Dust bathing for baby chicks

[AlabamaPeg]

The weather here in Northern Alabama has been a roller coaster this spring and I have not been able to take the toddlers out in the yard the last few days. Can I/Should I put a dust bath in their enclosure? They keep trying to dust bathe in the pine shavings. I've looked through previous posts and haven't seen a conclusive answer. Thoughts?

 

[DobieLover]

The weather here in Northern Alabama has been a roller coaster this spring and I have not been able to take the toddlers out in the yard the last few days. Can I/Should I put a dust bath in their enclosure? They keep trying to dust bathe in the pine shavings. I've looked through previous posts and haven't seen a conclusive answer. Thoughts?

I would. Just a large shallow pan with dry dirt works great.

 

[AlabamaPeg]

thanks!

 

[ChicksNBoys]

I would. Just a large shallow pan with dry dirt works great.

My littles are doing the same. They are 2 weeks old and bathing in their pine shavings. Do you recommend just getting some dirt from the backyard? Mine are in my bedroom as we are in the 100* and sometimes higher heat.

 

[DobieLover]

100* and sometimes higher heat.

That's brutal!!
Yes, you can give them a pan of dirt from the yard.
I like to give my youngsters a clump of sod to dig through. They learn to scratch, find little stones to eat for grit, find little critters to eat and get exposed to a small amount of the microbes in their future environment that their bodies will need to develop immunity to.

 

[ChicksNBoys]

That's brutal!!
Yes, you can give them a pan of dirt from the yard.
I like to give my youngsters a clump of sod to dig through. They learn to scratch, find little stones to eat for grit, find little critters to eat and get exposed to a small amount of the microbes in their future environment that their bodies will need to develop immunity to.

Yes. This dry desert can be a doozy at times. I sometimes wonder if I even need to use their hot plate. Thanks for the pointers!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes. This dry desert can be a doozy at times. I sometimes wonder if I even need to use their hot plate. Thanks for the pointers!

At 2 weeks old just leave it in and they can use it if they want, like at night. By 3 weeks in many cases they can be off heat completely.

 

[ChicksNBoys]

At 2 weeks old just leave it in and they can use it if they want, like at night. By 3 weeks in many cases they can be off heat completely.

Oh perfect! Good to know. They have definitely started getting their feathers and really only use it at night, huddled together with half their bodies out from under it. I look forward to taking it out so they have more room in the brooder.