Anyone use sand in duck yard?

[jmc]

We do.

Of course, they have access to huge amounts of grassy area, as well.

I am just wondering if anyone has noticed the ducks eating the sand. Ours do in fair quantity it seems, judging from seeing them, as well as the bottom of the water bowls at days end.

The sand is fairly fine, sorta like beach sand.

I am wondering about 'impaction' occurring in the birds digestive system.......................

 

[nettie]

i wouldn't worry about it. in the wild ducks eat sand, dirt, rocks etc. all the time. it helps in digestion... ducks know how much is good for them...

My duck once ate a cigarette butt and the other ate (unconfirmed) and ambien pill... lol sand is practically on their normal menu

 

[688peterl]

what type of sand is it? i mean where did you buy it from? or did you take it from the beach lol, im gonna use playsand in my run hopefully it wont matter if they eat it because they eat everything!! i have them in a travel cot with a sheet on the floor and its easy to clean, i just dab the plop with tissue paper and it comes off! much easier than shavings, but everytime i do that with the toilet roll they try to take it from me so i end up playing tug of war with tissue lol

 

[688peterl]

and while we are on the subject of eating... my lab keeps eating the ducks poo

, i tell him not to when i am there obviously but i know that when im not he follows them around like hoover

, it wont make him ill will it?

 

[Katy]

I use a mix of gravel and pea gravel.

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
not usually.

 

[LoreenH]

Quote:
Well, he is a dog. When I had a dog, she would clean the poo out of the litter box when I would forget to close the door.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

I have a large plant pot that is half filled with plant soil & noticed the Scovies eating it so added a few inches of play sand on top. They regularly go over most evenings and munch on it & I have to add to the pot every couple of weeks. I've given them some grit but they seem to prefer the sand. They must know what they need. Actually, it was quite interesting to watch two of my Scovy girls eating it yesterday. Or more like chewing it/rubbing it around in their mouths making this interesting grinding sound for a few minutes before swallowing it.

p.s. Good to see you John. Hope you & your Brothers had a Blessed Thanksgiving.

 

[jmc]

What kind of sand?

It is called septic sand. Fitting since DUCKS walk on it, eh?

The average Joe (or Josephine, lest I get a letter bomb!!) wouldn't notice anything special about it and would just say, "That's sand, sand is sand."

Got it from a local excavation business which sells all that sort of stuff. They are very good to us.............

 

[688peterl]

so i went to b and q today and for a large (and i mean large) bag of building sand it was £2 and for a large (same size) bag of play sand it was £5. i got the play sand but im wondering if i should of opted for the cheaper? i mean would they be ok with building sand?? they will eat it i have no doubt about that, i have yet to see them waddle past anything without trying to eat it..

so what should i do???

here is the play sand

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.j...refview=search&ts=1259338597443&isSearch=true

and the building sand...

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.j...refview=search&ts=1259338699787&isSearch=true