Chicks dust bathing in yuck... what can I give them instead?

[Chicken Fruit]

My chicks are gonig on 2 weeks old and theyre reeeeally enjoying trying to dust bathe in the filth of the brooder. I want to give them a little area of something more beneficial to waller in.

What should I use?

 

[sandyj]

How about some pine shaving?
sandyj

 

[TXmom]

I turned a tupperware lid upside down and put Parakeet Grit in it for them to eat...well, a few of them decided it was a great place to dust bathe instead

So maybe you could use an upside down lid like that, and put clean sand in it (not salty beach sand), or even the parakeet grit. They'll eat it AND dust bathe in it.

 

[agirly4chicks]

I can't wait to get home and try this.

 

[ametauss]

I cut the side down on one of my DD's shoe boxes and put some sand/dirt from outside in it and they will sit on the edge of the box as well as go in to dust bathe..... and it stays contained...

 

[FlewTheCoop]

I think they sell special dust at pet stores for animals like chinchillas who need a dry environment and who enjoy a dust bath...it's sterile and very fine. You could put a pan of that in their brooder away from food and water.

 

[jvls1942]

Just put a container of loam dirt in there.. you can also add a small % of wood ash.. If hey are in the house, don't do the wood ash as it is very fine and dusty.

 

[willkatdawson]

I used a paper plate with sandbox sand. Have fun watching them

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I used a large plant saucer and play sand, when they were still small. They loved it!

Of course, they loved the shavings, too. And all the other things they've dust bathed in, since!