How can I make a dust bath for a tractor moved every day? DE in coop?

[lceh]

I have a great little A-frame tractor for my bantys. I move it every night, so I am eager for all accoutrements (feeder, waterer, etc.) to be attached so they can move right along too, without getting knocked over. We have 2" x 3" wire on the bottom of the tractor, to keep digging predators out and to keep the yard from being totally trashed. This means the chickies need me to provide them with a dust bath, since they can't make their own. If I put a pan in there with sand in it, won't it collect water when it rains? Or do I just need to put it in once a week or so? Alternatively, could I just mix sand or DE with the shavings in their house and let them dust bathe in there? They do already, but there's nothing but shavings in there so I wasn't sure it was actually doing them any good.

Ideas?

 

[Opa]

Place a cat litter box in it with fine sand and DE

 

[lceh]

Won't it get filled with water when it rains? There's not enough room in the house for that, and while I might be able to put it under the house to keep it dry, access (for me!) is a bit of a problem....

 

[Opa]

Quote:
If you are moving the tractor daily don't put the dust bath in there on days rain is predicted. Also you could drill a series of small holes in the bottom of the pan to allow water to seep out.

 

[patandchickens]

My experience is that even with holes drilled in the bottom (through which your sand etc will tend to wash out...) your sand/dirt/whatever will take a looooong time to dry if it gets wet. So like opa says, just give it to them on fine sunny days.

Have fun,

Pat

 

[TicketyBoo]

What about a covered cat litter box?