Chicken dusting?

[3KillerBs]

No they just have sawdust

Are they confined to a building with a floor then?

If you can possibly give them a run where they can dig down through the bedding to access the dirt they'd spend a lot of time excavating.

That's not much my ladies love better than digging holes.

Feathery earth-movers!

 

[Ascholten]

Id be wary of soil in the run. Yes it can work, but if the run is permanent or a tractor that has not been moved in some days, chances of poop in that soil are pretty high. Not sure you want them bathing in that 'dust' if you can help it.

If you chickens can run free, they will dust bathe themselves just about anywhere. If you want to make a place for them, sand /dirt works. I have heard varying stories on the DE. Some people actually rub it into their feathers. Others say to make a mix with some in it. Id rather not comment on the DE aspect as I don't know enough about it to give you an answer that is accurate / good. I do know that I have seen pretty much everywhere that it's bad if they breathe in too much of it. I would imagine any fine dust is not good TBH.

It's been my experience though that if you make something special for them, they will pretty much ignore it, unless it's some sort of food of course Your mileage may differ with your feathered children.

Aaron

 

[Mshine92]

Are they confined to a building with a floor then?

If you can possibly give them a run where they can dig down through the bedding to access the dirt they'd spend a lot of time excavating.

That's not much my ladies love better than digging holes.

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Feathery earth-movers!

I love ur pics! I live in Arizona, my entire backyard is concrete except for a very small corner of my yard that's rock with soil underneath. I rescued them from a hoarding situation and currently have them set up in my garage with sawdust and nest boxes until the coop/run gets delivered in a couple days. I was going to give them sand in their run but in a pinch sawdust was better access and seemed safer.... But now I see that they eat it sometimes as well so might switch to sand? .... I created a big enough box with half dirt a d half sand for the to dust with hopefully they will. Thank you for the help!

 

[David61]

DE is a no go for me. Its just not needed.
Sphagnum Peat Moss mixed with dirt keeps it dry. I cut the bottom off a big garbage can and made a tub. I only use it in the wet month's of February and march.