Kaytee, who has specialized in bird and small pet supplies for 130 years, was kind enough to send me a sample of their Soft-Sorbent litter for a Tried and True Green Product Review.  This “soft and comfortable earth friendly bedding” is created from wood fibers that aren’t suitable for paper.  Instead of throwing away these scraps, Kaytee turns them into an absorbent bedding safe for small animals like rabbits, hamsters, and – in my case – birds.

I have two pairs of ringneck doves, (four birds in total), who usually have a layer of bark at the bottom of their cages.  I wanted to use something environmentally friendly that could earn the approval of both me and my doves, so I was anxious to try out the Soft-Sorbent.  After a week of investigating the following questions, I can report that the bedding has worked very well.

Do the doves like it?

I guess my birds are brand-loyal, because they’ve been having a heyday building nests with Kaytee Natural Orchard Grass for the last year, and they seemed pretty excited about the new bedding.  Christmas Eve was the first dove to check out the product.  Among my doves, she is the foremost inspector of specks and flinger of very small items, so she naturally took the initiative in this Tried and True Review.  Digging through the bedding kept her entertained for a full hour.  Riley, her companion, was busy guarding their four infertile eggs and did not seem to mind my placing some Soft-Sorbent in the nest.  Although I won’t be having any baby birds here, Soft-Sorbent is appropriate for baby bird nests.

Jody and Earnest, the other pair, did not take much interest either way and decided to spend their evening flying around the house.

Do the doves eat it?

I admit that I was worried about this question, especially for Christmas Eve, who really likes to eat.  At first when I put the bedding in, she looked like she really wanted to eat it.  She kept picking up bite-sized pieces, but just when I thought she was going to eat them, she threw them instead.  Eventually she went to her dish to eat seeds and brocolli.  Good news: none of the birds think that Soft-Sorbent is a snack.

Does it smell?

Although Kaytee does have Soft-Sorbent scented with real lavendar, rose, and mint, the bag I tested is unscented.  When I opened the bag, it had a fresh, earthy scent to it.  Not long after placing bedding in the cages, I didn’t smell anything at all.  When I use bark as a bedding, the cages start to smell after a few days, telling me it’s time to clean them.  However, it’s been a week and I don’t smell anything!  This is a refreshing change.  Like all beddings, Soft-Sorbent should be changed at least one a week.  This means that the bird cages are due for a cleaning but, oddly, my nose cannot tell!

Is it messy?

Inside the cage, all is going well.  While the bark I normally use retains water splashed out of bird baths, the Soft-Sorbent has proven to be highly absorbent.  The cages are dry and tidy.

My only complaint is that the litter just won’t stay in the cages.  When the birds flap their wings, the sorbent is blown out, and we’ve had to sweep more than usual this week.  I think that if we had a slightly deeper cage base, we would have no trouble.  Inside a rabbit hutch, hamster cage, or housing for any animals without wings, my guess is that the bedding will stay put.

Do I like it?

Well, the birds are happy, the house doesn’t smell at all, and my calendar is the only thing reminding me it’s time for a bedding change, so I’d say yes.  I like to my hands through the bedding (when it’s in the bag and clean, of course) and feel its nice texture.  The bag is resealable to prevent spills.  I only wish that the doves would be a little more careful about flapping it out with their wings.  Fortunately, flutter as they may the air in my house stays clean and breathable, because the sorbent is not dusty.

Kaytee has a nonprofit corporation called the Kaytee Avian Foundation, which focuses on education, conservation, and research.  I feel great about buying reclaimed fiber bedding for my avian friends from a company who cares about both pet birds and wild birds.