Dust Baths.

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I use a smallish premade raised garden bed (it was like $25) filled with peat moss. They usually use it but sometimes one of them will dig up dirt from another area and they'll all roll around in that for a day.

Another one with peat moss. Must be good stuff. Probably a lot easier than digging up 50lb of dirt.... But chickens dust where they want. Wherever is most popular. You know. Who wants to be the odd chick out?

 

[LJoWilly]

Peat moss, sand, dirty and some wood ash.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Peat moss, sand, dirty and some wood ash.

Oh, and look! They're using it!

 

[Margie Mae]

I designated a space under their ramp and against the back 2x4 rail of the run the rest is lined with a couple of bricks and large rocks to keep it contained. I mix dirt sand and peat moss. I was concerned for a while that they didn't like it, but do find them now hanging out in it quite a bit. I clean it every evening with a litter scoop to get out the debris they leave in it. A quick sweep of the rocks and it's ready for the next day of bathing.

 

[hlhutchinson]

So with the peat moss I'm wondering why/how that works in a dust bath doesn't peat moss absorb and hold water?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I designated a space under their ramp and against the back 2x4 rail of the run the rest is lined with a couple of bricks and large rocks to keep it contained. I mix dirt sand and peat moss. I was concerned for a while that they didn't like it, but do find them now hanging out in it quite a bit. I clean it every evening with a litter scoop to get out the debris they leave in it. A quick sweep of the rocks and it's ready for the next day of bathing.

Every day? you must have some happy hens!

So with the peat moss I'm wondering why/how that works in a dust bath doesn't peat moss absorb and hold water?

Maybe. I don't have it, so I can't say. But usually the baths are in a dry area. Maybe add sand, as it helps to dry things?

 

[Margie Mae]

Cleaning the dust bath only takes a minute and they do make a mess of it. they may not care but I do. And the peat moss does absorb the moisture as I found out during a recent downpour but it dried out pretty fast.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Cleaning the dust bath only takes a minute and they do make a mess of it. they may not care but I do. And the peat moss does absorb the moisture as I found out during a recent downpour but it dried out pretty fast.

What do you clean out? Poop? Human, human, human. That's the main ingredient!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Cleaning the dust bath only takes a minute and they do make a mess of it. they may not care but I do. And the peat moss does absorb the moisture as I found out during a recent downpour but it dried out pretty fast.

Yup, pretty much this. It absorbs water easily but also dries out quick especially if you break up the chunks a little.

 

[ScottandSam]

This was a hole (low spot) we filled in with the clean out from the coop. It has made some great dirt and stays cool. The girls love it.

Scott