Natural Calcium for Birds

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.

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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