Dust bath for winter

[JNC]

Im new to chickens so I need some help with this. I was thinking a large bin like the picture below and fill it with some sand since there’s a little lake down the street from us. I don’t know what else to fill it with. I would just put it outside a couple hours a day or the whole day if it’s not below freezing or raining etc and just put it in at night. Someone help!!

 

[Perris]

I use something like that but deeper; the lid is v useful for keeping rain out. I recently posted a photo of my Barbezieux roo in the humorous poses competition, here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-photo-contest.1499736/page-2#post-25063487 (post 12)
Sand plus dirt plus bonfire ash is traditional for a dustbath, and works for my flock.

 

[abpatchy]

Well, chickens make a dustbath where they think it should be. I would give them a covered area where it stays dry...make sure there is some dirt and sand. More or likely they will prefer that area to your bin. They also love a community bath time... that bin won't hold a lot of chickens bathing.

 

[3KillerBs]

Well, chickens make a dustbath where they think it should be. I would give them a covered area where it stays dry...make sure there is some dirt and sand. More or likely they will prefer that area to your bin. They also love a community bath time... that bin won't hold a lot of chickens bathing.

This.

Give the chickens access to dry ground and they'll make their own dustbaths according to their preferences.

 

[Perris]

indeed they will make dustbaths where they want, and indeed a box won't take many at a time, but mine will also queue up and take turns in the box : here the front one is shaking out after jumping out, the second one's in, the third - the same Barbe - is waiting patiently for his turn

 

[JNC]

I have an only chicken so I’m not really worried about how many can go in it at a time. But i’m afraid that she won’t be able to dust bathe if it’s that small.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not 100% sure if the bin is big enough, but no need to bother taking it in and out, as long as you keep it covered when it's wet and it doesn't get buried in snow/end up under floodwaters, the contents will stay dry.

I use peat moss since I can get a big bag of it cheaply and it has a nice fluffy, fine texture.

 

[JNC]

would this work?

 

[3KillerBs]

View attachment 2900508would this work?

If it's pure dirt only with no added fertilizers or stuff to retain water.

 

[rosemarythyme]

View attachment 2900508would this work?

Most likely, based on price. The super cheap topsoils are usually just dirt.