Dust Bath

[MndaG]

I am putting new dirt, sand and wood ash in my dust bath and I had a question about maintenance. How often do you clean it and how? And does anyone have tips on how to keep it dry, or what to do when it gets wet?

 

[noregerts]

Never, no, nothing. I used to give my girls fabulous little areas of nice dust and ash etc to bathe in which they completely and promptly ignored and would go use a corner of the run somewhere. There's no way to keep it dry, they don't usually get it dirty because they don't go to the bathroom there, so you shouldn't have to clean it. If they use it . This is kind of like your nesting boxes in that you can have the greatest nesting boxes in the world but if your girls decide that a corner of the coop looks better then that's what they're going to use and nothing you do is going to change their mind... Until they pick the next strange non-nesting box place to lay their eggs. Have fun and good luck! They are wonderful little creatures .

 

[rosemarythyme]

Only way to really keep it dry is to either have a weatherproof container with a cover/lid, or to have the dust bath inside the coop or something like a barn, shed...

I got tired of setting up nice dust baths that would then get wet, so now I use:

Stays completely dry inside as long as you keep it covered during rain/snow!

Oh, forgot to answer this earlier: "How often do you clean it and how?" I spot clean using a small dog pooper scooper, as needed. I do a complete clean out once the level of dirt gets pretty low and the bath is kinda soiled with dried poop or sticks and leaves. I use peat moss so I just empty the bath into my compost.

 

[Katlinalyssa]

What age will they dust bathe?

 

[rosemarythyme]

What age will they dust bathe?

They'll start showing the behavior as babies, maybe around 2 weeks old. They don't really need it at that point, but if you do provide a bath to their liking they'll play around with it and eventually learn to use it.

 

[Katlinalyssa]

They'll start showing the behavior as babies, maybe around 2 weeks old. They don't really need it at that point, but if you do provide a bath to their liking they'll play around with it and eventually learn to use it.

I’m moving mine out to their coop in about a week. Should I have one ready for them? If so, what is best to go in it? Wood ash or diatomaceous earth?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m moving mine out to their coop in about a week. Should I have one ready for them? If so, what is best to go in it? Wood ash or diatomaceous earth?

I would have it ready for when they move out. I personally no longer use DE (some people believe in it, some don't). Wood ash is a good mix in. Plain dirt, peat moss, sand are other components/additions you can try.

 

[Katlinalyssa]

I would have it ready for when they move out. I personally no longer use DE (some people believe in it, some don't). Wood ash is a good mix in. Plain dirt, peat moss, sand are other components/additions you can try.

Thank you!

 

[aart]

Mine make their own...all over the run.
Luckily there is part of my run that is under the coop and stays dry 98% of the year, and thus thawed all winter.

 

[Toothpick]

Don’t have one. They have made their own in the run.
I’ve even seen them in the coop taking a dust bath.