Is chinchilla sand safe for birds?

[CharmeC]

I’d like to get some sand for my sparrow T. Rex to bathe in cause they do that in the wild. Does anyone know if chinchilla sand is safe for birds? I am aware that the other product called chinchilla dust is harmful even for hamsters due to its fine particles. Thanks!

 

[Macawnutz]

I used to have chins and I would not allow the bathing to occur within breathing distances of your birds.

 

[Deleted member 29421]

No, not safe. Use sterile garden soil or you can kill pathogens by baking regular dirt in a pan. Baking will kill any parasites, fungus etc.

 

[CharmeC]

I used to have chins and I would not allow the bathing to occur within breathing distances of your birds.

What type of sand would you recommend for my sparrow? Sadly I don’t have access to sandy ground to dig some up where I live.

 

[CharmeC]

No, not safe. Use sterile garden soil or you can kill pathogens by baking regular dirt in a pan. Baking will kill any parasites, fungus etc.

Huh! The texture of garden soil is good for sandbathing?

 

[Deleted member 29421]

Huh! The texture of garden soil is good for sandbathing?

Its dust bathing and its just dried dirt. Dry, broken down dirt. The soil varies from one location to another so some dirt may be sandier than other dirt but theres nothing special about it. Having said that, you want actual soil and not the potting soil that has a lot of mulch in it. Just good old fashioned dirt.