Walnut shell litter

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:53 pm

Does anyone else use it? That's what I use in my cages, and I LOVE it. I did notice though that it seems to result in a lot of brown dust around. It's all over the table I keep the boys' cage on and it's on any flat surface anywhere near it. They kick a lot up when they hop around on the bottom of the cage, and they do get litter out of the cage pretty frequently, but there is a fine dust everywhere. I have heard of other litters causing respiratory problems in birds. I was just wondering if anyone else noticed that with this type of litter. Thanks!

Post by **Hilary** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:59 am

I used to use the walnut litter, and loved it. It looks neat and tidy, and doesn't smell the way newspaper can. The problem is that my seed moths also loved it, so I ended up having to get rid of it, unfortunately. I didn't notice any dust problems, but then I have cages with grates on the bottom separating the finches from the litter.

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:19 am

Ack moths in the litter? That stinks.

What do you use now?

Yeah, I took the bottom grate out of my cages so my finches hop around in the litter and kick it around. They seem to enjoy doing it to, they do it a LOT.

That's probably all it is, I was just wondering what experiences other people have had with that litter.

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:55 pm

I've never used walnut shell litter for the birds. I've only used it as a polishing media for brass (corn cob also works).

Recently I wanted to switch from newspaper to corn cob, and went to a store down the street from me, but they were out of corn cob and walnut and only had this absorbent recycled paper stuff. It was a little more expensive than the corn cob, but it's worked wonderfully for me. However the cost is just too much to use it all the time right now. Hopefully the price will drop or I will start making more money ;)

I also read in one of my finch books that if you let the birds hope around in the media ( personally I don't and keep the grates in the cages), you can mix in a few tablespoons of crushed oystershell, eggshells, etc. and the birds will forage around in the media looking for these little "tid bits".

However, I don't like the idea of the birds coming into contact with fecal matter, so you'd want to change out the media frequently.

HTH

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:05 am

rottie~

Don't you think that even with the grate the finches still come into contact with their own poop. They can stick their little beaks through the grate to eat whatever is on the floor. Plus, that is just more cleaning for you. You have to pull the grate and scrub it. I personally don't use grates in any of my flights, and all my finches are great! I change out the bottom about 2 times per week.

I think that my finches love that they can search through the bottom for things, plus when little ones fledge, it is not as hard of a landing!

Shadowfax · Post by **Shadowfax** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:14 pm

Would love some insight on different cage linings. I have the Yesterdays News Pellets from when I had ferrets but that seems a bit big. I'll use it till I run out but was considering something else. Has anyone used the aspen shavings? Not sure if I want to use corncob. Stuff is awful light and I can see them tossing it out of the cage. Is there anything that should definitely not be used as cage lining for small birds?

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:17 pm

I love the walnut shell litter but they do kick it out of the cage a little. It's nice and small, and I can use a little litter scoop to pick out the poop in between changing it. I have a guard around the cage but they still get it to clear that. I have a dustbuster next to the cage and I suck it all up once it starts to accumulate a little.

Post by **Hilary** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:02 pm

Becca, I use newpaper in some of the cages now and hay in the cages with button quail (and in my swee "palace"). Now I just get seed moths if I don't dump out the trays often enough (they like to lay their eggs in the seed hulls that collect). Yuck.... If you don't have moth problems, though, I rate the walnut shell highly!

Shadowfax · Post by **Shadowfax** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:13 pm

Actually the newspaper pellets are working out well.I think I am going to stick with this. Since it is inexpensive and easy to find in local stores I am not going to try anything else for now.