ash for dust baths

[sezjasper]

I read on here that fireplace ash is good to add to "homemade" dust bath bins. What about the ash that collects in the can under a charcoal grill? I've saved a large bag of it, and it looks nice and clean (no food debris in it) but I'm wondering if the ash is contaminated with lighter fluid or something in the charcoal we used (or does all that burn off?) My house doesn't have a fireplace so this ash is the best I can come up with. Thanks for any advice!

 

[terryg]

You're right to be concerned about the fake bricketts ash. Don't use it. It's filled with bad chemicals. When chickens dust bathe, they do an innate behavior where they ingest some of the dirt. You don't want them eating that stuff!
My chickens have loose dirt in the pen that they dust bathe in, and I also provide a kitty litter box half-filled with sand and a cup of food-grade DE. This keeps them happy, healthy and louse-free. You can see kitty litter box dust bath on my live cams (www.HenCam.com). I keep the kitty litter box indoors, and that way in the winter and during rainy spells they always have a good place to dust bathe. Here in New England, there are long stretches in the winter that their dirt wallows are frozen up, and they get lice if they don't have the dust bath indoors. Read more about dust bathing and control of lice here:
http://hencam.com/faq/chicken-lice/

 

[Greyfox Farm]

You're right to be concerned about the fake bricketts ash. Don't use it. It's filled with bad chemicals.

Such as? Based on information from...? You may be correct, but please state your source before making such a blanket statement. Sorry to seem doubtful but I tend to chafe at statements which start with things like "as everyone knows," Personally, I use stove ash from hardwoods grown here on the farm and not briquettes. I suppose it's POSSIBLE that something left from the combustion from briquettes may be deleterious to the birds health and it's always advisable to be cautious, but if it that or nothing I just don't want to say no-way based on no specific information. (Steps down from soapbox.)

 

[sezjasper]

Thank you to terryg and Greyfox Farm for your input. I think I'm inclined to not use the ash "just in case." Actually I think the fact that I felt it necessary to post should have told me not to use it! Better safe than sorry. I'll stick to fireplace ash from wood if I can get hold of some. Otherwise, I've read on here that a mixture of sand and peat moss works well, with some DE thrown in. I plan to use the "homemade" dust bath in their covered run in the winter, so they'll still have the benefit even when the ground is frozen.

 

[DeepFried]

Thank you to terryg and Greyfox Farm for your input.  I think I'm inclined to not use the ash "just in case."  Actually I think the fact that I felt it necessary to post should have told me not to use it!  Better safe than sorry.  I'll stick to fireplace ash from wood if I can get hold of some.  Otherwise, I've read on here that a mixture of sand and peat moss works well, with some DE thrown in.  I plan to use the "homemade" dust bath in their covered run in the winter, so they'll still have the benefit even when the ground is frozen.

Hopefully you can find a neighbor or friend that does have a fireplace. A Rubbermaid tote full should last a while (since you would He using it as and addative to the dirt). A fireplace user could probably fill one up in less than a week.

One thought that I have about the briquette ash is... it is burned around you while you more than likely breath in the smoke from it... Also, the smoke/ gasses definitely are in your food; isn't that why people prefer charcoal flavor over gas, which is ingested by you. I would think that laws exist to prevent any dangerous chemical being used in the manufacture of the briquet.