Dustbaths??

[77horses]

My baby chick, Ivory, who is an "only-child" and is currently living in a brooder box, will take "dust baths" in my laundry or on anything. She loves taking "dust baths" on my bed, too, even if there's no dirt or anything.

It's so adorable!

 

[MimiChick]

On the days when I can let my girls free range they have a favorite spot near the foundation of our chimney. It stays dry and dusty and they've hollowed out a spot for themselves. On days for whey they have to stay in, or when it's wet or snowy outside, I have a kitty litter pan in their pen filled with sand and wood ash. They love it! I also sprinkle some DE, Sevin or poultry dust in it occasionally. It's easy to clean with a kitty litter scoop and the girls always have a place to keep their feathers clean.

 

[lizzy06019]

My chicks are going to be 4 weeks old on Friday (OMG, I can't believe it's been that long) and I've noticed them splashing around in their pine shavings. It's so funny to watch. The others look on in amazement. They definitely look like their having a great time though. Like many posters have already said, they just like something dry to fluff around in (sand, shavings, DE, dry dirt, etc) And they just know to do it.

BTW...

 

[gallina man]

in the run i have an old double sink filled with soil they love it when they are in the garden there favourite spot is under the big yuka tree there is a hole about 3 feet. there was 4 in that tonight

 

[blacktailsmom]

Mine love dustbaths, and as they are big RIR's they work up quite a cloud.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:
So it's ok for them to use wood ashes?

 

[Mrs.H]

I happened to have a kids sandbox we werent using, filled it with play sand and put it in the run. They roll around/kick in it when they feel they need to.

 

[MakNat]

Yes wood ashes are fine. As long it is ONLY wood that was burned. My barn floor is limestone, everyday there are little holes dug in it. I just rake it over, good as new. I found one of my DH's bags of concrete mix tore up and thrown all around!! They will just about do it in anything!!!!

 

[Wifezilla]

I use play sand with a little DE mixed in it for my quail. They are like little chickens when it comes to dust bathing.

 

[BBK]

I just bought some petemoss. I dump a bucket full of it, just in the middle of the run and they do the rest...It's quite funny to watch to. i have 10 girls and one roo, they all try to lay in the pile at once. kicking the pete on top of them. Other benifits are whe nit rains, it soaks that up. It even looks nice. i added some DE to mine too.
Melinda