Blue Dust Bathing Sand???

[AlderCreekFarms]

I wouldn’t do the craft store , silica sand is not good for animals ... and aquarium sand should be ok .. right ? If it’s for reptiles ??

Food colour it at least you know it’s a food grade product

Didnt consider the silica in craft store sand. Reptile sand oughtta be ok right?

 

[snow5164]

I would think so , since it’s animal friendly.

 

[imnukensc]

Since sand is comprised mostly of silica (quartz), can someone explain to me how "silica sand" is bad for animals?

 

[snow5164]

Yes I can ,all sand per say is not comprised mostly of quartz , silica sand is though .

There is ground quartz in all sand , it is the amount of it that makes up the different types . For example play sand that’s pure white and really soft is 100% silica. It has been broken down to a powder ( think icing sugar ), this is really bad to inhale it and very serious for birds.

Construction sand has many different sizes of rocks and gravel in it, it can be grit for our birds because there are rough stones in it , there is silica in it but the percentage of it is lower.It can look like beach sand .

This is what I’ve learned when I questioned someone’s sand choice in their duck run , I was told “ sand is sand !” This is not true as there are many different types of sands . Also if anyone tells you “ sand is not grit” again this is not true because rough construction sand can be grit .

Hope this helps

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

In addition...I'm assuming this produces a similar effect in anything with lung tissue:
Crystalline silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen. Additionally, breathingcrystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, which in severe cases can be disabling, or even fatal. ... In addition, smoking causes lung damage and adds to the damage caused by breathing silica dust.
Crystalline Silica Exposure - OSHA

 

[Pugsabi]

I wouldn’t do the craft store , silica sand is not good for animals ... and aquarium sand should be ok .. right ? If it’s for reptiles ??

Food colour it at least you know it’s a food grade product

A lot of the reptile sand contains extra calcium. I don't know the percentage though. It might be fine or it could be too much for young birds or males, so read the labels.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Thanks!

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

DE is another form of silica. Its use in dust bathing is controversial for the same reason...other people have posted information about that topic elsewhere, but I stopped using it after reading up on it. Didnt want to chance it causing problems. But the birds loved it. I mixed it with.....yep, play sand, before I knew all this and gave it to the birds I was temporarily housing in my craft room. In a matter of a couple hours it was literally EVERYwhere! That room is never going to be the same! I can see how it gets into the lungs and causes an inflammation response. It's like it vaporizes when the birds waller(sp) in it! Now I just use construction sand. Not as pretty, but safer.

 

[snow5164]

DE is another form of silica. Its use in dust bathing is controversial for the same reason...[/

But as stated above silica is crushed granite ??

De is Diatomaceous Earth (often referred to as "DE") is an off white talc-like powder that is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton.

 

[imnukensc]

Uhhhh, yeah, DE is silica.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html