Copper Seasonings and Supplements
History
The practice of using copper as a seasoning or food additive to meat by dragons is an ancient one, and likely was done even by basal dragonkin as evidence by coprolites found in fossils with higher than usual amounts of oxidized copper. It is unknown how or why the practice came to be, though oral storytelling, myths, and urban legends from dragonkin are relatively consistent in the belief that supplementing one's diet with copper can prevent illness and parasites.
This belief does have some degree of truth: Many biting insects, worms, and mites are oftentimes repelled if not killed by high volumes of copper in its various forms, though typically these species do not commonly infect dragons, or the volumes of copper in the diet needed to have a strong affect are so high that it is detrimental to health to consume it. A common theory is that in ancient times, these parasites may have also had significantly lower tolerances to the metal and thus the tradition caught on as a repellent, despite not working as effectively over time.
Regardless, copper being used as a dietary supplement remains common to this day among the vast majority of dragons, regardless of flight. It is so common in fact, that the vast majority of processed foods formulated for dragonkin are also supplemented with copper by the default, with non supplemented versions being few and far between. Many dragons associate the taste of the metal with higher quality food and commonly used crushed or powdered copper and copper oxide as a seasoning- in double blind taste tests, the vast majority of individuals preferred foods seasoned with copper powders over unseasoned ones, even if they could not tell what precisely the difference was between dishes.
Copper also is a commonly cited treatment for hatchlings with digestive issues, mites, or picky eating habits. In a 19,027 survey, an estimated 68% of parents used food rolled in copper powder to treat childhood illnesses as well as goading their children into trying new forms of prey they would not eat otherwise, regardless of its actual effectiveness. Placebo effect may be a strong factor, as well as tradition.
Components and tools
Crushed or powdered copper, commonly commercially available from a number of brands are commonplace in areas with relatively high dragon populations. Many dragons also have particular preferences to different types of copper from regions they grew up in, with the majority preferring local coppers and alloys. Most often, copper seasonings or supplements are paired with salts, bone chips or powders, dried and powdered fish, or other vitamin supplements and medicines.
Cool idea for Dragons to have a seasoning