FINCHforum

I've been thinking of using some sort of dirt on the bottoms of my cages. I keep quail in with my finches ,so paper is no good ,and corncob is expensive and it smells bad pretty quick.

I was think perhaps a good peat moss (like soil) or something like that. It looks like this :

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... t_Moss.jpg

Or are the other ,better ,options for a good cheap bedding ??

When I get my aviary up and going, I plan on using sand as a substrate. I use it in my chicken coop and it works great--just scoop any poop like you would in a cat litter box. It drys out the droppings and keeps everything pretty clean and easy to maintain.

I remember reading something just recently about most soils are unsuitable for aviary flooring because they are treated. I can't remember where I read it or I'd post the link. Been looking at lots of links for DIY aviaries lately!

I have been using sand in my cage trays, at least the ones that are metal and deep. The plastic trays don't handle the weight as well, so I have used Oil-dri in those. For my breeding cages, I use hay.

Sally wrote: I have been using sand in my cage trays, at least the ones that are metal and deep. The plastic trays don't handle the weight as well, so I have used Oil-dri in those. For my breeding cages, I use hay.

I also use sand and oil-dri and think they work great. Also use clay kitty litter which is just like the oil-dri only smaller pieces.

soil is totally unsuitable as it harbours pathogens and in a medium for transmission of parisitites, it also sours quickly. All of my canary cages have either sand or hay as a substrate. Kitty litter also works fine in the trays.

I am just starting to use unscented natural kitty litter clay in the trays of my flights and cages. I like the idea that if it gets wet it dries out. I line the trays with white butcher paper or paper towels and put the litter down.

I have a few cages that are grateless and not sure about adding it directly where they walk.

Depending on where you live (your location is missing) I just bought 160 lbs of kitty litter (4 - 40lb bags for $16) at Tractor Supply Plus.

I tried corn cob bedding yrs ago but if it gets wet and does not dry out well it is molds. I also tried aspen but it blows out of the trays or the pull it up and it is either in water cups or nests.

I agree with Kenny as soil isn't the best option, the only time I would use soil is if you were growing grass for the bottom, all plants should be placed in tubs. I personally use sand, packing sand which goes rock hard in the aviery and washed white sand in cages as both are cheap and easy to clean or refill. I do know people that do use soil based avieries and do treat soil frequently. Best to use tubs of soil if a dust bath is what your looking towards.

None of my cages have the grates left in, I removed all of them. My birds are often at the bottom, foraging through the sand (or Oil-dri or hay). One advantage to the Oil-dri or kitty litter is that it is designed to absorb liquids, so spills from baths simply dry up.

Thank you Sally...I was wondering about the litter directly where they walk, I pour it out outside or in the utlity room to get let the dust blow off before taking it into the bird room.