Dust bath for chickens

[Hyroler]

I dont even know what u getin at???!!!!

It was joke
TITLE of thread: DUST BATH FOR CHICKENS
OP ASKS for recomend dust bath ingredents!!!!
Best ingredent for chicken dust bath is DIRT! why do it need any other ingredent. chicken will lay down & roll in dirt if he has acess 2 it no need to buy pot dirt when u already got dirt make no sence

 

[Fishkeeper]

No need for anything fancy. Dirt or a reasonably fine sand will do the trick. It's fine for chicks, they'd follow their mom to dust baths if they were free ranging with her. A pinch of DE is OK, but a lot of it can cause lung issues from them constantly scattering it. If the space is enclosed (brooder, closed-walled quail pen), go with dirt instead of sand.
Seriously, just go find a patch of fine dirt that hasn't been drenched in pesticides, scoop it up, and put it in a tray for them to play in.

 

[RWise]

My birds free range so I find where their dust baths are and add powdered sulfur and hard wood ash.

 

[Mechtel8989]

Why would I want to add ash to there dirt bath? What does the ash do for them?

 

[RWise]

It helps keep lice and mites off them,,,,

 

[Mechtel8989]

Ok thanks. So, ash from my fire pit, or is this something I'd buy

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes wood ash from a fire pit.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Wood ash produces a fine dust, which suffocates mites and lice. It's beneficial but not mandatory. It also won't cure a case of mites or lice, it just helps prevent an infestation from occurring.

 

[GardenTillers44]

We have fine sandy soil which the flock loves to scratch up and use for a dust bath. I put a kiddie pool in the closed run and added about 8" of the sandy soil with a few garden shovels of wood ash from the wood stove. It makes a fine mix the chickens love and it stays dry in the run. They have their "social hour" in the dust bath about 10 every morning.

 

[rkapfen]

What do you guys think about using that dust free bathing sand you see advertised for small animals and mix it with dirt for a dust bath?