Dust bath help! Girls hate it?!

[Megandherchicks]

My girls are 17 weeks old and when they will not use a dust bath I make them. I have tried various combinations of ingredients from find sand to top soil and none seem to appeal to them. I have been burning fires to collect wood ash for a try. Am I missing something? do some chickens not dust bath in the summer?

 

[Lady Clucks-a-Lot]

I've heard that chickens will dust bath when they're happy, or do you have any other hens that knows how to dust bath and is willing to to show them? And also chickens probably dust bath the most in summer, almost most breeds.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do your chickens have access to the ground where they can dig their own dustbaths?

I don't bother with trying to make a special dustbath. I just let them dig where they please. One day it's in the shade near the coop. Another day it's under the pallet-on-blocks. Another day it's by the fence under the pine trees.

 

[Sally PB]

Or in front of the step to the coop.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Is your dust bath large enough for more than one chicken. Mine very rarely dust bathe by themselves. Usually all 7 will dust bathe in an area together.

 

[InterestingChickens]

They will usually make their own dust baths if they have access to non - compacted dry soil.

 

[citymeetscountry]

mine dustbathe where they please. Either in my garden box (no plants) near the house, the walkway by the shop, or lately under the kids’ trampoline...I doubt mine would use a premade one

 

[RebelEgger]

What @3KillerBs said

 

[Chuckie chicken]

Mine free range throughout the day, and make little potholes all over, like others have said. I also made a box and put it in their run with sand and wood ash thinking of winter when they won't be able to make their own. Several of them use the box nightly while I'm getting them into the run and putting them to bed. My box was designed for a spacious one, but I've learned that it will hold three.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Mine dustbathe where ever they please. In the ground, in the dirt from a plant they knocked over, under a bush, in the middle of the yard, in a bin I have dirt/sand in, etc.