Still trying to figure out a dust bath!

[Sammbalina]

I was wondering what you all thought of this for a dust bath? The only ingredient I have any consern about is the carbon, Is that safe for quail? I was also considering EcoEarth mixed with reptile sand?

I am NOT going to use DE or play sand. I have a sensitive respiratory system so can’t do DE and play sand causes cancer!!!

 

[ChickNanny13]

I have chickens & their dust bath consists of the dirt/shavings in their enclosure. I do sprinkle DE as a preventative for mites. When I first got started purchased sand, topsoil, peat moss and other stuff to make their "bath" ... Ended up tossing it on the ground cause they bathe where ever they want.

@TwoCrows @Texas Kiki

 

[Fishkeeper]

That could work. The carbon is probably activated carbon, which helps to absorb smells.
All chickens need for a dust bath is loose dirt, and that's loose dirt. You could also use sandy soil from outside if you have naturally sandy soil.

 

[Sammbalina]

My quail are in a wire-floored hutch up off the ground, so they can’t dust bath wherever. Plus, I don’t have natural soil, I have clay and live at the bottom of a mountain in a fancy pants neighborhood, so the little bit of dirt we do have is probably contaminated with chemicals.

I had also thought of using organic potting mix.

 

[PirateGirl]

Since wood ash is safe to add into a dust bath, I would say the carbon is likely safe as well since there would be carbon in wood ash.

 

[TwoCrows]

I don't see a problem with the reptile soil. The carbon will probably do them good, what little is in it.

Organic potting soil is fine too. Avoid potting soils with perlite in it.

 

[ChickNanny13]

When using potting soil, check to make sure there's no fertilizer in it.

 

[TwoCrows]

 

[Anorakei]

I've seen my quail do baths in their substrate, which is just small wood chippings. Your thing should be fine.

In their sandbox I use bird sand, which they appear to prefer over their substrate. A nice thing about sand is that you can run it through a sieve to clean out any droppings instead of having to throw all of it away. (Ofc you should still replace it every so often, sieving just allows you to get way more mileage out of your sand than you would otherwise.)

I expect reptile sand would work too. A nice bonus with bird sand is that it often contains grit that the birds might swallow for extra calcium/better digestion.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Oh, yeah, reptile sand could work.
However, reptile sand should NOT be used with reptiles! It has a lot of calcium in it, and if/when they ingest it while feeding, it can clog them up really badly. Most desert lizards that people keep on sand (leopard geckoes, bearded dragons) live on hard-packed soil in the wild, not soft sand.