Button quail dust bath with D.E.

[GodLovesU]

Can I and should I make a dust bath for my button quail with Diatomaceous earth? I already have a bag of it. Any tips or advice welcome, I don’t really know what to do.

 

[Susan Skylark]

No reason you can’t, my chinchillas loved the stuff. As long as you aren’t hoping it will cure mites or something it would make a nice dust bath for your birds too!

 

[GodLovesU]

Ok, should I mix it with anything else? I also have an herb garden, would adding any of those in be beneficial?

 

[Susan Skylark]

If you do just make sure it isn’t toxic to birds.

 

[catesquire]

Personally I don't use DE anymore, but only because it's SO dusty! Nevermind the quail, I didn't think it was healthy for MY lungs, lol.

 

[Nabiki]

If you're going to use DE, use just a small amount in sand or dirt. If you use too much, it can irritate their eyes and lungs. DE is tiny sharp shards.

 

[Finchbreeder]

My King quail (aussie name) love their sand baths.
They just have regular sand floors in their avairies.

 

[GodLovesU]

Ok, thank you all!

 

[ButtonBag]

No reason you can’t, my chinchillas loved the stuff. As long as you aren’t hoping it will cure mites or something it would make a nice dust bath for your birds too!

Piggybacking on this thread because I had the same question—would it not kill mites then? I've noticed my button quails' food has mites in it, obviously I'm replacing the food and washing everything else, but was thinking of putting some DE in with their sand bath just to make sure and wanted to check it wouldn't be bad for them as they're so tiny!