I made a dust bath but they don't go in it, yet

[WildBillHicks]

I built a 4'x4' box out of 1'x6' boards and filled it with a mix of sand and soil. So far they haven't gone in it at all. Did I do something wrong? It's under a covered part of the coop so it's nice and cool under there. I thought they would love it. Do they have to "discover" it or something??

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Themehmeh]

Never in my life have i had a small animal (parakeets, hedgehog, hamster,chickens) that took a dust bath in the designated area i set out for them like the internet/books said they would. I would however remove the soil and go for only sand. My chickens only dustbathed when their whole enclosure was a thick layer of sand only. Also, i dont know what chickens prefer in general but mine seem to like sunny dustbaths better.

 

[Rhoise]

Saw a cool one on here a while back out of a tire his chooks loved it the man said he used wood ash DE and soil I think

 

[WildBillHicks]

i had mostly sand in it until today when i added a bag of soil. it's still about 65-35 sand-soil. i put the box where i did because that covered area was where they always dusted. they were digging holes so i just decided to add a box. that way i could add some sevin dust to keep any bugs away.

but yeah i saw some yt vids and other stuff on the net that made it out to be something they would fight to get in but who knows. time will tell.

 

[Jenn907]

I made a dust bath area for my girls and they loved it! I mixed garen soil, sand and some DE. They especially love it when I "dig" a hole in the center for them... all 6 of them get in there at the same time throwing sand all over the place and peeping up a storm! Too funny! I am sure your flock will figure it out sooner or later No worries!!

 

[sodamancer]

I noticed your cinder blocks around the base of the coop. what are they filled with?

 

[WildBillHicks]

Jenn from Wasilla, AK! Wow, do you know Sara Palin? LOL

 

[Tigertrea]

I made a small dust bath in a box from a case of paper. I used dirt, wood shavings and ashes in about equal proportions then tossed in a bunch of stable dry. At first the chickens just looked at it like it was from another planet. It took an hour or so before anyone approached it. I have 1 or 2 very inquisitive chicks who seem to lead the flock. They gathered around and seemed to discuss it for awhile then one decided to peck at it. More discussion more another peck by another chick then they decided it was from another planet and left it alone. My son (8yrs old) said "mom, why don't you put a layer of shavings over the top so they don't know it is different" (leave it to kids to find the simplest solution!) So I did. About an hour later I had 2 chicks scratching at it. When they realized it was not from another planet they did love it. They don't argue over it. Some still prefer to dust bath in their coop shavings (with stable dry mixed in) and they have managed to scratch a little loose dirt outside in their run for bathing. I do have a few who seem to love the dust bath though. They must use it since I have to replenish it occasionally! Also, my chicks are were only 6 weeks when I gave them the dust bath....teenagers wanting to try anything LOL.

 

[7L Farm]

My chickens take a bath whenever they get dirty LOL.

 

[En Plein Air Farms]

I had sand in mine, they ignored it completely for weeks, so I changed it out to dirt from the same place on a dry bank where they dust, no dice.
Then a friend sent me a clipping from a magazine that showed hens dusting in a cube of peat with the top wrapping cut off. So I switched out to peat from home depot and they went mad.
When it needed topped up I bought peat from Walmart and they wouldn't touch it. I don't blame them it kept clodding up. So bought another bag from home depot and they were in love again

I love that cinderblock in the corner idea, I have mine in an enormous galvanized wash tub. Once they began using it I also added a couple handfulls of dichotomous (sp?) earth and ash from the fireplace.