dust bath materials

[chicky gal1]

what do you use in your dust baths? We don't have one set up and I really don't know the first thing about them. mine free range a lot and end up bathing in my flower garden!

do they need one?

 

[Mahonri]

Mine just love dirt.

 

[cw]

hardwood ashes for mite prevention from the start
ashes from a chacoal grill will do the same
put it in a small hole or dish in there coop
but if they free range theyll feel the need and bath anyway

 

[gritsar]

If your chickens are free ranging, they'll find their own dust baths. Mine seem to tire of their old dust bathing holes and make a new one about once a week. This week's favorite is in the apple orchard.

 

[Bantam Bodon]

If yours free range, theyll probably find a favorite dust bath spot where the soil is just what theyre looking for.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

play sand, wood ashes, sevin dust, I've even heard of folks using peat moss...

 

[Autumn Mama]

I'm going to try a mixture of sand and Diotomatious Earth (DE). My chicks just use pine shavings in the brooder. They'll *love* the upgrade, lol!

 

[Mikhail]

Chinchilla SAND (not dust) and child play sand.

 

[KattyKillFish]

i just use regular potting soil. in the summer i'm gonna try fine mineral sand from the beach! i hope they like it.

 

[Sissy]

I have used a handfull of Permactrin powder into
play sand. and they love it although
they still roll in the run and its just plain dirt now
after they did away with the grass.