Iodine, Calcium and Vitamin D
Iodine
Iodine is important for all birds. without iodine your bird could develop problems with their thyroid gland. To provide your bird with iodine you could use a iodine bell (pink bell), a calcium & iodine perch or some of the vitamin supplements contain iodine.
Calcium
All birds no matter of age or species need calcium. It is extremely important when birds are young to help bone, muscle, brain and nerves development. They require it through their life to keep their bone and muscle strong and healthy. When they reach maturity the hen requires calcium in large amounts to help develop the eggs and reduces egg binding. Calcium is available in many different forms and these different form suit different birds.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D supports the absorption for calcium and phosphate from food or supplements, it also supplies the skeleton with mineral salts. Lack of vitamin D reduces calcium absorption which will effect the development of your birds’ bones, muscles, brain and nerves. Providing your bird with vitamin D is as easy as putting your bird outside in the sun (not just next to the window as vitamin D can not pass though windows). When doing this you must allow for part of the cage to be shaded, so if the bird is hot it can move out of the sun. If you are unable to move your bird in to the sun there is a supplement that can be put in to the water, this come in to forms.
