Dusting !!

[zark]

I have eight Barred Plymouth Rocks that are about thirty five days old. I live in about the center of Pennsylvania. I have them in a old block walled milk house that is about fourteen feet by twenty. I have noticed they try dusting in the wood chips, sometimes the grit, etc. Should I just get them a good sized pan of dirt and let them have at it???

 

[peepsnbunnies]

You bet! They would love it!

 

[CarriBrown]

Sure! They would probably love it! There are a few people on here that make sand boxes for their chickens. Some people also use food grade DE (HAS to be food grade).

 

[zark]

I am new to this chicken raising. What is DE ??

 

[Godiva]

Diatomaceous Earth. DO a search on the net - very interesting. I mix sand and a handful or two of DE in a hogpan (from the feedstore) and when they aren't stuffing themselves on it they are dusting in it. The DE is good for keeping them free of mites etc and also internal parasites as well as providing minerals and other good things. Cuts down on the fly population that breeds on the manure and helps with odour problems too, great stuff.