Are they eating the dirt?

[ChickenChick46]

If you add a small amount of Chick Grit to your brooder they may eat that and then dirt bathe in the soil you put in from your coop area. If you aren't already you might put the dirt in a small container but big enough for them to get it and roll around in for dirt bathing. When they were real small I used a med to lg dog food bowl.

Thank you for these suggestions. I added some grit a little while back, and they do eat that. I also started putting the dirt for the dust bath in a deeper and wider old leftover food container, and they got the figured out quickly. They now enjoy flapping around and throwing red clay dust around my guest room. They're 3 weeks old today, so their time inside our home is coming to a close soon.

 

[PopoMyers]

This is yard dirt. At the suggestion of some folks on here, in preparation for letting my little ones outside for some supervised play time before too much longer, I brought in some of the yard dirt from the are where their future coop is.

I feel like they might be eating it, instead of dust bathing in it. Is this safe for them? They seem to like it a lot, but I want to make sure this is safe.

Thank you!

It is safe for them. I do this with every batch of chicks. They love it! Be forewarned that if you have them indoors, you will have all kinds of dust everywhere, and will have a big job later. Happy chicking!

 

[ChickenChick46]

It is safe for them. I do this with every batch of chicks. They love it! Be forewarned that if you have them indoors, you will have all kinds of dust everywhere, and will have a big job later. Happy chicking!

Oh my gosh, the dust! They're in my guest room, and we're also in the midst of a kitchen renovation, so like half our dishes are stacked on the guest room beds. So. Much. Dust! If I need to use anything, I have to wash it first. They're so worth it though.

They don't dustbathe inside anymore, at least. We got them a nice enclosed run and I sit with them outside every day now. They're honestly probably ready for the coop. They'll be 5 weeks Monday or Tuesday, they are completely off the brooder plate, and temps are 90s/70s here. It's not them saying they aren't ready, it's me.

 

[PopoMyers]

Oh my gosh, the dust! They're in my guest room, and we're also in the midst of a kitchen renovation, so like half our dishes are stacked on the guest room beds. So. Much. Dust! If I need to use anything, I have to wash it first. They're so worth it though.

They don't dustbathe inside anymore, at least. We got them a nice enclosed run and I sit with them outside every day now. They're honestly probably ready for the coop. They'll be 5 weeks Monday or Tuesday, they are completely off the brooder plate, and temps are 90s/70s here. It's not them saying they aren't ready, it's me.

I know you are glad they are outside. I was late to the thread. It will be new chick time again for me next spring. I hope your reno gets finished sooner than later, and be done with all the dust.

 

[2 Acres]

It's also why you've got to be careful about what you leave out if you free-range chickens. If it's small enough they'll try to swallow it: chunks of plastic, styrofoam, small screws, even bits of broken glass.

Don't forget anti freeze. Just like dogs, anti freeze will quickly kill chickens since it smells/tastes sweet.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I know you are glad they are outside. I was late to the thread. It will be new chick time again for me next spring. I hope your reno gets finished sooner than later, and be done with all the dust.

I just added 4 brand new chicks on Sunday, lol. I think I'm looking for the trouble.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Don't forget anti freeze. Just like dogs, anti freeze will quickly kill chickens since it smells/tastes sweet.

Yeah that would be absolutely horrible. When I was about 6, I watched my cousin's cat die from antifreeze poisoning. I've never forgotten it, and it was very traumatic.