Dust Bath Question?

[Col1948]

How do you get chickens to use a dust bath?
I noticed them doing a lot of preening so I introduced a 'Dust Bath' what I used was an old washing up bowl with some sand and diatomaceous earth mixed up.
They just looked at it and walked away, so how do they know what it's for and will they bother?

Col.

 

[happyduckygal]

How old are they? With mine, it was just something they naturally picked up on as they got older. Ive never tried a designated dust bath area tho...they like to scratch the ground up wherever they like

 

[aart]

How do you get chickens to use a dust bath?

You don't....have made several, but they prefer to dig their own.

 

[Col1948]

Hi, not sure of their age, I bought them about 3 weeks ago they were advertised as 'Point of Lay' I think they are young though, so that could be it.

Col.

 

[igorsMistress]

Mine did the same, looked at it and turned up their beaks. They have some lovely bathing areas in the yard, nice deep holes you can break an ankle in if you don't happen to notice them

 

[aart]

Hi, not sure of their age, I bought them about 3 weeks ago they were advertised as 'Point of Lay' I think they are young though, so that could be it.

Col.

Nah...even week old chicks will 'dust bathe' in a the brooder...it's instinctual almost from the get go. Do your birds have a spot in their run where there is some looseish dirt?

 

[Col1948]

I've just converted a shed to a coop, the original coop I bought seemed a bit small, but I I have them free range in the garden.
Funny you mentioned loose earth though, there is a spot I was going to dig up the soil and let them scratch about in.

Col.

 

[aart]

Funny you mentioned loose earth though, there is a spot I was going to dig up the soil and let them scratch about in.

Turn over one shovelful.....they'll take care of the rest.

 

[DoeAndGander]

Did they ever start using it?! My ladies use their dust bath as a toilet every now and again. From the looks of it they’ve never actually bathed in it which I don’t understand! They have straw in their hen house and no access to dirt

 

[rosemarythyme]

Did they ever start using it?! My ladies use their dust bath as a toilet every now and again. From the looks of it they’ve never actually bathed in it which I don’t understand! They have straw in their hen house and no access to dirt

Chickens do poop in their dust bath areas so that's not unusual. What are you using as a dust bath (i.e. a tire, a plastic tub) and what's the mixture inside it (i.e. dirt from yard, sand)? My chickens did NOT like my first attempt at making a dust bath and never used it, they used the second one on occasion, but the current one seems to be very popular (they run for it when it's open).