Charcoal ashes for dust bath?

[lazy gardener]

Here's my formula...

Let fire (mostly) die out in wood stove.

Shovel ashes into metal bucket.

Let bucket set for a day or so to be sure all coals are dead.

Carry bucket to coop (large walk in coop). Upend bucket into favored dust bathing area. Favored dust bathing area is easy to find, it's the big crater I'm always afraid of falling into and never being found again

.

Place bucket back on porch for next time.

Let birds take care of themselves.


I know folks get concerned about the birds breathing in the ashes, but I've been doing this for 20 years and, if there have been issues, I can't see what they are. No respiratory issues, healthy productive birds with no parasites. I'm not sure the ashes are really "worse" for them to breathe in than the plain ol dirt. I think they're designed to hold their breath or something when they dust bathe. Since it's how they're meant to keep themselves clean, there's got to be a safety check in place to prevent respiratory illnesses. God wouldn't give them a way to clean themselves that would kill them off......

Just be sure those ashes are stone cold before dumping them!!!!!

 

[donrae]

Yep, that's why they set for a day or so before getting dumped. Plus, my coop is big enough there's no real risk of fire to the coop. I trust the girls to be smart enough not to walk into the hot coals if there were any, since they have access to the burn pile and haven't roasted themselves there yet....they wait until it's dead and then go for it!

 

[lazy gardener]

Love those pics. total portrait of glee and enjoyment.

 

[Tillicans]

We have an area under our house loose dirt Ill put charcoal there for them thanks. Now to get the charcoal in this heat wave in Sydney.

 

[MYon]

Works just fine as a source of ash for dust baths...

I use the charcoal ashes all summer and wood stove ashes all winter to supply the ash for a dust bath mix...

I do screen the charcoal ash to remove any chunks of food particles, fat or sauce that has dripped in and clumped....

What else is in your mix?

 

[RWise]

I myself do not use charcoal briquettes, yes it is made from hard woods, but also has coal added to it.
I do BBQ and I use all hardwood/s, also one home is heated with wood. I take these ashes and add them to the dust bath areas along with powdered sulfur (they eat the pellets)

 

[MYon]

I myself do not use charcoal briquettes, yes it is made from hard woods, but also has coal added to it.
I do BBQ and I use all hardwood/s, also one home is heated with wood. I take these ashes and add them to the dust bath areas along with powdered sulfur (they eat the pellets)

Thanks for clarification!