Adding poultry dust to dust bath?

[NHMountainMan]

I do not presently have a mite issue that I'm aware of - but I was wondering about whether there is any harm in adding poultry dust to their dust bath?
I presently keep a dust bath of wood ash, which i keep full. I'm thinking about adding poultry dust as a preventative measure.
Thoughts?

 

[21hens-incharge]

The only problem I see with it is mites or lice not getting a full dose and becoming resistant over time.

I have read that in some areas they have had issues with resistant pests.

I think the ash works very well so wouldn't do the poison unless an issue is found.

 

[NHMountainMan]

The only problem I see with it is mites or lice not getting a full dose and becoming resistant over time.

I have read that in some areas they have had issues with resistant pests.

I think the ash works very well so wouldn't do the poison unless an issue is found.

Thanks- I really hadn't thought about creating resistance. Great point.

 

[cmom]

I agree, unless there is a problem, I wouldn't put any poultry dust down.

 

[Acre4Me]

Agree not a good idea. Wood ash is a great thing for the dust bath, so keep that up.

we have also added peat moss, coarse sand, sawdust to the dust bath area in our run, bc these things help to keep it loose and “dusty”.

 

[aart]

I presently keep a dust bath of wood ash, which i keep full.

Do they use it?
Hard or softwood ash?

Ditto the resistance issue.
Keep it for if/when you need it, and check your birds regularly for external parasites.

 

[NHMountainMan]

Do they use it?
Hard or softwood ash?

Ditto the resistance issue.
Keep it for if/when you need it, and check your birds regularly for external parasites.

They love the wood ash. I keep a rubbermaid tub filled with it. I use the ash in the garden too. We only burn hardwood in our wood stove - our primary heat source for most of the year. I also use the ash in the garden.

Thanks all on the advice not to add poultry dust to the mix.

 

[aart]

We only burn hardwood in our wood stove

Guy did a test here....burned some softwood and some hardwood separately,
and put them in separate dust baths.....birds chose the hardwood, wouldn't touch the softwood. Might have been something about different acidities too. CRS.

 

[NHMountainMan]

Guy did a test here....burned some softwood and some hardwood separately,
and put them in separate dust baths.....birds chose the hardwood, wouldn't touch the softwood. Might have been something about different acidities too. CRS.

Every day I learn something fascinating about those crazy critters. Thank you

 

[CaptainSamH]

They love the wood ash. I keep a rubbermaid tub filled with it. I use the ash in the garden too. We only burn hardwood in our wood stove - our primary heat source for most of the year. I also use the ash in the garden.

Thanks all on the advice not to add poultry dust to the mix.

I'm a newbie, but did read about this with interest as we have a lot of wood ash (some pine, but mostly hardwood) from our wood stove and maple sap evaporator. So if our chickens have 2 or 3 spots around the yard where they do their dust bath, do I add the ash to all of them? How much do I add?
Thanks!