Sand for dusting bath

[bigjohn]

Anyone use childrens play sand from Lowe's? Is it safe? I used some last year and the quail loved it, but I was really concerned it might not be healthy for them.

Any ideas on an alternative beside dirt from the yard?

 

[monarc23]

I'm not sure about the kids play sand

but your other option could be Stall Dry, my birds LOVE to bathe in it.

You can buy it in bags for a little over $9 at tractor supply and if you use it only for dusting it wil last a good while.

 

[MissJames]

Quote:
They will eat it like grit.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Yeah, they will eat it, but they will dust bathe in it also, kill two birds with one stone, so to speak!

 

[buckeye lady]

Our dust bath is a mixture of equal parts -sand for sandblasting, wood ash, sevin dust and DE. Play sand will work just fine.

 

[WriterofWords]

My chickens have never complained about the plain old dirt they have.

 

[Akane]

Handy sand works great. It's a fine quartz based sand. No large pebbles and much cleaner than play sand. I've debated the safety of sandblasting sand recently. It's not just rock but "coal slag" which has other things and possibly contaminants in it besides the silicon dioxide that makes up quartz. In some areas you could probably also get calcium carbonate based sand. Sundown is one popular brand people were using for their saltwater tanks. I think that would also be safe and possibly double (or are we up to triple?) as a calcium supplement.

 

[Dill]

Im wondering the same thing..

I have natural white sand in my backyard that I'm going to bake for my quail (since I'm afraid it might have germs and stuff in it) but I was wondering if there was any safe alternatives I could buy. Only sand for sale that I've seen is Play sand so I'll have to look around.

 

[citalk2much]

I give mine play sand they love it and I have had no problems

 

[chicktwit]

I'm recycling my grandson's play sand & my quail love it.