#lava blocks

Since the stuff sold here is probably much different than what can be obtained in other countries, I’d suggest just searching the pet store for brands then looking them up. The ones I saw had “complex of minerals” written, but I’ll have to re-check.

“Lava rocks are porous, volcanic stone and provide a bird with a substance to chew. If a bird swallows bits of lava rock, it will provide it with some trace minerals — if they dissolve in the gastrointestinal tract — such as iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Most lava rocks are composed of more than 50-percent silica (which is sand-like in composition, composed of silicon and oxygen, plus other trace minerals, depending on where it was formed). Lava rocks are usually provided to birds to maintain claw health, and to wear down their beaks by chewing.”

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is what I’ve found so far (in the past 10-20 minutes I’ve been looking anyways), everything listed there are the components of hardened felsic lava.

So with what I remember from geology I’d say to take caution with these because depending on where the lava formed it can have high iron content which can give birds iron poisoning among other trace metals.  It’s possible they may be in a controlled environment (not sure how that would work though?) but if one so chooses to use these rocks be certain the bird is not eating excessive amounts of it.

Lava blocks are mineral supplements or beak maintenance blocks and that’s pretty much all I know about them since I don’t use them. Most mineral block supplements aren’t really safe for birds since they’re generally artificial so I just stay away from them.

I personally wouldn’t use a rock you found lying around since there could be harmful bacteria on it from insects, disease in wild bird populations,  feces from wild birds/ other animals that may have gotten on to the rock which would be near impossible to clean the porous surface at home. You also don’t know where the rock came from specifically, if it’s ash, lapilli or volcanic bombs from the internal workings of the volcano there’s no knowing what it picked up on it’s way through and or it’s way down.

If anyone knows more about lava blocks for birds feel free to chime in