Dirt vs. Sand for dustbathing

[Chocobo]

My four chicks are about to go outside into their new home and I want to give them something to dust bathe in.
From what I've read they will bathe in darn near anything and most people use either sifted dirt or sand.
Between fine dirt and sand is there one that is better for them or that they prefer?
If I were to mix in DE what ratio do I use?
Is the ratio of DE different for different materials?

 

[chicken farmer 1997]

my chickens "dig" holes to dust bathe in.

 

[blkwdw]

Isn't that funny? Mine do the same thing... They get to scratching and soon they are all dusting away in a cloud of glory...
and we're talking two week old chicks here..

 

[WalkerH]

Mine always find old mulch piles dumped along the wood lines to dust bathe in. Or they just dig a hole in some dirt I loosened.

 

[mykl1]

Mine dust bathe in the dirt. I even went and bought sand for them, but they ignore it

 

[Chocobo]

Normally I would just let them make their own wallow but I have a chicken tractor so they probably won't have time to make one themselves.

 

[Tomhusker]

I provide both dirt and sand areas for dust bathing. A majority of the girls, however, prefer to dig out a hole in the middle of my gravel driveway to their bathing.

 

[cmom]

It doesn't really matter, dirt or sand. It is what you have. The birds don't care as long as they can dust in it. I don't measure my DE. I just sprinkle it around.