Cuttlebones and
Mineral Blocks

Every budgie should have a mineral block in its cage. Mineral blocks are made largely of calcium minerals. This vital element is used not only in bones but in metabolism and in egg production. Ideally, the block will contain other nutrients, especially iodine, as budgies sometimes get deficiencies in this nutrient. Iodine-containing mineral blocks are often orange, but not all orange blocks contain iodine -- check the ingredients!

Besides mineral block, excellent budgie supplements include cuttlebones, which also provide calcium, though not other minerals. Budgies love to chew on them, especially females.

If your budgie doesn't touch its mineral block or cuttlebone, don't worry. Sometimes these items are ignored for months, then almost consumed in a single day! Your bird will nibble according to its needs.

Cuttlebones don't look like any kind of bone most people have ever seen before. So what's a cuttlebone?

Well, in fact, it's not a bone at all. It's the shell from a sea-going mollusc called a cuttlefish (which isn't a fish at all). Cuttlefishes are cephalopods and are related to the octopus, the squid, and the chambered nautilus. The cuttlefish's shell is entirely internal -- an oval-shaped object inside the animal's body.

The cuttlebone is made primarily of calcium carbonate (real bones are made primarily of calcium phosphate). That means that it does indeed provide calcium (assuming the bird swallows some of what it chews). But it doesn't provide other vital nutrients, including iodine. For these nutrients, a mineral block should be provided to your birds.