Chick dustbaths

[River campbell]

Hello. my chicks are 5 days old and taking dustbaths in the food, should I give them somethingto take one in and if so then what?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I hatch with broody hens, so the moms teach the chicks to dust bathe in the dirt. I hope this helps.

 

[Zoohtasim]

Hello. my chicks are 5 days old and taking dustbaths in the food, should I give them somethingto take one in and if so then what?

They shouldn't take dust baths in food though, never heard of that. Is the dusty? Or did you provide them with any sand of dirt? Or do they have a mum? A mum would easily teach them

 

[River campbell]

no mum, it was hot today, so thats why, but im more thinking what could I give them as a dustbath

 

[Zoohtasim]

no mum, it was hot today, so thats why, but im more thinking what could I give them as a dustbath

Sand?

 

[CoconutCoffee]

Get some dirt from other dust bath areas and put it in a shallow Tupperware

 

[3KillerBs]

I wouldn't want them dustbathing in the food because they'll spread the food all over creation.

I'd switch to a feeder they can't get into and then, if they can't adequately dusbathe in their bedding and don't have access to earth, give them a container of something more appropriate.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What does your brooder look like: size, what are you feeding and watering in, what bedding are you using, and how many chicks in there? I'm guessing you are brooding inside your house and not outside? It's easier for me to make specific suggestions if I know what you are working with.

If they can, they will walk in their feed, scratch in their feed, and poop in their feed. Sounds like yours are also laying in their feed. One possible solution might be to change your feeder type or location.

The more room they have the more likely they are to not bathe in your feeder. The type of bedding might influence that too. Is there something about the temperature of that spot that might encourage them to lay and rest there? Without knowing what you are working with it's hard for me to guess what might be attracting them to that spot or come up with an effective solution.

If you have room in the brooder you can try putting a pan with dirt or sand in there, they might use it or they might not. Even if they use it they may still use your feeder. You can't make them, just give them an option. Depending on what your brooder looks like and where it is that might make a real mess with their scratching if it is in your house. Sometimes the solution is worse than your problem.