Raising a parrot can be one of the most exciting and beneficial things a person can do.
Considering there’s so much attached to raising a pet in general, people often wonder what the main difference is between a more traditional pet and a parrot.
For starters, there isn’t all that much of a difference other than parrots tend to live a lot longer and require a bit more health maintenance than a dog or a cat.
Obviously, dogs and cats have health concerns, but they typically don’t require supplements as parrots do.
As a result, many people wonder about the subject of cuttlebones and if they’re okay for parrots.
With this in mind, are cuttlebones good for parrots?
To answer this question…yes, cuttlebones are great for parrots and birds as a whole. Since cuttlebones are jammed packed with calcium and other essential nutrients, they make for an excellent supplement for a parrot. Keep in mind, your parrot may have trouble with cuttlebones and might not react to it the way you want them to. Either way, be mindful of what you’re giving your parrot.
It’s always a fascinating area of concern to see what your parrot can potentially benefit from since it can play a significant role in their longevity.
Just like health experts point out how a healthy diet and lifestyle can be great for humans, the same rules apply to your parrot.
Thus, why so many parrot owners look to the magical wonders of a cuttlebone to give them.
Still, it’s vital to know what you should do about this subject and where to begin.
Nevertheless, down below, we’re going to discuss everything there is to know about cuttlebones for parrots.
We’ll discuss what one is, what some benefits are, and what some negatives are.
From there, we’ll go over a wide range of other information related to this subject for you to check out.
Be sure to utilize this information to help you properly give your parrot some cuttlebones, as well as being more knowledgeable on the subject.
Knowledge is essential when it comes to raising a parrot, so let’s get started!
What’s a cuttlebone?
A cuttlebone is defined as the flattened oval internal skeleton of a cuttlefish, for those who don’t know.
It is made of a white and light, chalky material.
Besides being used as a dietary supplement for parrots and other birds, it’s also used for making casts for precious metal items.
Since it comes from a cuttlefish, many animal-rights activists and vegans have issues giving their parrots a cuttlebone.
However, if you don’t have any problem with this, there’s nothing to worry about, but it’s worth highlighting anyway.
Besides coming from a cuttlefish, the actual benefit of a parrot eating a cuttlebone is impossible to deny.
Cuttlebones are as popular as they are for parrots because of the immense benefits they give to parrots.
It’s generally recommended that anyone who is raising a bird of any kind supplement them with a cuttlebone.
Besides the supplement part of the cuttlebone, there isn’t any other reason to give your parrot one, unless you want them to be more active.
The supplement itself doesn’t necessarily make them more active, but the way they have to consume it causes them to move around more.
Basically, they can’t be lazy when they try to eat it.
What are some benefits of cuttlebones for parrots?
As touched upon earlier, there are a lot of benefits of cuttlebones for parrots.
It’s fairly remarkable how something from a shell of a cuttlefish can be so great for parrots, but it is what it is.
However, it’s not recommended you go out searching for cuttlefish for their cuttlebones.
There are plenty of companies that offer cuttlebones, most of which are very affordable.
Find a reputable company and consider giving your parrot a dietary supplement of a cuttlebone.
From there, you’ll be able to consistently put an order in from a great company you trust.
It’s always ideal to have a company you can go to whenever you need something, plus it’s never recommended to try and find cuttlebones yourself.
Plus, depending on where you live, you might not even have access to cuttlefish near you.
Nevertheless, here are the main benefits of cuttlebones for parrots:
Cuttlebone Benefits Bone Formation In Parrots
Just like us, bone formation and strength are an essential makeup of the longevity associated with a parrot.
Not getting the proper nutrients needed for a healthy bone structure and strength can hinder a parrot as they age.
Plus, if they don’t get what they need at a younger age, don’t be surprised to find your parrot aging a lot quicker than you’d initially expect.
With this in mind, cuttlebones greatly benefit the bone formation and strength of a parrot, which is always a massive plus.
Cuttlebone is Good for Parrots Blood Flow
Besides bone structure and formation, parrots need to have an excellent overall blood flow as well.
Similar to us, if they blocked concentrations across their body, they can have a blood clot or something more severe like a heart attack.
Whether you’re aware of it or not, it’s prevalent for parrots to experience severe issues such as a blood clot or heart attack.
Even more common is for them to have some form of a heart disease, so always be mindful of helping their overall blood flow.
Cuttlebones certainly fall under that category of a benefit.
Cuttlebone Is A Good Source of Calcium For Parrots
Right next to benefitting the bone strength and formation of a parrot is the source of calcium.
Bone strength and calcium are typically synonyms for one another, and cuttlebones are primarily given to parrots and other birds since they tend to lack calcium.
Even if you give your parrot a significant amount of food that’s high in calcium, it’s always ideal for supplementing on top of it.
Plus, cuttlebones are typically inexpensive, meaning you can give them several benefits without any large cost.
Cuttlebone Helps Parrots Stay Active
Since parrots have to work to digest a cuttlebone, they tend to be very active with how they consume.
It’s not as straightforward as traditional bird food since they have to pluck it a lot more while venturing up in their cage to get it in the first place.
The supplement itself doesn’t give them a burst of energy.
Still, it’s the actual act of how they consume that theoretically causes them to be more active.
However, if your parrot has no interest in messing with the cuttlebone, then there’s nothing to note about it.
Cuttlebone could be used to help to polish parrots beaks
Besides using cuttlebone to make casts for precious metal items, humans will sometimes add cuttlebone to their toothpaste to help polish their teeth.
Think of it as a natural teeth-whitening ingredient, and that same rule can apply to parrots.
Parrots obviously don’t have teeth, but cuttlebone also works as a polishing element for their beak.
Considering their beaks can get quite dirty as time passes, it’s always ideal to have something that can tidy them up without you having to really do anything.
What are some negatives of cuttlebones?
As great as the benefits are for cuttlebones, it’s worth highlighting the negatives tied to them.
Considering there’s always an amount of negativity associated with any product, don’t let these negatives sway you from checking out cuttlebones for your parrot.
Still, definitely make a note of them.
Here are a couple of common negatives of cuttlebones:
Efficiency Varies Greatly
Like many other dietary supplements, efficiency varies vastly when it comes to cuttlebones and their overall effectiveness.
As a result, some may benefit your parrot a lot more.
In contrast, others might not do anything to actually benefit them.
It’s worth highlighting in either sense; just be mindful of the reviews associated with the cuttlebone you plan on going with.
Your Parrot Might not Bother With it
Even if you invest in an excellent all-around cuttlebone, there’s a good chance your parrot might not bother with it at all.
Considering cuttlebones have a relatively acquired taste for parrots, pickier parrots tend to have an issue consuming them.
Be mindful of how your parrot might react and if it’s worth it for you to try or not.
How do I give my parrot cuttlebone?
Unlike other birds, parrots will actually chew cuttlebone raw, meaning you don’t have to do much other than hang the cuttlebone in their cage or set it at the bottom of their cage.
As for the amount you should give them, be sure to read the instructions on the specific cuttlebone you buy since every one varies slightly in that regard.
If your parrot doesn’t like chewing them, considering scraping a few bits off with their typical food.
Where do I Buy Cuttlebones?
As for where you can go about buying cuttlebones, there are plenty of options for you to check out online that’ll ship it to you immediately.
There are these ones on Amazon you could get and there are even mango and banana flavored ones which you can also find on Amazon.
If you don’t like the online world as much, most local pet stores and avian vets should be able to get you some locally.