Aussie Finch Forum

In nature, dust baths (also called dusting, dirt baths, or sand bathing) are part of a bird’s preening and plumage maintenance that keeps feathers in top condition. How relevant / important is this for birds kept in an aviary?

My quail certainly indulge in regular dust baths. Can't say as I have noticed finches doing it but. Having a sand floor does help.

Some of the African Finches such as Aberdeen's enjoy the occasional dust bath, but if they don't bathe in it they certainly love to pick around in it when you chuck a few seed heads in there

I'm the same as Finchbreeder on this, my quails would kick up dirt all the time but the finches only bathed in water.