We are new backyard chicken owners (or will be). We are going to get our chicks this spring. I am doing a lot of research prior to getting them. I saw a dusting bath mix that uses wood stove ashes. Convenient as we have a woodstove. Question is there are some "charcoal" chunks. Will they be okay fot the chickens? Also we occasionally have to use firestarters to get wood burning especially when wood is wet from rain. Will these ashes be okay for the bath? I am sure we will have more questions as we go. Luckily we live in an area with "mild" winters and not to bad summers. Do get some 100 degree days but area of run & coop is in the shade.
Probably not a problem. Some people think they can use ashes from a barbecue pit. Not! If weather doesn't allow for good dust bathing areas when free ranging I mix soil, sand, wood ashes and ag lime in relatively equal portions in a cement mixing tub. Shade is good. Summer heat is much harder on chickens than harsh winters. They go to bed in winter wearing a down coat. It ranges from -20F to 120F here. I've lost chickens to heat but never to cold.
Agree entirely with ChickenCanoe - ashes should be fine and summer is worse than winter condition-wise. Good luck! - Sunny
