Dust baths

[pdnarus10]

When do chicks start dusting? Do they have to be taught? My babies are 2 1/2 months old. All they do is try to eat it?! I have a mix of wood ash, commercial chicken dust powder and dirt.

 

[Insnesnakos]

Mine started trying to dust bathe in their pine shavings at a few weeks old, they'll bathe when they need to

 

[FrostRanger]

They'll do it when they're good and ready, no need to teach them. When the mood strikes them they'll do it

 

[Ridgerunner]

When do pullets lay their first egg? When they are ready. Where do they lay their first egg? Where they want to, not necessarily where we want them to.

When do brooder-raised chicks start to roost up off of the ground. When they are ready. Where do they sleep when they start to roost? Where they want to, not necessarily where we want them to.

When do chickens start to take dust baths? When they are ready. Where do they take their first dust bath? Where they want to, not necessarily where we want them to.

Welcome to your adventure with chickens.

 

[pdnarus10]

I like your candor

 

[wrathsfarm]

When do pullets lay their first egg? When they are ready. Where do they lay their first egg? Where they want to, not necessarily where we want them to.

When do brooder-raised chicks start to roost up off of the ground. When they are ready. Where do they sleep when they start to roost? Where they want to, not necessarily where we want them to.

When do chickens start to take dust baths? When they are ready. Where do they take their first dust bath? Where they want to, not necessarily where we want them to.

Welcome to your adventure with chickens.

This should be stickied under the BYC Banner!!

 

[aart]

commercial chicken dust powder

What is this exactly?

Where do they live?
Most birds will dig up some dirt in the run.

 

[TLynne1]

When do chicks start dusting? Do they have to be taught? My babies are 2 1/2 months old. All they do is try to eat it?! I have a mix of wood ash, commercial chicken dust powder and dirt.

I'm really hoping someone chimes in soon! Mine were dusting in the shavings so I set up the dusting bath, but all they do is eat it. I was thinking about taking it out because they barely eat their food. Mine has: garden soil, diatomaceous earth and lime.

 

[FrostRanger]

I'd just use plain dirt in their dust bath. The diatomaceous earth is hard on their lungs and only provides minimum benefits. There is no set age for when they start dust bathing. It's also normal for them to eat a bit of the dirt 'cause for one, they're still figuring out the world and 2, chickens do eat soil, particularly rocky or sandy soil for grit. I'd still provide chick grit in case your soil isn't corse enough (grit is cheap and never expires after all).

 

[TLynne1]

I'd just use plain dirt in their dust bath. The diatomaceous earth is hard on their lungs and only provides minimum benefits. There is no set age for when they start dust bathing. It's also normal for them to eat a bit of the dirt 'cause for one, they're still figuring out the world and 2, chickens do eat soil, particularly rocky or sandy soil for grit. I'd still provide chick grit in case your soil isn't corse enough (grit is cheap and never expires after all).

That makes scenes. They are still dusting in the shavings. Maybe I will just use the soil and lime (they are pooping in it). Thank you