dust bath for chicks?

[khable]

Hi all,

My babies are two weeks old now and I notice that they sometimes try to bury themselves in the pine shavings... kinda like they are rolling around in it.

I am assuming this is like a dust bath??

Should I put a tray of sand in the brooder or something?

If so, would an alumimum (disposable) baking pan be ok? and what do you put in it?? what kind of sand etc?

Please let me know.

Thanks,

Kim

Mom to 6 Buff Orpington babies!

 

[homechick]

mine found an old pile of leaves I missed when raking and they went NUTS.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Our chicks were able to go outside at 2 weeks old they will stretch their wings out and flutter around on the ground like they are taking a dust bath they also prune themselves a lot. They have their own hen house separated from the adults.

 

[urbanhomesteader]

I would think a little pie tin and some play sand would work well. If you don't have access to sand Toys R Us sells a 3lb. bag of Replacement Sand for $9.99. Dirt from your garden or even potting soil will work just make sure it is realy dry.

 

[iopele]

If you put sand in, don't expect it to stay in that pie pan. When chicks dustbathe, they kick sand EVERYWHERE. It's going to be all over the place within minutes.

If you do get some sand, try to buy some very, very fine sand. The sandbox kind is a bit too gritty for babies, I've been told. (I'm lucky and have a natural area of fine sandy soil in my chickenyard, so I've never had to buy any.) Then again, it could be really good for them to have for grit.

Oh, and WalMart has a bag of gardening sand for about $2. Dunno how gritty it is, but happened to see it yesterday when I walked thru the gardening dept.