Cuttlebone Use

User Question
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I have a parakeet named Smukita that I have had for five months now. He is wonderful but, he hasn't used his cuttle bone once. Don't tell me he is using it when I'm not looking because he hasn't. It is hanging right by his perch where he can get to it. I have noticed his beak getting longer. Is this a problem? Will his beak get too long for him to eat? How often should he use the cuttle bone?

Smukita has been making some sort of clicking noise with his beak. I think he is trying to grind his beak down. He does this alot. Smukita came from a store without a cuttle bone in the cage.

Lisa's Answer
Parakeets make clicking noises a lot just because they're fun to make :) So I wouldn't worry about that part very much.

Male parakeets don't chew nearly as much as females do. Females are the nest builders and have to chew through trees to make the hole. Males just sit and watch :) He'll use it when he wants to. You can try getting a different kind of mineral stick - there are many different flavors, colors and styles. Maybe he'll be interested in something else.

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