Dust bath

[Ncfarm828]

Unfortunately, a hawk got one of my hens last week. I’ve been keeping them in the coop and run for now until time passes, and the hawk hopefully goes elsewhere. What can I use for a dust bath in their run? It’s been raining a lot where I live and their run is muddy. Ty!

 

[saysfaa]

For short term use, a pile of dirt will work.

For long term, pretty much any container that is big enough, low enough, and leaky enough to drain (if it is outside) will work.

I used an aluminum tub about 30" across and 12-18" deep because it was laying around not doing anything else. It worked reasonbly well for a few hens. It's not ideal because they would rather bath together.

If I didn't see something suitable laying around, I'd probably use 2x8s (edit: 2 by anythings) from the warped wood pile at the lumber yard to make an open-bottomed box. Or wood from pallets. Or cement blocks. Or maybe a worn-out tractor tire.

 

[saysfaa]

Actually, my first choice would be to extend the run fencing to go around the compost pile. Assuming my compost pile isn't already in my chicken run

 

[Bawkbok]

We used a plastic kiddy pool and filled it with compost dirt, sand and some fire pit ash. This worked well until it rained and then it took forever to never really dry out. I don't recommend a plastic kiddy pool unless you can keep it dry. The one we have is much too large for the run so it had to be set up outside.
When we extend the run, we will be using pallet and old fencing wood to create a bottomless box, essentially just creating a barrier to keep the dirt and sand in.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I use a plastic kiddie pool. I built a small roof over it to keep it dry.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Little Tikes sandbox, as long as it's covered when wet the dust bath stays 100% dry.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I provide dust bathes in old tires, but my hens often find their own place to bathe .

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Hey I'm that other NC farm in 828 ha! Probably a lot of us, but I stumbled upon your thread while researching dust baths, and I hear ya about the hawks. Our hens have always free-ranged & dust bathed wherever they wanted, but since Helene we've had a pair of Red-shouldered hawks move onto our land and are (I think) currently raising brood.

Kinda odd because I've never seen this species around our area, and I think they booted out our summer Broadwing hawks we usually have, which are not big enough to be chicken killers. Dang it.

Anyway, I'm also not free ranging my pullets right now, hoping that the hawks will move on after nesting season. In the meantime, dust baths! We've got a large covered run and Husband quickly screwed together a wood frame out of scrap lumber. But I've no idea if it's okay because I've never had to do this lol.

Let us all know what you end up with. Since we're in the same region, same climate, etc, I may copycat you.

 

[MROO]

Unfortunately, a hawk got one of my hens last week. I’ve been keeping them in the coop and run for now until time passes, and the hawk hopefully goes elsewhere. What can I use for a dust bath in their run? It’s been raining a lot where I live and their run is muddy. Ty!

Drill drainage holes in the sidewall of an old tire and fill the center with sand, ash and whatever else your hens like. If it needs rain protection, a simple tarp or piece of plywood/roofing panel generally works well.

 

[Appalachickens]

I bought an inexpensive cement mixing tub for mine. It is very popular with my chickens.