralised grit is imported and others say its bad for them. i personallly stopped using mineralised grit years ago when i first read the warning about it, i always use oystershell grit.
Though strangely enough if you look at the wild birds you can often see them taking in grit and small stones, the other day early in the morning i passed some wood pigeons consuming the small stone on the surface of a road, i have also observed collared doves take the tiny grit particles off the roof of my shed, whether this does them any harm i don't know, but if in doubt stick to the things that you know are safe, you can't go wrong then

Matthew

[kenny]

hi dan
a warm welcome back mate,glad to see you got your self another bird,i agree with matt and paul about the oystershell grit i think most birds take in a little grit .if you notice starlings running about on the pavements they appear to be pecking at nothing but they are infact picking up fine bits of grit, the only thing you really need to watch is dont give your bird any human food as a lot of people do and it is not good for them at all and if it is another hen bird make sure occasianally give it some oily seed or even cod liver oil on its seed mix and you will not get the problem you had before.glad to here from you

ken;-)