The cuttlebone has been a bird essential from the early beginnings of bird keeping, but sometimes its purpose remains a mystery. Many people think that cuttlebones are provided as beak and nail sharpeners, but they are too soft. This may have been suggested after observing birds chewing, climbing, and wiping their beaks on them frequently. Cuttlebones are composed of aragonite- a form of calcium carbonate, so they are provided as a source of calcium!
The cuttlebone is the internal buoyancy structure of members in the cuttlefish family. It had a thin, brittle side, and the rest is porous and chalky. Small birds, like parakeets and cockatiels, usually enjoy munching on cuttlebone. Larger birds can also be provided with them, but don’t be surprised if it ends up being a very quick toy. In this case, harder mineral blocks that include calcium can be provided instead. If you have a picky bird that will not touch their cuttlebone, try incorporating it into a toy, or use a butter knife to scrape it into powder over their seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
Many pellet companies do not recommend offering cuttlebone or mineral blocks while feeding pellets, as it may lead to an excess of vitamins in the diet.