Dust bath

[Jholeah]

What does everyone use for their chickens dust bath? Like to hold in the dirt/sand. I need to put one out for my 2 girls because we have plenty green grass still in the south. I have 2 lavender Orpingtons that are about 8 months old. They are quite big. And I move them around the yard every few days so it can't be permanent. Also how much space do they need in said dust bath area?

 

[Ridgerunner]

What do your facilities look like? What are you using to move them around? Knowing what you are working with might give us some ideas as to what would work for you.

 

[Debbie292d]

Here in the summer they make dust baths wherever they are so inclined.

In the winter, they can't, so we put giant kitty litter bins with garden dirt, a little wood ash from our furnace, and a bit of DE. Those will fit about 4-5 silkies dustbathing at a time.

We keep a bucket of garden dirt inside too, so we can add some in a month or so. If we didn't do that, it'd be rock hard. (Our coops are heated to 40°F.)

 

[Jholeah]

What do your facilities look like? What are you using to move them around? Knowing what you are working with might give us some ideas as to what would work for you.

Coop 1 I bought thinking it would hold 4 hens. I was so very wrong. The run to me was not big enough for 2 so I bought the part in coop 2. It is covered because the top is open. I would be putting the dust bath bin under the tarp to keep the rain off. That area is about 6 x 6 or so.

 

[Debbie292d]

Coop 1 I bought thinking it would hold 4 hens. I was so very wrong. The run to me was not big enough for 2 so I bought the part in coop 2. It is covered because the top is open. I would be putting the dust bath bin under the tarp to keep the rain off. That area is about 6 x 6 or so.

Do you let them free-range at all? I see all that nice yard of yours they would LOVE!

You could just take a couple of shovels full of sod off near there and they'd be all over it!

 

[Ridgerunner]

That looks plenty big enough for two large hens. You should have enough room for a kitty litter bin and they are not that expensive.

 

[Jholeah]

Do you let them free-range at all? I see all that nice yard of yours they would LOVE!

You could just take a couple of shovels full of sod off near there and they'd be all over it!

No they do not free range. That is not my yard in the back. I only have to the metal post. That is why I move them every few days. We are trying to get the lot next to us for a garden and chicken area. My yard is not fenced and even if it were we have several feral cats around us. And a few dogs that run loose. Once we fence the yard in and I can be out watching them I will let them out.

 

[Jholeah]

That looks plenty big enough for two large hens. You should have enough room for a kitty litter bin and they are not that expensive.

Thank you. I will go look for one. I just did not know how big it needs to be for one at a time.