Dust bath?

[David61]

When should i make one available to the chicks. I'm coming up on two weeks old. I have one chick with dirty feathers on the side. Rolled in poo? I don't want a dirty bird.

 

[DiYMama540]

You can offer them one now if you want. Not sure if they'll know what to do with it yet though, I can't recall how old mine were when I started to notice them dust bathing.

Dirty chicks aren't nearly as cute, but it's inevitable. Keep the brooder clean and it will help to keep the birds clean as well. A baby wipe or wet rag won't hurt them if you want to clean them up a bit.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I agree, you could offer them a dust bath now. Mine usually start trying to dust bathe in their bedding around a couple of weeks old

 

[Godless]

The cream legbar chicks I have were sawdust bathing after around a week in their brooder box. I've not had others do this before, but guessing they may have used a sand box if it were there for them.