Low calcium, what could help?

[Featheredsamurai]

So About 5 weeks ago when I took Rosie to the vet for a checkup I was told she had low calcium. I already new this because she had close to no feather dust, it's getting better but still has a ways to go.

Here's what I'm giving to her now,
Cuttle bone that she only nibbles on occasion, dark leafy greens, almonds and walnuts(training treats). I thinking about picking up a calcium perch as well.

Are sea shells and sanitized egg shells safe for birds to chew on?

Is there anything I'm missing that I could try?

 

[QuackQuack]

If you can get their calcium to them through food it is best. Dark leafy greens such as bok choy, broccoli, and spinach have calcium as well as almonds Many herbs have calcium in them as do sesame seeds, flaxseeds, and tofu!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

If you can get their calcium to them through food it is best. Dark leafy greens such as bok choy, broccoli, and spinach have calcium as well as almonds Many herbs have calcium in them as do sesame seeds, flaxseeds, and tofu!

She loooves dark leafy greens(kale, spinach, broccoli). She isn't too fond of almonds, I've tried including slivers into her diet or as treats but she hates them and prefers walnuts lol. I'll add bok choy to my list.

Is Tofu safe? I've been reading a lot of recent studies about how soy products how soy products may not be good for birds. I'd love to try it though, I'll call my vet tomorrow just so I feel better about it I've thought about giving her herbs but for some reason I always hesitated, I'll look into safe herbs for birds

Thank you so much, you've added a few new things to her diet that should help

 

[QuackQuack]

If you can get their calcium to them through food it is best. Dark leafy greens such as bok choy, broccoli, and spinach have calcium as well as almonds Many herbs have calcium in them as do sesame seeds, flaxseeds, and tofu!

She loooves dark leafy greens(kale, spinach, broccoli). She isn't too fond of almonds, I've tried including slivers into her diet or as treats but she hates them and prefers walnuts lol. I'll add bok choy to my list.

Is Tofu safe? I've been reading a lot of recent studies about how soy products how soy products may not be good for birds. I'd love to try it though, I'll call my vet tomorrow just so I feel better about it I've thought about giving her herbs but for some reason I always hesitated, I'll look into safe herbs for birds

Thank you so much, you've added a few new things to her diet that should help

Ah! You are totally right about the tofu - there is a lot of controversy with it... I'm up too late :22: Soy has a lot of phytoestrogens!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I've been looking around a few parrot websites, I'm excited to go to the store and get some nice new leafy greens for Rosie

Do you know if Mustard greens are ok for parrots? right now there are massive fields of mustard all over, many in county parks where they don't use pesticides.

 

[QuackQuack]

Kitchen Physician - Greening of the Parrot Diet
I haven't fed them myself, but my tagged articles seem to say collard and mustard greens are OK. I would ID the species and check with the vet or someone with more birds than I. This link is especially for ekkies but informative!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Kitchen Physician - Greening of the Parrot Diet
I haven't fed them myself, but my tagged articles seem to say collard and mustard greens are OK. I would ID the species and check with the vet or someone with more birds than I. This link is especially for ekkies but informative!

I'll do that, although I'll admit the more I think about it the more I feel nervous about bringing in the mustard from those fields. I'd hate if I don't rinse them well and put a tick in her cage or some other bad bug lol I think I might just stick to store bought and I'll see if my mom would want to plant some herbs

Thanks for the link!

 

[Spiritbird]

If you can find them, unhulled sesame seeds are 35% calcium. Not the ones out of the hull. Dandelion greens that are not contaminated (organic) is another good source of calcium. Tofu turnip greens and watermelon are other good calcium sources. Don't forget about hard boiled egg. Here again it is best to get local ones and wash the shell before cooking.

 

[Molcan2]

Just curious, what did your vet suggest? I would be concerned that they didn't go over all of your options with you. How low is it? Does it require a supplement for a little while or was it just a little off and in need of a better diet. You haven't had her very long right? It may just be that you put her on a good pelleted food supplemented with vegetables and recheck and her levels will be normal. Shes already made a HUGE amount of progress in your house already. I'm still surprised that your vet didn't make a diet plan for you.

 

[aliray]

Thanks Quack Quack Very informative article. Alison and sweetie pie

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Just curious, what did your vet suggest? I would be concerned that they didn't go over all of your options with you. How low is it? Does it require a supplement for a little while or was it just a little off and in need of a better diet. You haven't had her very long right? It may just be that you put her on a good pelleted food supplemented with vegetables and recheck and her levels will be normal. Shes already made a HUGE amount of progress in your house already. I'm still surprised that your vet didn't make a diet plan for you.

She didn't need any supplements, she just told me to feed her lots of dark leafy greens(specifically broccoli, kale. spinach) and to remove a birdie breads and cooked grains from her diet until she has fully recovered. Also along with having low calcium she was underweight, but much better then she used to be. When I got Rosie she only weighed 250grams, now she's at 270 and I think that is very close to her correct weight because she's a smaller galah. She also told me to feed her Harrison's, and gave me a small list of foods high in vitamins. Rosie hated the harrison's so after I pretty much through away 2 bags I just got the top organics which she likes.

The vet said that when I got her she was probably starting to get organ failure, but suddenly getting lots of fresh foods and getting onto a healthier seed, then a pellet diet turned her around.

Thanks all all the great ideas, I feel like I have a lot more options now

 

[Pedro]

- Calcium cannot be absorbed without Vitamin D3 already in the system
- Vitamin D3 is produced by the body through exposure to direct sunlight

So a daily dose of good old direct sunlight will make all the difference As well as a great diet.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

- Calcium cannot be absorbed without Vitamin D3 already in the system
- Vitamin D3 is produced by the body through exposure to direct sunlight

So a daily dose of good old direct sunlight will make all the difference As well as a great diet.

That's awesome, I already take her out pretty often with her harness on. I'll start taking her out to sit in the backyard with me more