My daughter said that was not true--but a neighbor has raised them for 10 years and gives them fine gravel.
2006-10-24 17:52:07 · 6 answers · asked by loves1guyatatime 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
Nope.
Watch them when they are eating seed. Do they crack the seed open? They do, don't they? When you change the seed in their seed bowl, I'll bet you have a bunch of hulls in there left over from them hulling the seed.
This indicates that they are not eating the seed whole. A bird that cracks their seed open does not require grit.
Grit is needed for birds who eat the whole seed without hulling it.
2006-10-26 03:19:13 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They need gravel but not for that reason. Most all small birds need fine clean gravel this is used in the crop to grind the edible seed from the shell. Rule of thumb birds that eat seed and spit back shells need gravel. Hookbills and others that actually crack seeds externally do not. Gravel can be harmful to hookbill even small love birds. chewd up pieces of cuttle bone aid with this but it softens quickly. Grit in the diet is a much better thing and they can grind the seed to get more nutrients from a more ground meal.
2006-10-24 18:17:27 · answer #2 · answered by WingMan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Finches are a softbill and need gravel aka grit to help grind their food. Hookbills on the other hand such as budgies (parakeets) and all other parrots do not need gravel/grit as they grind their food. Hope this clarifies things for you.
2006-10-25 06:20:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 4 finches & 2 parakeets & they all get grit with their seed...
2006-10-25 06:32:30 · answer #4 · answered by fairly smart 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is true
2006-10-24 17:59:24 · answer #5 · answered by Jeep Driver 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they can live without it but its always better to have it. without it would be like you not having teeth
2006-10-24 18:10:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋