dust bath question

[sharol]

I am building a dust bath (cookie sheet size) for my week olds. Last year I just used dirt from the flower garden, but this year, I don't have any dirt that my year olds haven't been scratching (and pooping) in. Do I need to do anything to sterilize the dirt? The babies are on medicated feed, and the adults haven't shown any sign of illness, but I'm a worry wart with my chickens.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

Sharol

 

[chickensinwasillaAK]

I just use a bunch of sand but first one baths in it and there will be poo, by the 10th bird you have a 50/50 mix. Doesn't seem to bother them, they seem to enjoy it.

 

[sharol]

I'm not so much worried about the poo as maybe passing something to the babies that the adults are carrying. I've got sifted garden dirt, play sand, a little DE and a few ashes from the stove (the same mix as last year). The only difference is the "contamination" of the adult chickens.

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