Dust Bath

[tiedyemommy]

Our chickens have been digging themselves dust baths all along our fence, and if they don't stop they'll tunnel themselves all the way into our neighbor's yard. I want to build them their own dust bath "tubs", using old tires...what kind of dirt will I want to put in there?

- TieDyeMommy

 

[barnaclebob]

Any dirt should do. You can lead a chicken to dust but you can't make it bathe.

 

[donrae]

Folks come up with all sorts of mixtures to put in dust baths, but honestly just plain old dirt is good. It's what they're using now, and it's doing the trick, so why go buy something to use? The only thing I do is add wood ashes in the winter, otherwise it's just dirt.

 

[tiedyemommy]

Thanks! Might build the dust bath in the spot they're already using...maybe they will use it.

- TieDyeMommy

 

[distincthead]

I just use sand from my yard and occasionally I'll put in some DE, mostly because I have a big bag and it's cheap. I figure the finer sand serves the purpose better than heavier dirt with organic matter in it - you know, the kind of dirt that never seems to dry out. And like the poster above said, you can't make 'em bathe. One of my coops is dirt floored and they have a decent sandbox I chucked in there one day this spring, but would rather poop in or ignore the sandbox and bathe in holes in the floor.

 

[tiedyemommy]

I may just put something at the bottom of the fence to keep them from tunneling under. My main goal is just to keep them from accidentally escaping.

- TieDyeMommy