each situation is different, really. some suggest stream pea gravel, yet others have had birds end up with sores on their feet from it (plus expensive as heck) sand is used by some and suggested by some, but it clearly hasn't worked too too well here. when it gets rained on, larger mini stones come up and you get something harder and even coarser than you started with. the sand inside the shelter is still soft, fine and dry. but they don't live on that, but in a huge cage with wood shavings. i do believe that--attention toletiques....--that plain dirt, even packed dirt would be better than sand. and man o man, you should feel that sand when it is frozen. might as well just grab your ducks and run a rasp over their foot pads (i can only put so much hay down in winter) and when the ducks go running around on it like a bunch of kids as they jump out of their pool, that is a prime way to get their delicate feet scratched, ever so slightly is all it takes for staph. ducks just ain't land birds--at least mallard domestics aren't (which is what all domestics are, except scovies). their feet aren't built for a life on harsh surfaces. as someone put it, sand isn't much different from ground glass. true, and you should see how sharp those grains are. now some will say--as an avian vet SUGGESTED TO ME--that childrens' play sand is the thing to use. yet, 'shonuff' others reject it saying 'you should see how jagged those particles are!' maybe sometime i'll post pics of what i've got going here
