SJD Javas - Grit to help a Java Sparrow's digestive system.



	I beleive grit should be on offer to Java Sparrow's ( and small, seed eating bird's in general) 7 days a week 365 days a year. Unlike mammals, bird's have no means of ginding up the seeds they consume, so they ingest grit which, in-turn, plays an important and active role in ensuring healthy digestion.

As I have stated several times on this website, I AM NOT AN EXPERT but I have always understood a small seed eating bird's digestive system works like this:

Seed and grit are consumed by the bird and held in the crop. The crop acts as a storage bag in which a bird can hold large ammounts of seed. It also acts in the same way as a seed hopper, as the stomach requires more food, the crop allows more seeds into the digestive system.

As the seed enters the gizzard, muscles periodocaly contract causing the grit to grind the seeds and break them down small enough to pass through the intestines with no problems.

The grit given to my birds is from the Versele-Laga range. You may say that birds will take any type of grit, which may well be true, but I'm very confident in Versele-Laga's products and I believe that, as the grit comes in sealed bags, it has not been exposed to risk of contamination (such as mouse or rat droppings).

In addition to the grit I give my Java's oystershell. I will occasionally throw a handful into the cage but I generally mix it into the grit. (It's also a great source of calcium)

Here is a close-up of oystershell:

Move your mouse over the oystershell to see how it looks when mixed with the grit.

Here is a close up of the grit offered to my Java's.

This grit is from Versele-Laga which I buy in bulk.