I cannot emphasize enough how necessary cuttlebone is to birds, but attaching one to a birdie’s cage can be tricky.
Cuttlebone holders purchased from local pet stores or online E-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, are the apparent options for the average parrot owner… but most do not like them because, at times, the metal attachment is not wide enough to go around two adjacent cage bars, plus other trivial but rather annoying flaws.
I buy mine at PetSmart, but the metal attachments need to be wider The cuttlebone falls right off anytime my bird brushes on it: Lauren, Parrot Forums.
Now, my alternative to using a cuttlebone holder to attach a bone to the cage is with a zip tie, jute, foldback, or bulldog clips, but making a hole through then using your preferred (of the mentioned) items to hold it in place works better. The trick helps ensure the cuttlebone is almost wholly available for your bird to peck on.
Read on for more insight on attaching cuttlebones to your bird’s cage and even how to make a cuttlefish bone holder in case the options you have don’t work.
Where to Put Cuttlebone in Your Bird’s Cage
There are several places to put cuttlefish bones in a cage, but I prefer to hang mine with a zip tie to the side between two vertical bars, with the longer end (99 percent) of the bone inside the pen. I ensure the zip lock goes in drilled holes through the cuttlebone and around the bars to keep it firmly in place.
I know some bird parents prefer cuttlebone holders, but I never manage to keep them from tipping over.
How to Make A Cuttlebone Holder
Making your own cuttlebone holder will not only save you recurrent expenditures on the less-than-adequate store-bought holder but also give you the chance to add your own creativity and embellishments. A well-designed DIY cuttlebone holder will be sturdy and spruce your bird’s cage batter.
You will need a few supplies and time to follow through the steps to make one.
What You Need to Make A Cuttlebone Holder
Realistically, you only need very few items to make a cuttlebone holder for your birds, most of which you may already have in your house.
While making mine, I use:
- Zip ties, jute or clips,
- Cuttlebone,
- Drill, Scissors, or pocket knife.
Now, after you have all your supplies, take your cuttlebone and gently cut a hole centrally through it. I use scissors or a pocket knife, but a drill will also do.
A drill is much faster, and you’ll get a cleaner cut. Once you have the hole in place, take your zip ties and pass them through the hole, then attach them to the bars of your cage. If you want a more rustic feel, you can use jute.
Zip ties are best when you want some pomp and color in your birdie’s cage, but if you have a large cuttlebone, such as those you would get from the beach, use something more sturdy, like fold or bulldog clips.
Remember, cuttlefish bone is not a material that is too strong, so when making the hole through it, be sure not to break it. Drill the hole gently, keeping an eye on weak points on your piece, especially if you purchased it from a pet store.
You have more leeway to experiment if cuttlebone is readily available on your local beach since you can run there and get another piece if you lose one.
How to Give Your Bird, Budgie Cuttlebone
Now that you know how to attach a cuttlebone to a bird’s cage, you need to learn how and when to feed your bird (parrot) cuttlefish.
Yes, calcium is necessary for your bird, but as with everything under the sun, too much of it, well, let’s say it’s not good for his kidneys or mineralization. So, please ensure you offer them (your bird) cuttlebone in moderation.
The best way to do this is to hang the cuttlebone on the cage for your bird to chew, with the soft side facing him since it’s tender enough to scrape through.
This way, he can access it whenever he wants, but you can also take it away from him pretty quickly if you think he has had too much.
Note that the hard side of the cuttlebone might be good for your birdie’s grooming needs but might be too hard for it to graze on, especially for younger birds.
You do not want your feathered pet to lose interest in the cuttlebone, because it’s too hard to miss the calcium supplement and grooming.
At times, your bird might also not be interested in cuttlefish bone even if it’s tender enough, in which case, break it into tiny bits and sprinkle it over his food.
Can Birds Have Too Much Cuttlebone
Yes, a bird can have too much cuttlebone, harming its health. In fact, some vets say they observe more problems resulting from calcium over-supplementation than deficiencies. So, it helps to know how much is enough for your bird and stick to that amount. Perhaps the only times you would want to offer him more cuttlebone are when he is molting or during egg formation.
Remember to also consider other calcium sources for your birdie when estimating how much cuttlebone is enough for him. Any other way, too much cuttlebone will cause your feathered pet to have kidney problems. Excess cuttlebone will not likely harm your birdies in the short term, especially if he is on a seed-based diet with minimal multivitamins and calcium supplements.
The problem comes when cuttlebone is given continuously for months or years, including outside the egg formation or molting period.
Some seasoned bird owners also argue that cuttlebone is low-grade calcium, and your birdie can not suffer for ingesting excess amounts unless you’re offering him other calcium-rich bitings concurrently.
That’s all for this post. I look forward to seeing you in the next one.
All the best to a cool, awesome birdie parent.
