Bird Sand?

[libra]

In pet shops I always see bird sand (Vogel Sand) and on packet it's written for all birds- 90% Calcium. What is this and how I should use it for budgies?

Thanks

[phoebe]

I'm not sure. I would look at the ingredients and research it online. I know some people give calcium in the form of oyster shells. www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18935
Could it be crushed?

[Hezz]

No idea, sorry.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Maybe you are referring to soluble grit.

[starlingqueen]

I think it's for the bottom of the cage, instead of sand sheets. Not sure if there is any point to it really or if it's bad for their feet like sand sheets.

[starlingqueen]

OK, I noticed you used the German word for bird, Vogel. So I googled vogelsand and got this.

Mit Kalk, Sepia und Anisöl angereichert

Feiner weißer Vogelsand ist die Standardeinstreu für den Vogelkäfig. Besonders Wellensittiche lieben es, im Sand zu picken. Durch dieses natürliche Verhalten nimmt er zusätzlich Mineralstoffe auf.

Dieser Vogelsand ist gewaschen, getrocknet und spezialpräpariert. Er ist mit Kalk-Grit, Futterkalk, Sepia und Anisöl angereichert

Which translates to this.

Enriched with lime, sepia and anise oil

Fine white sand bird is the standard litter for the bird cage. Especially budgies love to pick on the sand. Through this natural behavior, he also holds on minerals.

This bird sand is washed, dried and specially prepared. It is enriched with lime grit, feed lime, sepia and anise oil

[skysmum]

I use bird sand in the aviary in trays and since having them indoors for the winter i always provide a sand tray on top of one of the cages. Mine absolutely love it, ive thrown the box away as i put it in a large airtight container once ive opened it, but i know it has crushed oyster shell in it.
It is also quite safe for their feet, its very soft, they even bath in it as wild birds would in dry soil .

[kikkinu]

Jan 26, 2014 19:17:35 GMT skysmum said:

I use bird sand in the aviary in trays and since having them indoors for the winter i always provide a sand tray on top of one of the cages. Mine absolutely love it, ive thrown the box away as i put it in a large airtight container once ive opened it, but i know it has crushed oyster shell in it.
It is also quite safe for their feet, its very soft, they even bath in it as wild birds would in dry soil .

Agreed.

I put some in bird baths for my buds, and they just fluff in it. Some of them actually like to pick at the grit. I think it helps grind the food in their stomach. 

I've even noticed some buds that have runny poop tend to go for it more. 

[lupin]

I used to use newspaper on their cage floor and sprinkled it with some birdcage sand that had lots of soluble grit in it, but my birds always loved scrabbling around and foraging on the floor - most of their treat dishes used to be put on the floor for them too (out of the way of pooping areas of course) - they spent a lot of time in their 'basement'.

[libra]

Ok thanks guys. So it means that i should sprinkle them on the newspaper which is on bottom of the cage.

[lupin]

Some budgie owners like to provide soluble grit (oyster shell without the sand in it) for their birds in a dish so they can help themselves as and when they feel the need of it - some owners prefer to use the bird sand with oyster shell grit in it spread on the floor.

I decided it made sense to provide oyster shell grit and used the floor birdsand with soluble grit in it - it always got cleaned and replaced each day when I changed their newspaper flooring.

You may decide to forget the sand/grit mixture and just provide a dish of oyster shell grit - as said above, some budgies like to 'have a dustbath' in it:) Your birds will decide what they like

[ffiscool]

I sprinkle the oyster shell grit in Baileys food. He seems to like it. I also do the same with dried egg food.