Thanks guys. Unfortunately where I am right now it is pretty much impossible to take them outside or even open a window, it is so cold. But it's starting to warm up, so hopefully soon I can at least open up a window and let them soak up some sun.

Is there a reason why Calcivet is better than any of the comparable brands on the market? Just asking cause I saw a few others and was wondering if they would not be suitable... One is "Calcium Plus" (CALCIUM PLUS 4 OZ. - 16 OZ. - WHAT'S NEW & EXCITING! by Bird Paradise) and Avitec also makes a few, I think one is called Cal-D Solve or something.

Sorry don't know...I use Calcivet coz it's the only one available at a good price in my favourite parrot supply shop.

To be honest maggy you'd probably be fine without the calcivet if you're out at least 30 mins a day. Wish I could do that lol.

ABC is correct, Maggy. I would NOT give a bird that is outside regularly any calcium supplements and much, much less, vitamin D3 which accumulates in fat in the liver because the body cannot get rid of it (it was never meant to be ingested but produced by the body itself as it's needed). An excess of vitamin D3 is cause for fatty liver disease.

I use Calciboost but, mostly, when the hens are laying and very little at that because, on that time of the year, I keep all the windows open so they can sun bathe.

FS light does not provide enough UV for vitamin D3 production and UV lights are to be used only for emergencies as ALL of them were created for reptiles and amphibians which have a completely different type of eyes (UV burns the avian cornea).

The truth of the matter is that calcium and vit D3 supplementing is incredibly hard to do right because too much is as bad as too little and it's very, very, very hard to determine what is just right. Pellets are no guarantee either because I know of birds that have gone eggbound eating Harrison's.

I have never use FSL. I have big windows in the bird room that allows plenty of sunlight, and they all get fresh fruits and veggies everyday along with their pellet, seed and nut mixture. I don't add extra supplements either.

Do you have the windows open? Cause with them closed the glass will block most of the short wave UV radiation.

Lotus15 I have to appologise to you, I posted incorrect info, the stuff I give Dusty is Avian Science calsium, with 28.8g/100ml of calcium glubionate and 5.9g/100ml calcium lactobionate which equates to 22mg/100ml of calcium. This does not have Vit D. When I began giving it I checked that it did not have Vit D...I had forgotten this, sorry if I gave you a "bumsteer". Bea and abc you gave me a "heart attack" (just about) as I said I had checked but forgotten about the Vit D....you were both right of course...thank you for trying to stop me killing my girl..even though it wasn't necissary. I do worry about overdosage of suppliments, so when/if I give any thing I give less than the recommended amount (unless instructed by a vet..so far not needed) as Dusty eats well of a good diet. By the way Bea how are all your sick birds? I've been away and haven't caught up on their progress.

Ahhh, thank goodness for that, Maggy! I almost had a heart attack when I read your posting, too! And thank you for asking, there have been no new sick birds and all of them are well except for Nathan, a 25 year old female Blue Front Amazon -yes, 'her' name is Nathan) who I was sure was going to die but for whom I now have a very cautious and guarded hope for her recovery as she started eating a little better yesterday and seems to be a bit stronger today.

Oh that's great news Bea..hope Nathan continues to improve, fingers crossed!