Virtually every bird keeper who keeps finch-like birds will have a constant supply of cuttlefish....and I am no different.

Cuttlefish is rich in calcium, which is essential for the development and maintenance of a birds skeletal frame.

Calcium intake is vital ingredient for the development of egg shell. I pay particular attention to the replenishment of the cuttlefish on offer to my hens several weeks prior to them being paired up for breeding.

Cuttlefish is very easily obtained from almost every pet store. I buy mine in bulk from my seed supplier......this works out to be more econmical.

<<<<<<<This is how cuttlefish looks when purchased.

Depending on the size of each cuttlfish bone, I break them in half and fit them to the cage fronts using the cuttlefish holder>>>>>>

If you're luck enough to live on the coast, you may well have a constant and free supply of cuttlefish bone.

A bird keeping friend of mine lives on the Cornish coast (that's south west England for anyone outside the UK) and regularly collects these bones whilst walking his dog on the beach.

I've been assured that, once they have been cleaned, they can be given to birds with no ill effects.