chick dust bath question

[Nanili]

How old do my chicks have to be to have a dust bath? Is it ok to use straight ash from the wood stove? I gave them their first live worms today from our vermicomposter and it was pandemonium. Hilarious.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would not use straight ash. Best thing would be to supply regular dirt or peat moss.

A week old should be fine.

Are you offering grit in a container for them to get as needed? They will need grit available if eating anything other than chick starter.

 

[ronott1]

I have seen them "dust bathing" in the brooder not long after hatching!

Chickens are so silly!

Plain old sand works fine for a dust bath

 

[Nanili]

I would not use straight ash. Best thing would be to supply regular dirt or peat moss.

A week old should be fine.

Are you offering grit in a container for them to get as needed? They will need grit available if eating anything other than chick starter.

I haven't given them grit, except from clods of dirt/grass that they peck at. Do I need to buy something, or can I give them something from the yard? I have a lot of wood ash, should I not use it at all?

 

[obicat]

Mine were dust bathing almost straight away. They were doing it in the feed bowl with the chick crumb though. They now have sand in the corner of the brooder.

 

[ronott1]

Mine were dust bathing almost straight away. They were doing it in the feed bowl with the chick crumb though. They now have sand in the corner of the brooder.

Yep! Can't stop them!

So cute

 

[Erica2397]

I use a mix of ash, DE sand and soil from the garden. They also have grit as free choice in a tiny container next to their food. They're also taken outside on "field trips" to the garden and yard to explore.

Side Note: I'm letting a Broody hen do all the dirty work next time. Have you ever had a chick bring you a large bug, pick it up and drop it looking up at you...then you realize they can't eat it in one bite and they're "asking" you to cut it up? I did, cringing, she gobbled it up and ran off for more.

 

[ronott1]

 

[X_and_Z]

Have you ever had a chick bring you a large bug, pick it up and drop it looking up at you...then you realize they can't eat it in one bite and they're "asking" you to cut it up? I did, cringing, she gobbled it up and ran off for more.

I am so glad that my older girls don't do this - they are mouse catchers and I think I would have to decline cutting up a mouse into bite sized pieces for them. It is traumatic enough watching them rip it to pieces while fighting over their mousy treat. I do appreciate their vermin hunting efforts though.

 

[Erica2397]

It is traumatic enough watching them rip it to pieces while fighting over their mousy treat. I do appreciate their vermin hunting efforts though.[/QUOTE]

I would lose my lunch....