Chickens and ashes

[Yard full o' rocks]

Well....my flock found my "ash pile", a place in the woods where I dump our ashes from the fireplace and from the charcoal grill. Just noticed ALL of them dusting in it and just having a big time.

Are ashes safe for them to dust in or do I need to shovel it all up and haul it off??

Thanks in advance

 

[stephhassler]

Well, I can only speak from experience - I was given a rooster once who had mites. Gave him some ashes to bathe in and the mites went away. I use regular fireplace ashes, not sure about ashes from the charcol grill - if they had residue from lighter fluid I suppose that could be a problem.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Thanks. I do not use lighter fluid of any kind. I have an electric wand that I put in there to start the charcoal from.

Thanks again

 

[sjh]

The only problem is water.
Water+ashes=lye. Lye can cause burns.
I would say just keep an eye on them when tha ashes get wet.

 

[1mommahen]

We put the ashes from our pellet stove in the run for three years now and no trouble!

 

[kathyinmo]

I know wood ashes are often recommended for a good dust bath ..... some of each of these: wood ashes, DE, sand, dirt.

I have often wondered about the charcoal ashes also. I am glad you asked!

Huh? How does water turn ashes into lye? I have never heard that before.

 

[rufus]

We used to put the ashes from the wood stove in the chicken yard for their dust baths. It keeps down parasites.

Rufus

 

[Manok-Tao]

In new coop design (being built) The building (6x8) is raised 2' off the ground. I'm planning on digging out a couple areas, into a bowl shape to facilitate dust baths. One will be sand/DE, the other fire place ash...happy birds, sad mites
And...why will I not be suprised if they create there own?

 

[Junkmanme]

kathyinmo,

Regarding your question about wood ashes and lye, take a look at this:

http://www.endtimesreport.com/making_lye.html

Yore OLD friend,

-Junkmanme-

 

[Manok-Tao]

Quote:
...dug out areas under coop in the cool shaded "chicken crawl space"