What to add to a dust bath???

[perkolator]

For my chicken bath I do something like:
85 - native dirt/topsoil
10 - wood ash
5 - DE

 

[canne50]

I used a mix of peat moss, dry powdery dirt (find it in a pole barn, lean-to, any roof covered dirt floor. If you know how to not use not use to much, white ash from burt wood.

I agree. I’ve used peat moss with only a little native soil or sand mixed in. No respiratory problems ever with my chickens. I use the DE in very small amounts like 4 or so tablespoons to a 4’ bale of peat moss. I have use about the same amount of dry wood ash, too. The dust spa is well protected from rain and snow so creating lye from the small amount of wood ash is negligible.
These practices over a 50 year span have never seemed to harm my hens. I learned about the wood ash from my great-grandma.
I use the deep bed system in their coop and occasionally sprinkle sparingly small amounts of DE or wood ash on the bedding before adding fresh bedding. Never have I had lice or varmints in the coop.
I’ve chosen the lesser of evils, but use them only sparingly.
Best to you as you become a wise chicken keeper.
P.S. good ventilation is absolutely important while using the deep bed method. We have very little rain.