I've had quite a few Budgies over the years, and with the early Budgies I had usually supplied some clean grit for them in a small feeder that clipped to the side of the cage. They seemed to eat it when ever they felt like it.

Well, I've collected a few books on Budgies lately, and have tired to determine the "experts" consensus on giving grit to Budgies ... it seems there is no clear consensus except that if they eat too much it could cause problems (ie, crop impaction).

So, as an experiment I decided I would offer Pogo and Ziggy some grit that I still have (it's very small in size, clean grit that has been sealed well) to see what they would do. They have never seen grit before, so I was curious to see what they would do.

I put some in a small dish and basically held it near them. Pogo came over, looked at it and instantly started eating it, and Ziggy followed suit not long after. To me, this can only mean that their brains are innately wired to recognize and want grit, as obviously there can't be any taste, etc involved like food.

I've decided to offer it to them by hand once every couple of weeks and let them eat it for a few minutes ... that way they can't over indulge. The way they acted, it seems they crave it and probably need at least a little bit in their diet.

So what do other here do in terms of feeding grit? Does anyone really think it's harmful or not necessary? Any explanation why they would dig into it like that if they've never seen it before? They are more leery of new foods then they were with the introduction of grit.

I don't believe in giving grit. My budgies are provided with a mineral block and cuttlefish. I have heard that budgies go after grit because of the minerals they need. Budgies are seed eaters which has very little of the trace elements naturally.

Pogo & Ziggy don't do much with their cuddle bone ... it's barely chewed on. I just believe the Budgies know better than we do if they need grit or not. I firmly believe after what I saw that their brains are wired to eat it for reasons we probably don't fully realize.

I'm sure in the wild they eat some grit, just like many wild birds do that need it.

That is an interesting observation. I've never given grit to them mainly because I've read that they don't need it. Jerry loves his cuttlebone, but I can't get Winston to touch his at all - so this has peaked my interest.

This is very interesting. Like Sarah, I never offer grit because of everything I have read. But I remember when I was a child we always put grit on the bottom of the budgies cage and they always would eat it.
Neither of my guys will touch their cuttlebone. Now I am thinking I might try what Hayabusa has. I, too, wonder why they would go after it so vigorously since it has no taste. Hmmmmmmm

I am confused.

I really don't have an opinion.

I don't give grit because they don't need it to digest. Like Angie said they are OK without. I was recently going thru some [good quality] Budgie books & they said offer grit - & they also said clip their wings for safety & to tame them & keep them tame. They didn't offer it as a discussion. Could they be wrong in both cases?

My 2 are more interested in the mineral/calcium block I put up but they also work the cuttle bone a bit.

I hope it goes well for you & your birds. Keep us informed. See if they loose interest once the novelty wears off.

Like I said earlier, I plan to only let them have grit once every week or two under my "hand offered supervision". It will not be left in the cage all the time ... all though I have done that in the past with prior Budgies and they seemed to only eat it when they wanted to -- similar to a Budgie eating a cuttlebone or mineral block when they needed to.

My opinion is that they know when to eat grit, just like they know when to eat a cuttlebone or mineral block. I see no reason why they would eat grit instantly having never seen it before in their lives when they are reluctant to eat most things (like human foods) the first time they see it.

If only those little guys could tell us why they eat the grit ... we could all stop guessing and reading sometimes conflicting info in books from the “experts”.

From your experience they simply see it as an aid. Maybe grit serves some other purpose, than as a seed huller for other types of birds - maybe it helps cleanse their system.

Your point about them seeing something as positive, when they are normally hesitant, has merit.

Scott when reading those statements the first thing that came to my mind was, "How do I explain why Jerry has wanted to eat paper towels ever since he's seen them.." He does try to eat paper towels if I have them in my hand