Dust bath ideas

[whittychick]

What is everyone using for a dust bath container? The ground has been frozen and somedays it's a mucky muddy mess! What should I Put in the run for a bath area?

 

[ydkjenn]

I'm very new at this and don't even have chickens yet, but would a large plastic kitty litter pan work?

 

[aart]

advanced search>titles only> dust bath

 

[deacons]

I have one place in my run that is covered, and I've managed to keep it unfrozen even down below 0*F. It is a mix of sand and peat moss. I know a lot of people don't like peat moss as they worry it is too dusty, but it has worked for me.

I also have a 6 gallon rubber feed tub, like this one, that they will use on really extreme days when they are stuck inside, with the same sand/peat moss mix.

 

[colburg]

Have any 30 or 55 gallon plastic drums available? Cut the bottom off 4-6" tall.

 

[whittychick]

Oh yea great ideas! I have some things in my basement that would probably work. The kitty litter box would defiantly work well too! Now what do I put in there? I can't use soil because the ground is frozen! Buy sand from somewhere?

 

[Birdybooo]

I made a mini raised garden bed about 8inches high, then I fill it with garden soil, keep the soil in and they seem to love it.

 

[gaiagranola]

I saw elsewhere in the forum that people were using ash from the woodstove for their quail dust bath. Has anyone tried this with chickens? Also, as for a container, I am guessing that it would be best to be heavy, so they wouldn't tip it over when the stand on the sides (as I suspect they would!) Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

 

[colburg]

I saw elsewhere in the forum that people were using ash from the woodstove for their quail dust bath.  Has anyone tried this with chickens?  Also, as for a container, I am guessing that it would be best to be heavy, so they wouldn't tip it over when the stand on the sides (as I suspect they would!)  Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

I use a mix of wood ash and DE. Once I got the nits and mites eradicated, it seems to be keeping them off.

 

[whittychick]

Awesome! Thanks for all the wonderful info! Very helpful