Clay Absorbent for cage?

[Lloyd]

Hi! I was wondering if this product could be used on bottom of a cage or aviary. I think something similar was mentioned in another thread.

It's called "CAN DRY Supreme". I picked it up at Wal-Mart in the auto section. About $5. Ingredients: Diatomaceous earth and Montmorillonite Clay
Link to www.absorbentproductsltd.com/default.htm

They also have other products specific for pets/animals.

I am hesitant in using it because of the use of diatomaceous earth which can have some negative properties (look it up).

Please let me know what you think. I can always use it around the garage/house if won't work for the birds.

Thanks,

[dfcauley]

I am not sure about that, but if I were hesitant I don't think I would use it.

[B CAMP]

I found it I new I read A post about the clay check out this post from fairest finches hope this helps you might want to check with them at fairest finch



Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:51 pm Post subject:

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Hi, Trevor!

It's simply oil absorbent clay. We buy it at our local Walmart in 25 lb bags. Our flights have 42 sq. ft. of floor space and two bags sufficiently covers the floor of one flight. I think the price of a 25 lb bag is around $5.00.

All I do is use a cat litter scoop to sift through the clay under the perches and remove the poop "clumps" once a week. Then, I rake the clay around and it looks brand new. So, a bag goes a looooooonnnnnnggggg way.

Also, the oil absorbent clay is not toxic for the birds. They might even glean some minerals from it if they're adventurous enough to eat it. LOL!

Michele
_________________
www.fairestfinches.com

[Sally]

Hi, Lloyd - After reading fairestfinches post about the clay, I decided to try it in the bottom of some cages. I used it in an HQ single flight, 32" x 21". It has a plastic tray. I didn't care for it in the bottom of a cage for several reasons: 1. It is heavy, so the plastic tray tended to bow in the middle with all the weight. 2. The birds loved rummaging in it, which meant in a cage they were flinging it in all directions, and the floor (of the room, not the cage) soon had clay litter all over it. 3. I tried using a cat litter scoop to pick out the poops, but the birds in the cage were small waxbills, with small poops, I couldn't seem to pick out the poop from the litter. I just stirred it all around, which buried the poop.

If I had indoor, floor level flights, I would probably use that clay stuff. It is cheap, looks decent, and with a board all around the aviary perimeter, the stuff would stay inside. I think my birds were eating some of this, too, not just flinging it--no harm noticed.

[Lloyd]

Thanks for responses. I am wondering if this is the same product I have? Sally, would you mind looking at your product to find out if it is the same. Does it have diatomaceous earth (DE) in it?

From what I've read so far, DE comes in differing grades which contain varying percentages of crystaline silica vs. amorphous silica. The crystiline form of silica is not good to breath (dust). This form is used as filtering material in pool filters. Food grade (low crystalline percentage) DE is used around farms for insect control and for worming animals. It kills insects because its small particles have microscopic sharp edges which cut into the shells of insects or cut up their insides they eat it. DE is also used as a mild abrasive in toothpastes and facial scrubs.

My concerns with the DE are what percentage of the crystalline silica it contains. The product I have bought states that there is less than 1% crystalline silica. However, if the birds tend to get into it and stir it up (as Sally's have), maybe that could be a problem if they breath it in. Also, I wonder if the DE might get into the birds legs and feathers and cause discomfort (being a mild abrasive).

Thanks again for any input. DE looks useful (as it's used on farms) but I'm not yet sure the product I bought is ok for my birds. I'll have to check into it further.

[Sally]

The brand of clay absorbent I bought is called Oil Dry--sold at Wal-Mart. I don't have any right now, but I'll try to remember when I go to Wal-Mart next time to check the bags for DE and silica content. I'm pretty sure this is the brand fairestfinches uses, and I believe they have been using it quite a while. They use it in their breeding flights and have had a very successful breeding season, so it doesn't seem to have bothered their birds. I may try it next season in a few of my breeding cages that have metal trays, which could handle the added weight, plus the trays are much deeper, which would keep the stuff inside better.

[Lloyd]

It this it?

Oil-Dri (Oil-Dri Corp. of America)

Link: http://www.oildri.com/
Link to products: http://www.oildri.com/indusauto/index.html

[Sally]

Yes, that's it, I just misspelled it. That same company makes cat litter, too--this stuff looks similar to cat litter. I didn't have any problems with the finches in the cages I used this stuff, though I didn't use it for a long time--just didn't work well in my cages.

[B CAMP]

Lloyd
Did you send a email to fairestfinches I think he could tell you what you need to know?
I tried to get it at wallmart here but they didn't carry it in store by me.

[B CAMP]

Lloyd
While on another board I found a link that you might get some info from http://www.naturalfeeds-fertilisers.co.uk/

[poohbear]

Quite a few fanciers in the UK use it...it is perfectly safe for birds...to get the right type go to a chicken feed and accessories supplier.It is extremely effective in destroying red mite and similar bird pests.It is not as effective when wet,but when dried out the properties that kill mites return.
Anyone who has had a mite infestation will know how they can devastate an aviary.Causing chick desertion and death.The use of anything like this is a Godsend to clear out the mites once and for all.It doesn't have an instant effect like a mite spray but is very effective long term.
It is used by chicken farmers over here as it is 100% organic and has no chemical additives.
Paul.