Dust bath ingredients and set-up?

[TcherDawn]

or come to NH. plenty of neighbors are still burning their wood stoves because it has been 40s and raining for days now. ugh. but we have wood ashes!

 

[OrpingtonHopeful]

Is it ok to use DE for two-three week old chicks?

We took ours out of their brooder to play in the grass today and now that they are back in their brooder one is making a nest like impresssion in the pine shavings (and making a HUGE mess) trying to dust off- There were a lot of gnats out and such and I am sure she may be itching-

Can I sprinkle the food grade DE I bought in the brooder for them?

If so, how much? Just in one area?

Thank you

 

[Egg_newton]

We let our hens out of the run to free range they like to decimate the ant hills and use them for a dust bath. Kills the ants and chickens have a blast.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Them are some good chickens, right there. Better breed some of those...

 

[Opa]

Quote:
How big is the brooder?

 

[Sissy]

Wood ashes are a great source for plants.
and chikx love it mixed with play sand I tried dirt once
but never again, all my pets got dirty as ever LoL

 

[Bellasmom]

Mine don't like the sand!

So I put in dirt, ashes and a little de in the ones that stay in the tractor.

They are perfectly happy with the dirt holes the dogs make in the rest of the yard. They head straight for them when we let them out! Mine only get to free range an hour a day so they bath and eat in no particular order.

 

[Heritage Farmstead]

Quote:
I'm new to all of this...I have 13 wk old red stars that will move into their new home hopefully this weekend. I will then allow them to start free ranging - after an hour, how do you get yours to go back in their coop?

 

[cornishman]

they will make thier own dust bowl

 

[SurprisingWoman]

Quote:
I'm new to all of this...I have 13 wk old red stars that will move into their new home hopefully this weekend. I will then allow them to start free ranging - after an hour, how do you get yours to go back in their coop?

You may want to start a new thread for this question, or do a search.

There are several ways to "try" to insure your chicks head home when they are done but I don't think I have seen any thread on how to set their internal clock.

Do a search, see if it answers your questions and if it doesn't repost as a new thread.