An Interesting Observation About Grit - Page 6

07-27-2008, 06:10 AM

Is that grit the 'regular' kind that is mostly sand? Because if it is, it'll behoove you to get the one that has mostly water soluble minerals and just a tiny little bit of sand mixed. It's a 100 times safer and it provides minerals they need anyway.

07-27-2008, 08:01 AM

Bea - it is this kind: Hartz Gravel 'n Grit: Gravel, Calcium Carbonate, & Sorbolite Clay.

It is hard to say what is what - it all looks like beige sand .... They found it again this morning & had another tiny bit.

07-29-2008, 12:24 PM

Hartz is mostly sand or gravel or grit or whatever they want to call it which translates into teensy, weensy pieces of stone. Try to get some of the better one, like ABBA's. It also has a bit of sand in it (if I remember correctly, about 3%) but it's mostly water soluble minerals.

07-29-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beatriz Cazeneuve

Hartz is mostly sand or gravel or grit or whatever they want to call it which translates into teensy, weensy pieces of stone. Try to get some of the better one, like ABBA's. It also has a bit of sand in it (if I remember correctly, about 3%) but it's mostly water soluble minerals.

Looking at the photo it seems like there are some pretty big chunks, and some pieces that look like they have some pretty sharp edges. Really no mention in the links of just how water "soluble" the mix is.

Mineral

ABBA Complete Cage Bird Diet

07-30-2008, 06:19 AM

Yes, it does look sharp in the picture but it's not. The pieces are very small and they are not sharp at all, it's actually quite soft to the touch when you put in your hand... almost chalky. And the solubility is easy to figure out, all you have to do is look at the ingredients.

07-30-2008, 08:55 AM

I agree, if you plan on using grit, ABBA is the way to go, and it smells fantastic.

07-30-2008, 08:57 AM

Interesting. I did see grit that looked like the ABBA brand and I wasn't sure if the size and everything was suitable for a budgie. But I didn't buy any and was just looking at it through the container so I didn't feel it.

07-30-2008, 09:03 AM

as for the size......it breaks up easily when they they "chew" it. It's like small soft flakes of minerals. You could easily crush it with your fingernails. We used to get it in big 25lbs bags, in the bird shop I worked at a long time ago. We also used to use it a kitty litter for the shop cat, weird I know but it worked really well.

07-30-2008, 07:32 PM

How's this stuff look. Seems to have many of the same ingredients as the ABBA grit. Can’t seem to locate anyone locally who carries the ABBA brand.

Kaytee Hi Cal Grit - Health Care - PetSmart

07-30-2008, 07:51 PM

Not sure what kind I have -- my finches and canaries go nuts over it, some of the budgies eat it and some don't; tiels and ringies are not at all interested. Since most of my birds are rehomed, I don't know what they used to think was "normal". After the novelty wears off, they don't eat much of it, but someone will be chomping every day or two. Mine are outside year round and get plenty of sun, cuttlebone, mineral blocks, etc. I offer it periodically to everyone, and have not had any problems that I can attribute to it.