Dust Bath when Deep Littering/Bedding?

[snyper82]

I know that this is/can be a hot topic!
I've been all over the net and nothing matches (yes DE, no DE, yes wood ash, No wood ash, etc)

I'm planning on having the dust bath under the coop (https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/beginner-coop-designs.1458440/post-24469436), I want to get that prepped and ready to go for the young ladies.
I've been reading a lot about it and with all of the opinions I want to know, form a trusted source, what works for you all!

I plan to go with a construction sand/wood ash (fire pit)/DE & herb combo, but it's been mentioned that DE is a no-no when doing a deep litter/bedding system (kills the good bugs).

I'm not willing to use chemicals to control pests, so what options do I have?

 

[jreardon1918]

When we built our raised coop. We added a section under it that was in theory a dust bath. Going under the coop is not something we do very often. So that dust bath area has turned into more deep bedding. No DE. If we have a bit of wood ash from a fire, it is just one of the ingredients mixed in with all other materials.

The girls dustbathe in whatever hole they have recently dug.

 

[neo71665]

DE causes respiratory issues.

 

[3KillerBs]

I just let them dig in the natural dirt.

 

[Sally PB]

I have a big old wash basin with several inches of sand in it. The sand is just what I dug out of the ground when I planted a cherry tree. The chickens use it sometimes. The rest of the time, they hollow out a place in the dirt and use that. They know more about how to dust bathe than I do, so I let them do what they want.

 

[3KillerBs]

They know more about how to dust bathe than I do, so I let them do what they want.

Right.

Chickens know how to be chickens better than we know how to be chickens.