dust bath... what to use??

[katydidit]

I'm not sure if this is the right section to post this in, but I'll give it a shot here...

My girls are 3 weeks old, and I put them in a smaller tub with bedding pellets that have been scratched to a basic pulp by now when I clean their brooder. I noticed that they started "bathing" in the shavings (which is hilariously messy, and I giggled for a good 10 minutes watching them).

What can I use as a dust bath material? I want to add some to their brooder...

Can i use just plain old dirt from the garden? We have a clay type soil amended with a bunch of compost now, would this be sufficient?

What about sand? I'm using sand for their run floor, is this enough for them?

Thanks!

 

[Imp]

I use whatever I have easily available. Sand, soil, compost, woodash, stall dry etc.

Imp

 

[CCourson05]

I would say that the run floor would be fine... I think that would be enough... IMO

 

[ThinkingChickens]

My girls are in a covered run and they dig a hole and use the dirt. They are all very clean. The funny thing is they never do this while free ranging but actually return to the run for their roll in the dirt. Cute!

 

[katydidit]

What about for a bit of dust bath while they are still in the brooder? Can i just dump some dirt in there? lol. It sounds absurd to think they bathe in dirt, but from what I've seen they love it!