Onagadori tail question

[daygrower]

I have a pair of white Proto Onagadori and they love to roll in the dirt they end up dark grey.I'm going to put in a sand box with white sand for them. My question is what bedding should I use that won't tear up the feathers? I'm not looking to show them or anything but want them to look nice.

 

[~SunSetsWest~]

I would use very soft shavings and a large kiddy pool with sand, I don't think if given the choice they would bathe in the shavings

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Another BYCer mentioned something the other day for Phoenix roos that would probably work for your proto-Onagadori: Make sure there are lots of places for them to perch, both indoors and outdoors, and put food and water at the height of their perch. They will be more likely to stay up on the perches and keep their long feathers on the ground.

In Japan, real Onagadori are kept in very small cages on posts so that their tailfeathers hang to the ground.

Here is a site about "long-tail fowl" that might give you some insight into the care of these birds... You can take the information and adapt it to your own situation and purposes (besides, the site just has cool pics, too

). I love Onagadori.

http://www.longtail-fowl.com/

 

[daygrower]

Thanks that is very helpful the kiddy pool will keep them from getting below the sand, I have lots of perches but putting food up there would keep them off the ground more, glad I asked