At what age do baby chicks start to DUST BATH?

[ArraAchicksMama]

The grit isn’t for the dust bath. It is used to aid digestion. I sprinkle chick sized grit into the chick crumble at feed time. The earlier the better. Using grit improves digestion and feed efficiency. Studies prove that grit fed chicks significantly out perform control groups in growth performance.

Which brand grit, if any do you suggest? For 6 day old chickies

 

[RoyalChick]

Ahh thank you!! They got both Mareks and Coccidiosis vaccines. Do both take about 10 days to take in effect?

Sorry. I don’t know anything about the coccidiosis vaccine.

 

[rosemarythyme]

In your experience, how old have they been when they start dust bathing?

They do it when they get let out. The earliest I've let them out of the brooder was at 10 days old, so that's the earliest I've seen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Which brand grit, if any do you suggest? For 6 day old chickies

Brand is irrelevant. Grit is just hard rock, usually granite. The chick size will suffice for up to around 6-8 weeks old.

 

[HappyHippyChick]

With a hen hatched them, it may be a day or two.

 

[TOR]

First week with broody hen, first week or 2 without as long dust bath available. Some chickens may vary depending on enviroment.

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

First week with broody hen, first week or 2 without as long dust bath available. Some chickens may vary depending on enviroment.

What do you mean "without as long dust bath is available"? Sorry

 

[cherrysPolishchicks]

At what age do baby chicks start to DUST BATH? Iv got 5 RIR and 5 Barred rock pullets, 5 day old.

Surprisingly young!
Mum will want a dust bath as soon as she can after her babies are hatched. They all gather around & watch and some precocious babies join in.

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

Surprisingly young!
Mum will want a dust bath as soon as she can after her babies are hatched. They all gather around & watch and some precocious babies join in.

Right? And the hatchery/breeder will tell you WAIT til 7 weeks ? They have started to dig in their brooder and sometimes "bathe" in the pine shavings lol

 

[TOR]

What do you mean "without as long dust bath is available"? Sorry

without broody hen sorry. and having dust bath available.
I have noticed chicks with hens dust faster and go outside faster than ones without a hen.