Dust bath mixture

[Goatmum]

I see so many people use ash from their wood stoves and fireplace. We don’t have either, so no ash. What is a good SAFE mixture for chickens? What type of sand? What type of soil? We have a sand box, we just need to know what to put in it. Thanks in advance!

 

[Bassalonia2004]

Sand should work just fine, we have areas for dust bath around are house and when it’s was raining almost everyday we put sand in a box and laid it in the coop and it worked just fine.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use peat moss. If you want to use "dirt" just plain topsoil or dirt from an untreated area of your yard is fine too.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine go nutty for peat moss.

I get the occasional small bucket of wood ash from my neighbor that has a fireplace. If you know anyone with one it is worth asking.

 

[Goatmum]

Sand should work just fine, we have areas for dust bath around are house and when it’s was raining almost everyday we put sand in a box and laid it in the coop and it worked just fine.

What kind of sand do you buy?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would look for "washed play sand". It shouldn't have silica which is a lung irritant.

Top soil is a better choice according to my chickens.

 

[Bassalonia2004]

What kind of sand do you buy?

Just like sand you would use for a sand box, something for them to be able to push around and roll in, any sand should work as long as it’s more of a fine powder

 

[3KillerBs]

People come up with a lot of fancy mixes, but just plain dirt from your yard is all they really need.

It shouldn't have silica which is a lung irritant.

All sand has silica.

Except in cases of unusual geology like the black sand beaches on Hawaii which are formed from unweathered basalt lava, sand is primarily quartz -- Silicon Dioxide.

 

[21hens-incharge]

People come up with a lot of fancy mixes, but just plain dirt from your yard is all they really need.



All sand has silica.

Except in cases of unusual geology like the black sand beaches on Hawaii which are formed from unweathered basalt lava, sand is primarily quartz -- Silicon Dioxide.

I stand corrected.

Sorry for the misinformation @Goatmum .

 

[3KillerBs]

I stand corrected.

Sorry for the misinformation @Goatmum .

It is an unfortunate fact that there is a lot of misinformation spread around many topics -- often by people trying to sell something.

Many people are taken in that way.