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I use sand in all my cages and even for newly hatched chicks too, its best for you to use the playsand due to the smaller pieces of poop food and shaving from the nest. To keep the sand sanitize, I switch it out every 3 months, soak it with bleach then rinse it throughly with water and leave it out to dry in the sun. The long handle reptile sand strainer works best with the playsand...yes, there will be dust but I always take my birds out and wear a mask or wrap my shirt around my nose for precautionary protection when ever I clean my cages. To prevent from having a wet spot from water spill, you need to mix up the sand every time after you clean it.
I have not encountered pasty but ever since I use sand along with the correct temperature the chicks need, the down size to it is your chicks might get some dry dust built up on their nails/claws and if you don't get that off it will make their toes/nail crooked. These are pics of my cages & birds;
one day old with mom, she has 2 more eggs under her that is why I put a little shaving on top of the sand.
almost 8 weeks old, these chicks are on all purpose sand (I started out with it but now using playsand).
week old with mom in my lager cage.
incubator hatched chicks raise on sand with feather duster as shelter.
my breeders in a cage with sandbox bottom.
my cages
I hope this help you on your decision....let me know if you need more info.
