Dirt Bath set up level zero here! Lol

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hello! I purchased an item from Amazon that is made of rubber and smelled pretty bad like rubber. Is this maybe the reason they have not even stepped foot in it?? Its been there 8hrs.
i did let it sit outside for about 16hrs before bringing it into the coop.
Sooo, any suggestions from the chicken pros of BYC?! You know who you are, and I am greatful to u all.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello! I purchased an item from Amazon that is made of rubber and smelled pretty bad like rubber. Is this maybe the reason they have not even stepped foot in it?? Its been there 8hrs.
i did let it sit outside for about 16hrs before bringing it into the coop.
Sooo, any suggestions from the chicken pros of BYC?! You know who you are, and I am greatful to u all.

It's also tiny. They will likely just dig holes around in the wood chips and dust bathe there.
I would add some multi level perches to the walls and corners of the run as well as some things for them to dig around in and perch on in the center of the run. They need more things to do in there.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The smell could be part of it. It's also new to them, so it's something that they may view with suspicion for a while.

It's pretty small as well, can it fit even 2 chickens? Dust bathing is a social activity so they'd really like to fit in there with a couple of buddies. Mine can maybe fit 4 or 5 if they tetris themselves in it.

 

[Boise-girls]

I put a new, larger dust bath in a new spot in their "free range" run and it was four days before they used it. First day, they ignored it. Second and third days, they'd get in a little bit and peck at it. Today, they're rock and rolling!

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

It's also tiny. They will likely just dig holes around in the wood chips and dust bathe there.
I would add some multi level perches to the walls and corners of the run as well as some things for them to dig around in and perch on in the center of the run. They need more things to do in there.

Thank you! I have since added a couple roost bars and whatnot. I let them outside daily as well With my supervision of course! The girls have since starting dust bathing in the wood chips. Thank goodness! I still cant get them to roost in the coop at night. They are about 7 weeks old. Any tricks??

 

[Mtnboomer]

Adding roostbars in a run can potentially inspire them to roost there instead of in the coop. Not always, just something to keep in mind.
I free range so they dust bathe everywhere! Flower beds, woodshed, driveway, old burn site from a bon fire we had last year you name it. Oh and even under the coop like they are supposed to....occasionally. wherever they do it, they do it together. Anywhere from 3-8 birds covering themselves. It was so dry last week that they were in the flower beds against the house and it looked like the house was on fire from all the dust in the air.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I still cant get them to roost in the coop at night. They are about 7 weeks old. Any tricks??

Manually place them on the roost each night at dark, that'll help show them where they ought to be.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Adding roostbars in a run can potentially inspire them to roost there instead of in the coop. Not always, just something to keep in mind.
I free range so they dust bathe everywhere! Flower beds, woodshed, driveway, old burn site from a bon fire we had last year you name it. Oh and even under the coop like they are supposed to....occasionally. wherever they do it, they do it together. Anywhere from 3-8 birds covering themselves. It was so dry last week that they were in the flower beds against the house and it looked like the house was on fire from all the dust in the air.

I love it!

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Manually place them on the roost each night at dark, that'll help show them where they ought to be.

I dont think they’ll let me pick them up so easily! They all go in together and head to the same corner and start pushing each other around for positions. Do i wait until they are settled in, or get them right when they go in coop?
thank you

 

[rosemarythyme]

I dont think they’ll let me pick them up so easily! They all go in together and head to the same corner and start pushing each other around for positions. Do i wait until they are settled in, or get them right when they go in coop?
thank you

Wait until it's dark and you should be able to grab them without too much fuss.