Cuttlefish found on beach - can this be given to my aviary birds (cockatiel and canaries) and does it have to?

Question

Does it have to be boiled or soaked in clean water to get rid of the salt from the sea? Thank you!

Answer 1

I bought a sackful back from the beach - soaked it thoroughly in clean water then dried it by leaving in the oven on a low heat for a couple of hours.  My budgie loved the stuff and it lasted for months stored in an airtight container - even sold some to my local petshop.

Answer 2

No worries, a quick dust off then shove it in the cage.

Answer 3

I have collected Cuttle bone from the beach on many occasions,I always gave it a rinse in clean water then put it in the Microwave oven for 1/2min.to kill any bugs.

The Sea salt will do no harm and is beneficial to the birds I also collected seaweed and gave this to my birds as it contains Iodine and other minerals.

Answer 4

One rule of thumb I go by with  my birds is, if it is dirty, they don't eat it.

Meaning anything that is wild.

My parrot just means way to much to get sick over anything. My keets too (though they wont eat what my parrot will).....

Though I guess some peoples birds were not born in captivity.....

Answer 5

We often found cuttlefish bones on the beach and gave them to our Budgie.  We always cleaned them thoroughly and then boiled them for about 10 minutes.  Never did the bird any harm.  As it's been in salt water it is probably quite safe anyway without the boiling, but we always did just to be on the safe side.

Answer 6

sure can, give them a quick rinse under fresh cool water first though.

Answer 7

I would wash it off really well before you offered it.

Answer 8

I normally just give it a quick rinse under the tap and then put it straight in the cage.

Answer 9

yes you can give your cuttlefish from the beech as long as you clean it thoroughly. i use to give my birds this and it did no harm.if fact they seemed to enjoy it more than the pet shops

Answer 10

I agree with the first answer, just rinse it and stick it into the side of the cage.