Calcium: Its Sources And Importance For Ornamental Birds

Calcium:

It is a chemical element in the periodic table of elements with atomic number 20 and symbol Ca. A silvery white alkaline earth metal, it is the fifth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It is considered an essential mineral for living organisms due to its important role in the functions of living cells.

Calcium is an essential element in the healthy diet of living beings. Its deficiency leads to problems in the formation of bones, beaks and nails, while increasing its dose leads to the formation of kidney stones. The body needs vitamin D in order to complete the process of absorbing calcium. It is also well available in beans and nuts, and is also found in In vegetables, wheat, and seaweed.

Calcium functions and benefits in bird food

1- It is an essential element for building bones, beaks and nails.

2- It is necessary in regulating the heartbeat as well as the contraction and relaxation of the body’s muscles (it helps avoid muscle spasm).

3- Regulating the transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system.

4- It helps in the formation of blood clots.

5- Helps absorb iron.

6- It is absorbed in the small intestine with the help of vitamin D. And lactose sugar.

7- Calcium is involved in the activation of many enzymes, including lipase, which breaks down fats in the intestines so they can be absorbed by the body.

8- It plays an important role in keeping arterial pressure normal.

9- It contributes to the protein synthesis of DNA and RNA.

Problems of calcium deficiency in bird food

A lack of calcium in bird food leads to several problems, including: weakness and fragility of bird bones, curvature and cracking of bird beaks, deformation and thinning of bird nails, and a lack of calcium in bird food leads to rickets in birds, especially young ones, i.e. newborns. Muscle contraction and spasm is considered a factor in the production of female birds. Eggs without shells, or laying eggs with semi-transparent shells, are also among the problems caused by a lack of calcium in the bird’s diet.

Sources of calcium from bird food

There are many sources of calcium in bird food, including:

* Eggs or chicken eggs, especially egg shells, are an important source of calcium in bird food.

* Leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, spinach, and all types of green vegetables, especially leafy vegetables, are an important source of calcium for birds.

* Nuts are an important source for birds that can provide them with calcium. Examples of nuts: almonds, walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, etc., which are nuts rich in calcium.

* Other elements rich in calcium that can be included in bird food: sesame, garlic, dried figs, barley, sunflower seeds, corn bran, coconut, soybeans, and finally soybeans, or what is also called squid bite.

Food supplements that provide calcium for ornamental birds:

Nutritional supplements are considered one of the most important sources that can provide birds with the share of calcium they need. These are some examples of nutritional supplements that are suitable for providing birds with the dose of calcium necessary for their health. Note: These nutritional supplements are suitable for all types of birds, such as: lovebirds of all types, budgie lovebirds. Cockatiel lovebirds, rose and fisher lovebirds, all parrots or parrot birds, birds such as: goldfinch, canary, and zebra finch. Other birds, such as pigeons and all other ornamental birds. These are some of the nutritional supplements rich in calcium that are used for birds.