Dusting Preference

[BakkDad]

My hens are now 13 weeks old. I built an octagonal "dusting box" for them which includes a mixture of coarse sand and ashes from a fire pit with occasional DE mixed in. They use it occasionally, but when I let them out (free range) they love dusting in soil that's moist. There can be a large area of the same soil, but when they find a spot with moisture, they gravitate towards that area and love it.. I was under the impression that dry dusting is best. Should I leave it to the hens' instinct? Photo of dusting box attached.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

They maybe cooling off with the moist dirt. Mine wallow in wet dirt and my silkies look like they have dreads afterward. LOL!

 

[lysmandor]

I would just let your chickens be chickens! I think it depends on the temperature, humidity that day... Mine rotate through a few different dusting spots depending on the weather.

 

[3KillerBs]

Should I leave it to the hens' instinct?

I figure that chickens know how to be chickens better than I know how to be a chicken so I let them dig holes for dust-bathing wherever they choose. They rotate around several places with different conditions (drier, damper, more or less organic material).