[de Vera Loft]

I've tried to put sand in their nest bowl.. the reason, a fancier told me that it is good to use sand in their nest bowl, for their eggs will be secured and it can warm the eggs while on the sand.. But suddenly, I felt that they love to pick a lot of the sand.. Is there anything good about the sand for them?

 

[Skyeking]

Where are you getting the sand?

Perhaps they are finding little rocks or some other food or tidbits that they are enjoying or craving.

I would be careful using sand, I would think it should be sanitized.

 

[Ed]

are you sure they are eating it and not moving the eggs around under them

 

[Crazy Pete]

Are you giving them grit?
Dave

 

[spirit wings]

if I use sand or clay litter, I usually put pine shavings on top of it, and then put the pine needles in the loft so they can build a nest on that, so the sand is under all that, so have never seen mine pick at it before. They may need some red grit.

 

[de Vera Loft]

Yes.. Grits always present in my loft..

 

[LUCKYT]

Grit or no Grit, if you put coarse sand near them they will eat it. I would not use sand in a nest box, or bowl. Dave

 

[Pegasus]

I've tried to put sand in their nest bowl.. the reason, a fancier told me that it is good to use sand in their nest bowl, for their eggs will be secured and it can warm the eggs while on the sand.. But suddenly, I felt that they love to pick a lot of the sand.. Is there anything good about the sand for them?

Kristian your birds are the same as mine...Yes I do put sand in the bowl, ½ way full to be exact...You're right, about keeping the eggs warm and egg are secure...My birds do eat or peck whatever is in it, don't really know what are they eating but it seems they like it...

Don't be surprised if you see them eating some charcoal ashes because my birds do eat those and I serve it to them in the bowl, specially this coming summer...Something they know that WE don't...I'm pretty sure if they have a cold and you put a pigeon medicine for cold in the loft and let them peck on it, I bet 100% they won't touch it...We all know they got a cold and the cold medicine is good for them but will they take it?, HECK NO...So they do know something better than US...If another fancier choose not to give it to them, well I have no control over that, all I can say is "but" and end of it...

 

[Jay3]

If you put sand in front of them, they are going to pick at it. They pick at everything. It won't hurt them. If anything, it'll act as grit. What do you think they do outside? They pick at sand, gravel pebbles, etc. As long as it's clean, it isn't going to hurt them. If people who let their birds out saw half of what they pick at outside, they'd probably be amazed.

 

[Jay3]

Some people have said that it is good to use sand in the nestbowl, because it holds the heat when the parent birds leave for a while. Others have said that it isn't good, because it gets damp. Also, it really doesn't give them anything to grab onto and can therefore cause splay leg. I don't think it's really a great idea. straw and tabacco stems, or even pine needles would be better.

 

[LUCKYT]

So it is agreed the will eat the sand... SO why put it in the nest were they will most likely eat Fouled sand? Charcoal, is and always has been a good "balancer for the stomach, i NEVER have fed it or will, there are safer ways to get the same results. Let me see... if the charcoal is from pressure treated wood, could be toxic, if the wood was painted, it could be toxic, shall i go on? LOL! Dave

 

[Pegasus]

Jay since I'm using the sand for my breeders, I haven't seen a baby with splayed legs, not to my babies anyway, even before I use the sand method...I mean I honestly think splayed legs for my opinion happens when there's nothing in the bowl at all...The sand can be pressed like when we go to the beach and stepped on the sand it pressed down but there are times when we misstepped and sprain our ankle, but that is less likely will or can happen to baby pigeon legs...

Dave I think anything the fire burns and whatever is in it, will be in the smoke and eventually gone for good so anything that was in the wood will gone and become ashes after the fire is done doing its bizness with it...IMO...

 

[LUCKYT]

Lead does not burn of, any heavy, toxic metal will not Burn off... JMHO Dave

 

[LUCKYT]

As far as splayed legs go any good nesting material, pine needles, straw, heck i have even used shavings with good results, you just have to USE enough of it. I have seen many pictures of young in the nest here with to little nesting material.... JMHO dave

 

[Pegasus]

Okay I agree...I know nails and other metal stuff that is attached to the wood won't burn but Dave do you think pigeons don't know what's in the ashes when they peck it...But anything that man made and applied to the wood will dissolve eventually...Like I said I think they do know what they peck and not to peck...

 

[Jay3]

Jay since I'm using the sand for my breeders, I haven't seen a baby with splayed legs, not to my babies anyway, even before I use the sand method...I mean I honestly think splayed legs for my opinion happens when there's nothing in the bowl at all...The sand can be pressed like when we go to the beach and stepped on the sand it pressed down but there are times when we misstepped and sprain our ankle, but that is less likely will or can happen to baby pigeon legs...

Dave I think anything the fire burns and whatever is in it, will be in the smoke and eventually gone for good so anything that was in the wood will gone and become ashes after the fire is done doing its bizness with it...IMO...

Pegasus, if there is only sand in the bowl, that's like having nothing at all. They have nothing to grab onto. It's like sitting on the hard floor. And that could cause splayed leg. They should have something under them to grab onto to keep their legs from going out to the side constantly. And if you are going to put stuff on top of it, then why do you need the sand? And, if it gets soiled, which it will, then they are eating it, well how good is that? In the wild, would they use sand in their nest? Don't think so.

 

[Jay3]

As far as splayed legs go any good nesting material, pine needles, straw, heck i have even used shavings with good results, you just have to USE enough of it. I have seen many pictures of young in the nest here with to little nesting material.... JMHO dave

I have to agree. You need to use enough, and many nest bowls don't have nearly enough in them.

 

[Jay3]

Okay I agree...I know nails and other metal stuff that is attached to the wood won't burn but Dave do you think pigeons don't know what's in the ashes when they peck it...But anything that man made and applied to the wood will dissolve eventually...Like I said I think they do know what they peck and not to peck...

Pigeons will peck at ANYTHING! They do not know what is and isn't good for them. And if charcoal is used, it should be from the pigeon supply places.

 

[LUCKYT]

Yes, Jay3 than it it is GOOD for them Dave

 

[Jay3]

If lead paint were on the wood, and it was burned to charcoal, wouldn't the lead still be there?