Dust bath recipe - ratio & what to mix in?

[6of6chicks]

I know there's loads of threads on dust baths, but I didn't find quite what I was looking for, so I'm hoping to get some feedback. I have a dirt run that so far has stayed wonderfully dry, which is great. My girls love it. But they are digging their own holes for dust baths in the exact spots where I DON'T want holes. So I'm going to try giving them dust buckets (kitty litter pan & old dish pan).

My question is - is there a better mix of materials for dust baths than just dirt? Dirt + Sand? I've seen some people mention ash? Not to sound stupid, but where can I get that? I don't have a fireplace and it's June in Texas (burning is a big no-no right now). If I use something other than just dirt, what ratio should I use? My goal is to make a BETTER dust bath than the dirt floor of the run to entice them into the buckets and stop digging holes where I don't want them!

 

[donrae]

Just dirt is best. I add ash from the wood stove in the winter, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it if we didn't use wood heat.

If they've picked their spots, you'll likely have to cover the chosen areas with a board or something to get them to quit dusting there. Chickens are powerful creatures of habit!