Sarah- your Jerry is a real trooper - he'll try anything you give him. I wonder if Winston will try another time or if Lulu will try again.

Neither of mine are like that.

Is that brand of grit have pretty small sized? The stuff I use looks about the size of sand, and is very light tan colored. I don't recall the brand name since I transferred the grit from the box to a sealed glass jar many years ago. It might be 8-in-1 or Hartz but couldn't say for sure.

It's interesting that they haven't shown any interest in it ... maybe mine are abnormal.

Yes it is sand like & white thru tan in colours. Hartz has been around a long time. I can see why you transfered it! It was leaking at the store! I put the box in a bag.

I might try the Oyster shell & charcoal next week.

I'll keep offering it to them. Unlike your birds, mine are pretty suspicious of most new things - Laker especially. If I could get Rio to look at it maybe he'd try it. My husband put the water back in the saucer this morning. I'm trying to think of a container for it & will look for one like yours.

I bought a small container & put it in Laker's cage with a few pinches of grit.

Last evening I hear bang,..... bang , bang,.... bang, bang. Laker is picking up the small tray & dropping it - he obviously wants it out of the cage & the grit is still inside. This happened after they were in bed. I took it out. Maybe later.

Sounds like Laker was maybe just playing with the small container. I need to take a video of Pogo & Ziggy going after grit. It's like they are absolutely starving for it when they see it.

I noticed Pogo seemed to be constipated a few days ago, so I offered him some grit and he ate it steady for about a minute. He seems to be back to normal now. Could be a coincidence, but I'm wondering if it help his digestion.

I'm wondering if there is any bearing on if the parents and past blood line of a Budgie who ate grit some how passes on the innate need for grit. In other words, if say Pogo & Ziggy's parents came from a breeder who feed grit to his Budgies, then maybe that passes on the innate craving for grit to their offspring. Whereas, if say Later and Rio came from a blood line that never experienced grit, maybe their innate need is gone. Just a thought and it could be possible. I know crows can pass on behaviors through their genes, so maybe it's the same way with Budgies.

Interesting idea. But even though the Budgie has a long line of breeding in captivity I still see them as hard wired bird. But in this I really have no idea if it could happen.

The bottom line is they are suspicious - it took them 4 months to approach a small piece of balsa for pits sake! So I am not about to give up here. One day you will hear 'they tried it!' ... one day.

Yes he was probably playing - but I know Laker - when he is tired of something he treats it very badly. I think he wanted that new bowl out of his cage. he never does that with his seed bowl.

Laker has been really proactive these last couple of days. Maybe he's feeling good. He has returned to being my constant companion while I type.

We have this river rock - limestone - as a coaster. It is looking a bit worn what with the odd coffee spill. [It has been cleaned more than once] Laker goes over there today looking for the cup & starts checking out the rock - he likes to cuddle against the cups. I run into the other room & get the bowl of grit.

I put a pinch on the rock. It is a hit They both tried it a few times. I of course started to worry they'd eat too much but they stopped after a few nibbles.

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Interesting ... and they have never really seen grit before, yet they went for some. Hard wired for grit must be the answer.

I plan on trying to get a video of Pogo & Ziggy going for grit ... you would think they were eating the best millet in the world.

I offered some again tonight & they both took a few grains.

I think they like to roll it around in their beaks & crunch at it - it was noisy. Laker was working his beak like he does after a millet frenzy - very animated.