Dust Bath???

[GardenState38]

Besides the fact that they enjoy it tremendously and it's beneficial for them, I think it's one of the cutest things they do, and so entertaining to watch!
I especially love it when they make their noises of contentment--trilling and grunting. You can just tell that they're in ecstasy!

 

[McKenley5]

I put sand in my coop and the girls wouldn't go near it, but when I let them out in the yard they dig in the dirt like complete lunatics!!

 

[gickelvolk]

At our house the dust bathes take place between the green-beans and turnips.............

The ladies prefer the garden to the run...... of course...........

 

[MadameDork]

Would ash from a smoker work? We don't have a fireplace, but we smoke salmon all the time and I have quite the ash collection from that. It is a mix of hickory, apple, cherry and mesquite. Would that be harmful to them? Or is ash ash?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
It would work.

 

[RedDrgn]

They don't absolutely "need" to, but it is part of their nature to do so and their own way of taking care of external parasites. You also don't have to provide them anything special to do it in unless they are confined to an area with absolutely nothing to do it in. In such a case, a pan of dirt, ash, sand, anything dry and able to be "fluffed" will do.

 

[binders]

Put a large rubbermaid bin filled with sand, dirt and DE into the coop about 2 weeks ago and all they seem to use it for is a chicken litter box. The ground around them is really hard and stony but they don't seem to want to use the sand provided. I don't see them trying to take many dust baths in the ground so I was hoping that by providing them with a bath they would do it more often. Maybe over time they will start using it more.