i got a parakeet about a month ago, hes pretty young i think and i have one of those orange flavored cuttlebone for it. it doesnt chew on it on anything. im scared that this beak would grow too long. u can kinda tell that the beak is growing but itsnot too long i guess. it looks normal sized but u can tell that the end of it is growing, is this normal? i dont wanna take it to trim its beak at a vet. will it start using it if he needs it? how can i make it use its cuttlebone.
2007-11-30 14:52:26 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
Cuttlefish bone is beneficial not only in that it helps trim your bird's bill - it is also a very important source of calcium. It's normal that some birds don't eat cuttlebone especially during the first weeks after you've got them. But it could be due to the FLAVOR of the cuttlebone that your parakeet refuses to eat it. I strongly suggest a non-flavoured one, as it will taste much more natural for your bird.
In the mean time, you would need grit or oyster shells (sold in a nearby bird store) - these are alternative sources of calcium. And don't worry, there is usually a limit to how long your parakeet's bill can grow, unless he has a disease.
2007-11-30 17:27:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can give parakeets a little charcoal and ground oyster shells, but please don't give it gravel and grit. Mine didn't like the flavored cuttlebones either. Use the plain ones. They take spells of chewing on those. They know when they need it. A month old is pretty young, they will learn, and I have never had a bird with an overgrown beak. Just wait, he will be chewing on everything before long.
2007-11-30 15:39:17 · answer #2 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used aBanana flavored one,and they wouldn't touch it.Try a regular one,and keep in mind that he is very young,so he may not use it yet.It takes about a year for their beak to be too long if then.By then he will have had a Well-Birdie check up at the Vet,so ask then if you are still concerned.He will get curious and active once he relaxes in his new home,just wait him out.
2007-12-01 03:48:23 · answer #3 · answered by RowanSilverSkye 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give him time. he will learn to play eventually. Cuddling is good. They also like to do whatever it is you're doing, so if you're paying your bills it will climb down and start chewing on your checkbook or something. Try putting a bird-toy there and distract the bird with the toy to teach it to play. They do need to learn that the toys are fun to play with -- either by discovering them accidentally or somehow like that. My cocatiel had the same toy in her cage for a year. Just the other day i wouldn't let her out (she is not clipped, she flies, so i can't let her out if i'm cooking or doing something dangerous to her) so she was frustrated and running around in her cage making noise. In her frustration she bit the toy -- and discovered that it was fun. She still plays with that toy from time to time, now that she discovered it.
2016-05-27 01:34:34 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuttle bones are not for trimming their beaks it is for digesting food and dont worry he will when he needs it and his beak wont get too long may i suggest a book its called parrets for dummies lots of info in there i have one the book i mean we have cockatiels
2007-11-30 15:27:19 · answer #5 · answered by Tina c 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I had the same problem with past birds. But I have a new one....I got him a bannana flavored cuttle bone and I have caught him using it on occasion.
2007-12-01 04:09:55 · answer #6 · answered by Joey Crawford is love 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋