Chicks and dust bathing

[TheMainException]

I have my brooder filled with whole newspaper covered in shredded newspaper and I just noticed a few of my lil peeps attempting to bathe. They are almost 2 weeks old. Should I put some sand in there for them to bathe in? Like a bin with a small layer of it? They could eat that as grit too when they start eating veggies and other treats right?

 

[Wildflower_VA]

They would love a sandbox filled with sand. They will eat it and dust bathe in it. You can use sand for grit as long as you are not giving them anything really hard to digest, but you should really get them some chick grit. They quickly grow to a size where the sand goes right through the craw and does not help grind up food.

 

[TheMainException]

Awesome! Thank you! Maybe I'll try to find some river sand so they have some size options on the grit to take in.

 

[Wildflower_VA]

Good idea! Wish I had access to clean creek sand myself.

 

[Buff-Island-Australorp]

If you haven't witnessed them dust bathing yet....I saw it for the first time the other day, and I thought something was wrong with one of them. I thought they were paralyzed or something. Then it hit me.....they're taking a bath!!!

 

[TheMainException]

Lol! I know what you mean. The first time I saw my first flock dust bathing, the one girl was laying on her side, her feet all stretched out and her wings out a bit. I started walking over with my eyes wide trying to figure out what was going on! Then everyone hopped up and ran away...and I was just standing their completely lost. It took me a little while to figure it out.

 

[TheMainException]

So I put a small cut-down cardboard box full of sand in their brooder, but all they have done so far is run through it and eat some of it. they are still attempting to dust bathe in paper shreds....are these dudes gonna get the hint at some point or should I place it where they usually dust bathe or something?

 

[Wildflower_VA]

They'll catch on shortly. It wouldn't hurt to put it in the spot where they are already trying to bathe. As soon as one figures it out, the rest will follow.

 

[TheMainException]

Cool. I'll give that a try. They just don't seem to be getting anywhere.

 

[miraclz5]

I am going to go get a small cat litter box tomorrow to put in our brooder....all of our chicks (all about 3 weeks old) delight in giving themselves baths in the shavings! Too funny to watch!!!!