Providing our psittacines (Parrots & Parakeets) grit & weather it is important is a source of much debate, especially when we are considering it for little hookbills (Budgies, Cockatiels & Lovebirds etc.) This is a topic that we have learned much more about in recent years, but prevalent misinformation online often leads to confusion. In this article we will cover feeding grit to pet Psittacines, why people give it & weather we should give it at all. To grit or not to grit? Here is the answer!
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY GRIT?
Just to make the whole topic more confusing, there are 2 things people could mean when they say ‘grit’! The first being tiny stones that are fed alongside the diet to help grind food in the gizzard, the other is ground up oyster shell to provide calcium. It’s important that you know the difference between the two items as they have different functions. Remember… Tiny stones- digesting food in the gizzard. Ground up oyster shell- calcium. For the purpose of clarity, from now on in this article when I say ‘grit’ I mean tiny stones & when I say ‘oyster shell’ I mean ground oyster shell.
WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE GRIT?
It was believed for many years that every Bird species ate tiny stones to help them break down food in the crop & gizzard. Birds are one of the most diverse groups of creatures on the planet & it is always a mistake to see a behavior in one species & believe it is carried out by all others. We now know that only a small number of Bird species actually do this & that providing grit to species of pet Birds who don’t naturally consume it is very harmful.
The concept that tiny stones can be eaten to help break food down in the gizzard it not wrong in itself, this is how Birds who swallow seeds whole (Pigeons & Doves, some poultry & some Finches) digest their food, but it IS incorrect for all Psittacine species. Many Psittacines lick mineral rich stones or clay licks in the wild to obtain minerals, but they don’t swallow any stones.
WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE OYSTER SHELL?
Oyster shell is fed as a source of calcium to many species of Bird, but it isn’t a natural calcium source. Oyster shell can cause crop impactions if they consume too much & the calcium is not easily absorbed by their body. Some brands of oyster shell are incredibly sharp & can sometimes injure a Bird’s crop. Oyster shell (especially the darker grey) often contains lead, which is toxic to Birds.
SHOULD WE FEED GRIT & OYSTER SHELL TO PSITTACINES?
No. We now know that feeding grit & oyster shell to pet Psittacines can be very harmful & lead to crop impaction. Just because a Bird will eat it doesn’t mean it’s healthy or safe to feed them. There is absolutely no need for pet Psittacines of any size to consume grit, they hull their seeds & although they have no teeth, are able to effectively ‘chew’ their food in their own unique way. Grit doesn’t aid digestion of hookbills, in fact it can often inhibit it.
Oyster shell is a poor source of calcium, instead offer your Bird healthy & nutritious calcium sources from healthy sources that their body easily recognizes, such as: Pulses, sesame seeds, broccoli, leafy greens, dandelion, basil, rosemary, thyme etc.