Find Oyster Shell & Mineral Grit for small birds here

Hello: I had been told that the oyster shell was not good for parrots or cockatoos. what is the difference in it?

I heard that it was def. bad for them. some birds have an allergy to a lot of things including that. the only thing that I would buy at the moment would be the Featheriffic for the feathers.

the cockatoo does preen herself, but I have sat, and watch her really mess them up, and they should be pretty. maybe she needs vitamins I don't know. she seems to be healthy says the avian vet. she ran blood test on her. what do you think?? I would like your input.

thanks. Rosemary

Dear Rosemary

Years ago, it was thought to be needed but it is now shown that Parrots do break their seeds when eating and their gizzards take care of the rest of the breaking down of the food. It now is found that it can compact their crops and interfere with digestion. 

Grit, etc is used for doves, finches, canaries, chickens and other softbills (pointy beaks) as they tend to swallow their food whole and need the additional help from the grit, oyster shell, etc to grind up in their gizzards for proper nutrition.  

Gravel paper can be used on the bottom of cages for these birds, but avoid gravel perch covers as the birds feet will suffer. 

If you can see in the droppings of your parrots, any whole seeds then your bird has a digestive problem that needs to addressed by an avian vet. 

Parrots DO need Calcium which is in Oyster shell but the powdered form is safer for them and can be sprinkled on their food to serve this need. Oyster Shell, grit, etc, can be found certain in seed blends for larger birds like this from Higgins

Some bird foods do have Oyster Shell in them and usually for the small birds, but it can be in the large bird food too. However I doubt the larger birds really eat it as it would fall down below the seeds, etc and be lost in the crumbles the birds leave behind. I assume the food manufacturers are not up to trying to prove or disprove the need for grit so they toss a bit in it, not enough to harm to bird, but enough to appease the owner who feels it should be there. 

Your Cockatoo with the ratty feathers. This concerns me, they should be smooth and lovely and if not they could be suffering from PIFD. Parrot Inflamatory Feather Disease. Is your vet a certified avian vet? Any cat and dog vet will say bring your bird, but really not be helpful in the long run. 

Cockatoos do produce feathers that are made to crumble into dust to lubricate their feathers which can make it look like there is a problem. They also suffer from dry skin and could use regular showers, misting, with products that include Aloe (Avix, Mango Cockatoo Spray, etc) 

If you have a fan or heat vent blowing heat into or onto the cockatoo's cage it can cause unruly feathers. 

If your bird is unhappy or bored it can also mess with its feathers and look ratty too. A good behaviorist may be helpful too. www.thepoliteparrot.com color="#008000"> 

Featheriffic is good stuff for birds. Do you feed pellets? Exclusively? if so, no vitamins.

 Hope some of this will help too.

Find Oyster Shell & Mineral Grit for small birds here