VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

GRIT FEEDING

Birds cannot grind up their food. They can break the seeds open with their beaks, but the actual grinding of the food takes place in the proventriculus. This is accomplished with the aid of grit that must be supplied in their diet. Grit is available in two forms, soluble and insoluble. The soluble form is usually oyster shell that breaks down and serves as a source of minerals. The insoluble form is usually crushed granite, the insoluble grit provides the primary base for which the food material is rubbed and worked against to grind the food up. Grit should be available to the birds at all times. Cuttlefish bone should be provided as a source of calcium; cuttlefish are marine mollusks. Female birds need a supply of calcium for the making of egg shells. Some small birds may have trouble in breaking or chewing off pieces of the cuttlefish bone; pieces may have to be cut or shaved off for them.