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ingredients for 'Dust Bath'

post #1 of 16
11/16/09 at 9:24am
Thread Starter 

2 questions, actually. 

1]  Is DE and builders sand an OK mix for a dust bath bowl? 

2] I put it in a terracotta planter-pot dish -- about 2" deep.  Do I need a deeper bowl?   The babies are 5 weeks old and are starting to want to dust bathe.  5 are banties [1 a Cochin, 3 OEGs and the 5th ???? - beautiful red color, half the size of the Polish, twice the size of the OEGs ??????????????, one a Polish.

Madcap621

I believe in miracles.  In fact, I DEPEND on them! DH for 43 years, 2 daughters, 2 grand-Ds, 8 Papillons, 3 Toy Fox Terriers, 1 Yorkie, 7 laying pullets, 2 immature pullets
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I believe in miracles.  In fact, I DEPEND on them! DH for 43 years, 2 daughters, 2 grand-Ds, 8 Papillons, 3 Toy Fox Terriers, 1 Yorkie, 7 laying pullets, 2 immature pullets
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post #2 of 16
11/16/09 at 9:27am

Sounds like a great idea!

"I know its OK to talk to my chicks, but lately they've been answering back!"
One GREAT Husband, 4 Wonderful children all grown and missed very much, 2 Grand Kids, 2 Fabulous Dogs, 2 Silly Cats, 2 milk cows, Honey Bees (mean ones), and 56 Comical Chickens!
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"I know its OK to talk to my chicks, but lately they've been answering back!"
One GREAT Husband, 4 Wonderful children all grown and missed very much, 2 Grand Kids, 2 Fabulous Dogs, 2 Silly Cats, 2 milk cows, Honey Bees (mean ones), and 56 Comical Chickens!
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post #3 of 16
11/16/09 at 9:30am

Sounds great on both counts!!  Mine are 9 weeks now and I STILL use a planter base, just a much larger one!  smile  I use playsand and DE...same concept!

Caretaker of a lovely mixed flock including: australorp, plymouth rocks, wyandotte, d'uccles, silkies, EEs, andalusian, and a few seramas, plus a golden retriever, great dane, and three cats.
R.I.P. Bear 2010 - "The Best Dog Ever"

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Caretaker of a lovely mixed flock including: australorp, plymouth rocks, wyandotte, d'uccles, silkies, EEs, andalusian, and a few seramas, plus a golden retriever, great dane, and three cats.
R.I.P. Bear 2010 - "The Best Dog Ever"

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post #4 of 16
11/16/09 at 11:22am

my chickens make their dust bath where ever they happen to be...
but then again, my entire yard is dirt... i have no clue what all this pretty green stuff you guys keep in your yard is.. but it is not cundusive to dust baths.. what are you thinking.. lol...

2" seems shallow to me, but like i said, mine make their own.. lol... so i have no idea.....

*insert witty sig line here*
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*insert witty sig line here*
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post #5 of 16
11/16/09 at 11:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by evonne 

my chickens make their dust bath where ever they happen to be...
but then again, my entire yard is dirt... i have no clue what all this pretty green stuff you guys keep in your yard is.. but it is not cundusive to dust baths.. what are you thinking.. lol...


yuckyuck  Yep.  We made our ladies a fancy dust bath... and they NEVER use it.  They made their own.  I think they did it just to irritate us.  roll

If there are no dogs in heaven, then I want to go where they went." - Will Rogers (1879-1935)
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If there are no dogs in heaven, then I want to go where they went." - Will Rogers (1879-1935)
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post #6 of 16
11/22/09 at 6:09am

Ok, kinda new here.  everyone is saying DE  is that Diatomatious Earth?

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post #7 of 16
11/22/09 at 11:03am

My 14 week old SILKIE characters do not dust bathe. I have a small litter pan with De and dry store bought builders sand.Ther perch on the end of it to nap and sleep they pick thru like on a Treasure hunt BUT they do not bathe in it.......go figure....................!

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post #8 of 16
11/22/09 at 12:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hermiesbirdies 

Ok, kinda new here.  everyone is saying DE  is that Diatomatious Earth?


Yes, DE is short for Diatomaceous Earth.  Quite a mouthful so everyone abbreviates it!

Shauna ~ wife of a very tolerant hubby, mom of 4 beautiful children, one dog, 2 cats, 2 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, 2 rats, & 22 chickens
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Shauna ~ wife of a very tolerant hubby, mom of 4 beautiful children, one dog, 2 cats, 2 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, 2 rats, & 22 chickens
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post #9 of 16
11/23/09 at 9:38am
Thread Starter 

UPDATE:  They scooted all the 'dust mix' out into their bedding and lay in the bare dish! he  Back to the drawing board!

Madcap621

I believe in miracles.  In fact, I DEPEND on them! DH for 43 years, 2 daughters, 2 grand-Ds, 8 Papillons, 3 Toy Fox Terriers, 1 Yorkie, 7 laying pullets, 2 immature pullets
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I believe in miracles.  In fact, I DEPEND on them! DH for 43 years, 2 daughters, 2 grand-Ds, 8 Papillons, 3 Toy Fox Terriers, 1 Yorkie, 7 laying pullets, 2 immature pullets
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post #10 of 16
11/23/09 at 9:55am

I'm thoroughly convinced now that chickens are worse than dogs when it comes to digging and dust baths.  They dig holes faster than the dog ever did and as fast as I fill them in so we don't trip in the chicken yard, they dig em' back out!  I have an area of my chicken yard that is mostly sand but they seem to prefer digging where the more graveled area is.  I've decided they do what they want and you can't really stop them lol!  I did manage with about 3 weeks of persistence get them to all stop sleeping in the nest boxes earlier this year but gave up on the digging issue.

I keep DE in their nest box straw and add it to their food which insures they are getting exposed to that for other reasons with regard to pest control and I also use the deep litter method in the coop so there is plenty of DE in the bedding in there too.

Todd
http://www.astridsembroidery.com
http://www.wm8c.com
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Todd
http://www.astridsembroidery.com
http://www.wm8c.com
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Raising Baby Chicks › ingredients for 'Dust Bath'