Using sand in Aviary

[Scott]

Hi,
I have gouldians, parrot finches and 2 cockatiels in my aviary and I am wondering if anyone in the group had any issues using fine powdery beach sand laid on top of a concrete floor aviary floor?
Thanks
Scott

[Craig52]

Hi Scott, that shouldn't be a problem so long as it doesn't become permanently wet so it will hold nasty bacteria and coccidious.
Any thing is better than bare hard concrete although concrete is easy to clean.
In saying that dry is good for the finches and parrots to fossick around in and in some cases consume a little for internal body health.

[finchbreeder]

Hi Scott
When mother and I go sand collecting we always try to get the grittiest beach sand we can.
Better for the birds digestion and less risk of sand in eyes for them and us.
Harder and harder to find places where you can collect clean sand - so in the last year have gone to the "sandpit" bags from Bunnings.

[tonywirrell]

I used to use sand, but it stayed wet for too long and was a bit smelly. In large flights I now use gravel that I purchased at Bunnings in 20kg bags. It's excellent because it drains and dries really well.

In small flights I treat them like large cages, so I have installed removable slide out trays, suspended 75 above the slab. There are 3 of these in a small flight - each about 400x600. I fill these with pine shavings that are replaced each month. The floor stays dry and fairly clean, without any smell.

[finchbreeder]

Still have dirt floors in all my avairies, some under cover area and some exposed to nature, this gets some rain.
Mostly it drys pretty quickly here in the west.
Mum is still using the "Sandpit sand" from Bunning in the budgie breeding boxes.