Chick's and their 1st dust bath

[kenziekarlie]

Hi, I'm new here. I was wondering how early is to early to introduce our baby chick's to a dust bath? and what will happen if it's to early? They have been taking dust (trying to) in the pine shaving's in the brooder, they are all most 3 week's old,

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can introduce them to it now. A shallow pan of dirt, peat moss, sand, whatever you have, will do fine.

 

[Perris]

now is fine. This is 11-day olds last year - they were following mum (tail in shot top left) but they instrinctively know what to do

 

[Perris]

BTW, hello @kenziekarlie ! welcome to BYC

 

[maceleneo]

hi! forgive the intrusion, I'm also new to chickens: mine create their dust bath area in the ground when they were 3 weeks old and they have been using that in these months. I was wondering if this will work in winter, when the ground will be frozen and maybe too hard. will they need a pan with sand/dirt then or their legs are strong enough to move the soil?

 

[Perris]

if this will work in winter, when the ground will be frozen and maybe too hard. will they need a pan with sand/dirt then

I offer mine a sand, wood ash and dry dirt mix in the winter months, set up in a big plastic box with a lid; the problem here is the wet rather than the cold. A dust bath needs to be dry to be effective. Recently they queued up to get in when I removed the lid after a particularly wet spell - you can just about see the cloud of dust that the one at the front is shaking out, the second one has already jumped in, and the third is waiting his turn!

 

[maceleneo]

ahah, I love chickens: everything they do seems funny to me!
I'm going to find some box or pan for the winter season then. thank you!

 

[My2butterflies]

I offer mine a sand, wood ash and dry dirt mix in the winter months, set up in a big plastic box with a lid; the problem here is the wet rather than the cold. A dust bath needs to be dry to be effective. Recently they queued up to get in when I removed the lid after a particularly wet spell - you can just about see the cloud of dust that the one at the front is shaking out, the second one has already jumped in, and the third is waiting his turn!View attachment 2106792

I love this!
My chicks are just babies right now but I’ll give them some sand since they too are trying to bathe in their pine shavings.
But this looks like an awesome idea for my guineas that have been making little pits around the yard to dust bathe in

 

[kenziekarlie]

Thank you so much everyone!!! You guys have been very helpful!! I very much appreciate all the help! I didn't want to do anything that would harm them, They have been a great addition to our family! I'm glad to be a part of the Back Yard Chickens!

 

[kenziekarlie]

BTW, hello @kenziekarlie ! welcome to BYC

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