Bedding for aviaries

[AerieAviary]

We recently built two new aviaries- one for our Australian Grass Keets (which currently include Bourke's and Splendids, though we may branch out at some point) and one for our Lady Gouldian Finches. These aviaries are in our enclosed carport, so 2 of the walls and the ceiling of each aviary are actual walls, and the front and one side are wire mesh. The floor of these aviaries is ceramic tile with a thermostat-regulated heating system underneath.

We have always just used newspaper on the floor of our previous aviaries, but wondered about the various bedding materials available. I have seen photos of people's aviaries with a reddish-brown, sandy substance that I would assume is some sort of processed organic material. If we switched to something like this, does anyone have suggestions as to what would be best in their experience, pros and cons of various beddings, the cost comparison of various materials, and "maintenance" instructions? For instance, can this sandy substance be sifted through, much like a cat's litter box, or does it have to be replaced for cleaning? Is it safe if the birds, while pecking around foraging on the floor, ingest some of it?

Thanks so much for your help!

[mrsuper]

Me and my dad just put clean sand in the bottem of our avairy we also had a part of just dirty and a part of cement

But me and my dad arn't experts so i might be wrong :S

[Lori~D]

I use hardwood Mulch but mine is more outdoors and I hose it and turn it every so often and will add more (new) next season.

[Rahni]

Plain washed garden sand is acceptable, and you can rake it every couple of days and change it completely every 6 months or so (depends on the drainage).
Other people just leave the tiles or concrete bare and just hose it down- this is the most hygienic.
Any natural mulch (with no treated pine etc) would be good too for the same reason as the sand.

[AerieAviary]

Unfortunately since the interior walls are drywall we do not have the option of hosing things down. Instead we would have to have something we could sift through for maintenance cleanings and that could be swept up for bedding changes.

Thanks for the responses thus far!

[Lori~D]

Then I would consider aspen shavings or something you can dump into the Garden for recycling. A Good one for this is Woody Pet. Put it down as pellets or add water to become sawdust Or some other sort of Biodegradable stuff