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Natural Calcium for Birds

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    Calcium Sources and Absorbability

    Bird Nutrition

    Most of us are aware of the serious health issues caused by a calcium-deficient diet, but very few of us understand the risks associated with an EXCESSIVE dietary calcium intake that is generally associated with fortified diets (pellets) and over-supplementation, which may lead to hypercalcemia – also known as “milk alkali syndrome” – which basically means that the calcium levels in the blood are elevated.

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    Why Does My Bird Bite and What To Do About It

      Symptoms of Hypocalcaemia (low calcium levels) are:

      • Poor eggshell formation
      • Poor bone health
      • Unhealthy heart
      • Seizures
      • Nervousness

      Symptoms of Hypercalcaemia (elevated calcium levels) are:

      • Vomiting
      • Constipation
      • Abdominal pain
      • Lameness
      • Calcification of the kidneys
      • Breeding Birds: Hens may not be able to lay eggs; or chicks may not be able to break out of shells
      • Death

      Excellent supplemental sources of calcium for your bird are:

      • Leafy, dark green vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, mustard greens, broccoli, dandelion greens, bokchoy, parsley, and collard greens
      • Beans, such as kidney beans, chickpeas, pinto beans, black beans and soybeans (only to be fed COOKED – raw beans are slightly toxic)
      • Dried fruits, such as apricots, raisins and figs – please feed in moderation since they are too high in sugar
      • Nuts and Seeds, such as sesame seeds or tahini, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds – feed in moderation since most nuts and seeds are high in fat, but they make healthy snacks
      • Other: Bone, Cheese, Yogurt; as well as sanitized Eggshell, Oyster shell, Cuttlefish bone, and Mineral blocks

      Rich sources of magnesium for your bird are:

      • Nuts: almonds, cashews and Brazil nuts
      • Seeds: Sunflower, flax, pumpkin and chia seeds
      • Legumes: lentils, beans (boiled), chickpeas, peas and soybeans
      • Darkgreen, leafy vegetables,such as broccoli and spinach
      • Whole grains, such as buckwheat and quinoa
      • Apples

      Vitamin D

      • Fatty fish (like tuna, mackerel and salmon)
      • Cheese
      • Egg yolks
      • Beef liver
      • Full-spectrum lighting**
      • Access to DIRECT sunlight – window glass absorbs a lot of the necessary ultraviolet radiation needed to form Vitamin D
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