Pet Forum / Birds / Parrots / October 2005

Some quotes:

From http://www.cockatiels.org/articles/nutrition/vfeed.html
Grit is not necessary for parrots because the food is soft enough for the
gizzard to grind up. Grit may be dangerous because ill birds may gorge
themselves on grit and block their digestive system. Therefore do no give
parrots (including "parakeets") grit.

From: http://www.petpublishing.com/birdtimes/articles/grit.shtml
Remember that parrot-type birds shell their food, and there is no doubt that
they can digest their food very well without any grit at all. Having said this,
offering very small amounts of mineralized health grit (containing calcium and
trace minerals in substances like oyster shell) seems like a safe and healthy
way of pleasing your parrot. Use only a reputable brand, as certain types of
bulk oyster shell have been criticized for containing contaminants. Do not offer
grit to a pet bird that is ill, as in some cases the sick bird will consume too
much grit.

From: http://www.birdhouse.resteddoginn.ca/care.php
Some birds however, will eat gravel to excess and there is a lot of debate in
the scientific community as to whether or not gravel is necessary to aid
digestion. The concensus seems to be that birds that hull their seed (like all
parrots, including cockatiels) do NOT need grit, whereas birds like pigeons and
chickens that eat their seed whole, DO need grit for grinding the seed in their
gizzards We haven't provided gravel since 1993 and have not seen any ill
effects. The only "grit" you may wish to provide for your bird is crushed
oystershell, it dissolves in the bird intestinal tract and will provide valuable
minerals to the bird (and possibly toxins, depending on where the oysters were
harvested!!)

From: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/9510/diet/basic_diet.html
Grit, along with those vitamins, is found in many pet stores and in those
starter kits that come with many cockatiel cages. Grit, along with those
vitamins, is unnecessary, and potentially dangerous to cockatiels. A lot of
people with tell you that pet birds need grit to aid their gizzards to grind up
food. However, cockatiels and other hookbills hull the seeds they eat, so their
gizzards do not need the extra abrasion grit provides. Insoluble grit will stay
in the gizzard, and can cause intestinal disorders -- even death.

From: http://www.parrotchronicles.com/spring2002/speciesspotlight.htm

Like any other hookbill, cockatiels should never be offered grit, avocado,
chocolate or caffeinated items

From:
http://www.uexpress.com/printable/print.html?uc_full_date=20010401&uc_comic=pc

Still, some birds can make use of a small amount of grit. Canaries and other
finches should be allowed a couple of grains every couple of months. Other
birds, from budgies, cockatiels and lovebirds on up, don't need grit at all and
shouldn't be offered it.