Is feeding scraps directly on the sand Okay??

[capebird]

This may be kind of silly question.... I have a sand ground in the run. When
I feed scraps (like vegetable scraps)... I just throw them on the sand. I'm
assuming this is okay (yes?) even though the food scraps get covered
with the sand.... as opposed to putting the scraps in a bowl
(I have to keep reminding myself, this is not fine dining).

thanks

 

[teach1rusl]

LOL...yes, perfectly fine. I'll doubt you'll find a bird out there that'd turn up their beak at scraps because they're served on sand rather than fine china

 

[Nic&Chickies]

Besides, I think the sand would work as grit, and help in the digestion--right? [please tell me I didn't just say something totally stupid!]

 

[tritty74]

I have noticed that even if it is put in a bowl they pick it out and it ends up in the sand anyway. It doesn't hurt them.

 

[Ole rooster]

Last night just before they went in for the night, I stired up some sand that had pack a little. The hens came up and started eating the sand. Nothing I could tell was in it but they seemed to think so.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Yes, sand will not hurt them.



If your birds eat too much sand, it will pass right thru them and you might see some sandy droppings but it will not hurt them.


Sand can work as grit, but many times the type of stone/rock that makes up the sand is too soft to actually be a good grinding tool in the gizzard. Plus for an adult chicken the size of sand is too small to be helpful. Most adult chickens use grit pieces that are roughly the size of peas. Once in the gizzard, if the piece wears down, it will pass out of the body also.



If you would like to know more about your bird's digestive tract and what does go on inside them - then this is a great article to read (complete with pictures): http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Factsheets/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Anatomy_digestive.pdf