DeepSpinLofts
1633 posts
Jan 20, 2010
4:22 PM
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I recently bought some red pigeon grit from the feed store and it was damp from moisture seeping through the bag. The retailer keeps feed & grit in large sacks in a warehouse with the doors open.... so forklifts can drive in and out.
Hmm.... I guess wet winter California storms has affected the grit sacks contents.
QUESTION: Moist grit shouldn't be too much of a problem.... should it???
Marcus
Deep Spin Lofts
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2010 4:23 PM
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Scott
2808 posts
Jan 20, 2010
4:30 PM
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Take it back Marcus... it needs to be dry
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Scott Campbell
" God Bless "
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DeepSpinLofts
1634 posts
Jan 20, 2010
4:38 PM
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Thanks Scott.
Marcus
Deep Spin Lofts
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nicksiders
GOLD MEMBER
4071 posts
Jan 20, 2010
5:36 PM
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Grit will draw moister as well. Sounds like this got rained on.
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Just My Take On Things
Nick Siders
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fhtfire
2451 posts
Jan 20, 2010
6:11 PM
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Grit is fine wet. It will not hurt anything. They are just rocks and oyster shells. Rocks dont rot. My grit in my loft is totally wet just from being at 90% humidity in just the last 5 or 6 days. IT will not hurt the birds. How do you think wild pigeons get grit during the winter...wet rocks.
If you are worried.....just set the bag in your house for about a week close to your furnace or fireplace..but it wont hurt anything.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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George R.
270 posts
Jan 20, 2010
6:49 PM
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I dont know but I was always told that moister is a Pigeons #1 enemy ...
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wishiwon2
280 posts
Jan 20, 2010
7:26 PM
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I would take it back. I believe I've had grit contribute to a salmonella outbreak. The 5 gal. bucket it was in got rained on, the moisture pooled at the bottom. When I got down near that portion it smelled sour. I thought like Paul, rocks cant rot ... I dont know what it was but it smelled bad and I had sick pigeons. I threw it our, medicated and havent had prob since. Since then Ive tried to keep the bucket lid snapped down, it usually is pretty dry, although like nick said it does draw some condensation moisture from atmosphere. When in doubt ... take it back.
Red grit has more than rocks and oyster shell, minerals, charcoal, salt ...
I dont want mine to be wild pigeons.
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Jon
If it were easy, everybody would do it
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steve49
386 posts
Jan 20, 2010
7:56 PM
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i think a little moisture won't be a problem, as long as its got a chance to dry out. Jon's situation was a bit different, since the bottom of his bucket didn't allow air to penetrate, so any organic material could contribute to contamination, not the grit itself.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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macsrollers
247 posts
Jan 20, 2010
8:00 PM
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Marcus. Tony is right. Mold and mildew can form on charcoal, oyster shell, and the red grit itself. I have had this before with a leaky bottom of a container I stored grit in. After a number of days the grit was starting to smell and rot. Take it back and get a dry bag or your money back. Enjoy your next fly! Don M. LVRC
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lew3015
74 posts
Jan 20, 2010
8:13 PM
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I don't mean to change the topic, but would this also pertain to all types of grit, mainly small crushed granite?
Lew
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2010 8:15 PM
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fhtfire
2452 posts
Jan 21, 2010
1:15 AM
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If moisture on grit was a problem..My birds would have been dead along time ago. My grit containers during the winter are real wet just from absorbing the moisture from the air. If you have other contaminates then you may have an issue. But if it is just all grit and moist it will not hurt them.....but I guess better to be safe then sorry.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Dave Szab
6 posts
Jan 21, 2010
7:20 AM
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The reason that health grit gets moist, and stays moist, is because of the salts it contains. These salts can actually draw moisture in from the air. That said, your grit should not be wet when you open the bag, if it is, it was stored improperly and you should return it. Putting dry grit in a feed container, and if it gets moist because of high humidity in the air, it will not hurt the birds if you let them eat it wet, as long as you have it in a container that keeps it free of droppings. You will notice that the grit will stay wet, even if the humidity in the air lessens, this is because the salt is trapping the moisture in the grit. I will usually throw it out if it stays moist more than 3 or 4 days, and put in fresh, dry grit.
Dave Szabatura
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Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
3849 posts
Jan 21, 2010
8:51 AM
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Hey Dave, is there any kind of wick type material that can absorb the moisture from the air and be placed in the container with the grit?
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FLY ON!
Tony Chavarria
Your Own Custom Telephone # Bands
Last Edited by on Jan 21, 2010 8:52 AM
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Scott
2809 posts
Jan 21, 2010
10:39 AM
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Yes it draws moisture .. that is why this time of year I only put out enough that the birds will consume.. my stored grit is dry as a bone because I keep it in a container.. so what I put out is dry as a bone .. if I leave it in over night it's trash and I toss it.. that is why I pull it.
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Scott Campbell
" God Bless "
Last Edited by on Jan 21, 2010 10:40 AM
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katyroller
700 posts
Jan 21, 2010
1:01 PM
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Tony,
I don't know if it would work in a grit bowl but I know you can put dessicant bags in sealed feed containers to keep your feed fresh. Years ago my Dad used to do this with his feed and it always smelled like you had just opened a fresh bag. You can do an online search for dessicant retailers.
Tracey
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katyroller
701 posts
Jan 22, 2010
12:35 PM
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In the military we use dessicant bags when we long term store weapons in crates. Dessicant will usually be a color like blue or purple and when the color changes to pink, you are supposed to replace the dessicant bag. We have found that you can recycle the bags by drying them out in a microwave.
Tracey
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