Dust bath - How big does it need to be?

[Soon2BChixMom]

I made a dust bath for the girls out of a plastic liner that was the bottom of a critter cage (used long ago and just collecting dust in my basement - it was sanitized before making it into a dust bath).
It is probably 3” deep and at least 16” long. I added dirt, wood ashes, and some DE. The only thing I saw them do was scratch the stuff out.

So, does in need to be deeper? Should I try sand instead of dirt? One of them is digging holes and I had hoped it would solve that issue as I don’t have a huge run for them at the moment. I mean it’s ok if they dig holes, I just don’t want that to become an escape route.

 

[Mary's Backyard Chickens]

First thing first is - YOU DON'T NEED TO MAKE A DUST BATH. They will do it themselves. Also, if you let them do it themselves, you won't have to worry about them scratching it out. Don't worry about them 'escaping' through the holes, it won't happen. Let them dig holes and do it themselves.

 

[Elyrian1]

Only time letting them do it themselves can be difficult is if the run becomes packed due to weather, or frozen, or in my case, is situated on a rocky spot (Did not know it was rocky until two months later, gah, on the plus side free grit). Now, when I let them range the side yard they immediately run to any spot of churned up dirt. Thinking of putting a dust bath in the run for them because of that desperation they exhibit to go roll in the dirt where it isn't rocky.

Going to theorize a deeper container would work. I know some people use old tires, others just sand off the edges of boards and use those. Six inch+ container perhaps?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Great advice. Thanks! I will remove it until the ground freezes. I will get a deeper container as I don’t have room for a tire yet.

 

[jthornton]

I have 10 chickens and a tubby about 6" tall and they sit on the edge and have a board meeting often and usually one is inside taking a dust bath. Pig Pen really likes to take dust baths the others on occasion.

JT

 

[tjb]

I use and old truck tire filled with dirt and sand. They love it and deep enough the they don’t throw it all out

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I have 10 chickens and a tubby about 6" tall and they sit on the edge and have a board meeting often and usually one is inside taking a dust bath. Pig Pen really likes to take dust baths the others on occasion.

JT

Board meeting!

Nice set up.

 

[Kellycbf]

I also use an old tire. Drilled holes in the bottom and filled it with sand and ash from the fire pit. We need to add to it somewhat regularly, but they have also dug down. It is a good place for them. It is on the sunny side of the run and not on the low point.

 

[Mr Pink]

I used an old wheelbarrow for mine ...undercarriage was junk so I just cut it off and used the top ! As deep as the leaves are now in my deep litter run it's hard for the chickens to get to good dry dirt ! It's under a covered part of the run

 

[sylviethecochin]

I would use the tire idea: a tire gives you drainage. A plastic liner won't.