Riversand V Beachsand

[rip64]

I read alot of comments on the use of riversand as suitable ground cover at present I have fine shell grit and euci-mulch in sections, to give different look/texture to floor. I am thinking of putting a few square meters of beach sand in a section of my aviary. Has anyone any comment why I should or shouldn't.
My thinking is extra minerals in beach sand.

[jusdeb]

With all this rain Im kind of regretting using sand ( only know it as sydney sand , suitable for sandpits etc) . Its taking forever to dry out compared to the gravel floor in my big aviary .
But thats just me and maybe I have the wrong sand .

[rip64]

Sorry I should have said all will be undercover, I use the shellgrit in the areas that get damp (Seems to work well - Great drainage)

[Jayburd]

river sand is great...
deb - yeah me too... took me and my mother 5 hours to rid old aviary of wet sand, each spadefull weighed a TON!!

[jusdeb]

Jay ...Im dreading it . Mines undercover too ( under back patio extension ) but the water seeped in ( under the aviary ) and was soaked up like a sponge .

[gomer]

Have never used beach sand.I have heard or read fine sand is not recomended,Posibly because it holds water more then course sand,And harbours bacteria ,The water issue maynot be to bad in your situation, unless the aviary floor level is the same as natural level outside.
But you can get Moriac sand (River Sand)down your way, local to your area.I use Coleraine sand here (river sand) local to me.Direct from the Quary $14 a ton plus delivery $11 pr ton.From retailers about $50 a ton plus delivery.The catch being direct from wholesalers minimun order a truck load.It drains well to.

[jusdeb]

Mine must be beach sand which when I bought it was told that being inorganic it wont smell or harbour nasties , didnt think at the time that bird poop and leaves , seed husks etc were organic and mixed in with the wet sand did actually make it organic .

[finchbreeder]

I use both, whichever is most available at the time. Is important if you use beach sand to get the gritty stuff not the fine stuff but. The reason for the sand is that birds digest their food in a crop, and not having teeth the need to have GRIT in the crop to grind the food up. Birds deprived of GRIT long enough will die of starvation or get impounded crops. Which has the effect of killing them anyway. Does not have to be on the floor can be in bowls like their food.
LML

[rip64]

Thanks all, I reckon I will put a few meters down over the w/end.

[jusdeb]

Horses for courses mate and you can only try , I hope it works for you it looks good and rakes over nicely too .