dustbathing.... what to use?

[klf73]

I decided to pen my chickens because they are destroying my flowers, pooping on my deck and all over my driveway, and the kids can't play in the yard without getting chicken poop all over their shoes, which of course brings it into my house

. I wanted to make them a "sandbox" type of thing for them to dustbathe in. I was going to use a mix of sand and dirt, is this ok or should I use something else. I am using poultry fencing and didn't want to electrify it if I could avoid it and wanted to give them every reason to stay within the fence.... suggestions?

 

[Mrs.H]

I use just playsand, they love it!

 

[eggsellent]

Mine have play sand also and love kicking it up on themselves, others and even me!

 

[crittersitter]

I use a combination of dirt,fireplace ash and DE. They love it!

 

[rancher hicks]

Well now I 've got the dirt and DE. My wife is going to have a fit if I tell her we have to have a fireplace installed so we can get fireplace ash for the chickens to roll in. I've always wanted a fireplace now I have an excuse.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Great minds think alike.

And they look HORRIBLE when they get done fluffing themselves up in that combo!

 

[klf73]

I really don't care how they look, just want them happy enough to stay put

. Maybe I can make it out of playsand and throw something else in there every now and then....

 

[klf73]

question about the fireplace ash, doesn't it get gross when it rains?

 

[spish]

i have a wood burning stove, but we burn a bit of everything in there...is it still safe to use the ashes for the chickens to bath in? ive always hoped there is a use for the ash!

 

[Vanessabuffsnsilkies]

My chickens enjoy the area where we cut up wood, there's dirt and sawdust. They also have a "bath area" that has fireplace ashes, dirt and DE.