Dust bath container

[Ebook3392]

I have 10 chickens and would like to make a dust bath for them that will keep them from tossing it all out of the container. Do you see any potential problems with using an old igloo cooler with a hole in the lid? The drain plug is broken, so any rain water could get out. Would they go in the hole if it’s on top and not on the side?

 

[ButtonHoarder]

The hole is probably too small for them to have a good dust bath, I would take the whole top off and put it somewhere out of the rain.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My guess is that's both too small overall, and too tall, for them to want to use. How big is the hole that you're hoping they'll fit through? Birds would prefer to bathe together, at least a few at a time. You could try it though (maybe buried in the ground) and see how they respond.

 

[neo71665]

I would cut it in half and have 2. But yeah they won't go in a hole like that to dust bathe.

My dust baths are the tops of 55 gallon drums cut off about 6 inches tall.

 

[Ted Brown]

...

My dust baths are the tops of 55 gallon drums cut off about 6 inches tall.

Ditto but mine are plastic and more like 15" tall. Fits 2 hens and keeps "dust" contained inside. Around here a used plastic barrel costs $10.

 

[WIchickMama]

I think they might hop up but not go in.

I sectioned off about 4 ft by 3 ft of my run, blocked off by 4x4 and filled with dusting materials and as said above lots of time there are 2 or more bathing together or sleeping cuddled up in that area

 

[Ted Brown]

I think they might hop up but not go in.
...

My birds hop up and go in no problem.

 

[WIchickMama]

My birds hop up and go in no problem.

Sorry, I meant the cooler hole--not just a dust bath in general

 

[CarlaCo]

My 9 week olds are using a kitty litter box. I had 12 before I split up the flock (half went to my son) and one of the first few days using it, I found six of them cuddled together in it. So funny.

We get so much sideways and every which ways rain here, I was wondering if they would use a kitty litter box that has a roof like this. Or if I could make one out of a large plastic tote? Anyone have one with a lid?

 

[AnnPann]

can relate to the blowing rain! i use a cat litter box with lid as a nesting box. the lid works great as a wind block but terrible for keeping rain out if there was even a small amount of wind. if i even bothered with making them one again (they prefer to find/make their own), i’d go with something that has a cover (that i’d have to remember to put on when it was going to rain).