Sand consumption?

[Quailerino]

Hi There!
So yesterday I filled in the floor of my quail house, which was formerly just sitting on my lawn, with 700# of sand. (Turns out cleaning quail poop out of grass is an incredibly time-consuming pain in the a**.) The quail were immediately delighted, making enthusiastic chirps of glee, dust baths, and frolicking joyfully. Thing is, they're also doing a good bit of pecking at the sand, and presumably eating it. On the one hand, it seems logical that this would probably be ok, because it seems like it would be similar to them eating grit, which is good for them. ...but...while grit and sand have a similar texture, their mineral content is not the same. I don't want to assume it's safe and then find out the hard way that it isn't. What do you think? Is it safe for my coturnix quail to eat sand?

 

[neo71665]

How do you think wild birds get grit?

 

[FortCluck]

What type of sand are you using?

If it is play sand or fine sand that can get impacted easily. If it is a course sand then it will not get compacted as easily.

I would just keep an eye on them and make sure that their crops are emptying overnight and that they do not look super filled. If they start getting lethargic or not eating then you can treat them for an impacted crop.

I would not worry though. Most of the time they are fine with sand.

Here is a BYC article on sand use in chicken coop (I know you have quail, but same idea):

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop.47795/

 

[Quailerino]

What type of sand are you using?

If it is play sand or fine sand that can get impacted easily. If it is a course sand then it will not get compacted as easily.

I would just keep an eye on them and make sure that their crops are emptying overnight and that they do not look super filled. If they start getting lethargic or not eating then you can treat them for an impacted crop.

I would not worry though. Most of the time they are fine with sand.

Here is a BYC article on sand use in chicken run (I know you have quail, but same idea):

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop.47795/

It is play sand/fine sand...how can I tell if their crops are emptying overnight?

 

[Nabiki]

It is play sand/fine sand...how can I tell if their crops are emptying overnight?

Feel them. If their crops seem full and hard in the morning, you have a problem.

 

[FortCluck]

It is play sand/fine sand...how can I tell if their crops are emptying overnight?

They will not feel full. In the morning they will not feel like they did the night before. When you feel their crop after a day of eating it will feel squishy and full like a tiny balloon.

I believe you will be fine, but course sand and not play sand is what is usually recommended. Play sand tends to clump up as well when it rains. When I used play sand before it became impacted on the ground so make sure that you are raking it a lot to prevent that.

 

[Quailerino]

They will not feel full. In the morning they will not feel like they did the night before. When you feel their crop after a day of eating it will feel squishy and full like a tiny balloon.

I believe you will be fine, but course sand and not play sand is what is usually recommended. Play sand tends to clump up as well when it rains. When I used play sand before it became impacted on the ground so make sure that you are raking it a lot to prevent that.

Thank you for this advice! Do you think that putting down a layer of decomposed granite on top of the play sand would help to reduce the risk of crop problems?

 

[FortCluck]

Thank you for this advice! Do you think that putting down a layer of decomposed granite on top of the play sand would help to reduce the risk of crop problems?

You can do that and it’ll make things a bit courser for the quail.

 

[FloorCandy]

I suspect mine eat quite a bit of play sand, but haven’t had any issues.

 

[FortCluck]

I suspect mine eat quite a bit of play sand, but haven’t had any issues.

Just because others have done it, doesn't mean that it is okay. Play sand is not recommended for brooders or for coops. Just like they are not recommended for reptiles... It causes impaction and impacted crops.

Course sand is recommended for the health of the birds.