dust bath for little ones

[bethandjoeync]

I was wondering if i should put some dust bathing material (sand and ash) for them to use instead of the wood shavings?

 

[JennsPeeps]

Mine dust bathe on a towel & in the shavings. They haven't touched the bowl of dirt I put in there.

I've GOT to post the towel bathing video... hil-ar-ee-us.

 

[bethandjoeync]

would love to see it.

I think we put too many wood shavings in ours
we didn't want it to be slippery, so they wouldn't have the cray spread legs, but after listening and looking at lots of pics, I am wondering if we have too much

 

[lisahaschickens]

I don't really think you can have too much... many book recommend four or more inches deep. I used 2-3 inches deep in the brooder and then about 4 inches deep in the coop (after 2 weeks of age) and they walk around on them fine! After a bit of time, they compact them down a bit... are yours having trouble walking on the shavings? Also, mine dust bathe in the shavings all the time and seem to love it. Things are too muddy here to find any "dust" outside right now.

 

[bethandjoeync]

we have it about 2-3 inches deep as well. and they walk fine, no problems there. I just kept seeing people with paper towels and a dusting of shavings. I didn't know if what we were doing was too much or not. but i think we will stick with what we are doing, because I can turn the shavings and bring up the fresh stuff from the bottom and won't have to clean the brooder out for a few days.

 

[lisahaschickens]

I would say you're doing it the better way. The only time to use paper towels is the first 24 hours... you can lay some on the top of the shavings and sprinkle food on it and they will scratch at it and learn to eat... then once they find the feeder, you can remove them. After that, paper towels or newspaper is just slippery and can cause leg problems. Sounds like you're doing it perfectly... I did the same thing and mine were in there two weeks (then they moved to the coop) and I only had to turn over/stir up the shavings and never had to clean it out while they were in there and there was no smell at all and it was nice and fresh and clean and easy. Keep it up. You're good

 

[NellaBean]

I ground up some food for the tiny chick to eat and put in a little cat food bowl and they have all decided to dust bathe in the food bowl.


Then they can have a snack while they clean themselves later.