If you build it they will ignore it

[Ms Biddy]

So proud of the new dust bath we made for them. Found the perfect tire, a big one with high sides. Cut out the edges, buried it a little. Filled it with peat, sand, dg, sweet pdz, wood ashes. Taadaa, here you go my feathered friends!

See the top left of the photo? That's them rolling around turning their beaks up at the dust bath we made them.

 

[diamondsilkies]

Ugh mine did the same thing! Don't they realize the work we put into these for them!? One time I noticed they were all cramping into a nesting box so I built three more of the exact same thing and they still used the old one!

 

[Ms Biddy]

Ingrates!!!

 

[FlyWheel]

Chicken's are creatures of habit. They've gotten used to DB-ing in that spot. SO move your new dust bath into that area and set it into the ground. They'll get the idea eventually.

 

[aart]

Your thread title made me guffaw out loud!
Welcome to BYC!

Shake the 'rattle can' of scratch(treats) to lure them over,
sprinkle some scratch in there, that'll get them interested.
Granted they may not stay long, or ever get in it again, but still....worth a try.

 

[Patinas]

I put a large tub in my run for them to dust bathe in on days when they don't get to range because of weather. Sides are about 8 inches high and filled it with sand.

I've only seen one or two actually use it as a dust bath. Instead they like to roost on it during the day and fill it with poop even though they have two roost bars in the run that are 4 feet off the ground! I'm constantly removing poop, shavings and straw from it so I'm actually thinking about removing it completely since they aren't using it for the intended purpose.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

The tubby monster...untouched since I put it in the run.

Tried to lure with snacks. Nope, just gave the snacks the "one-eye" and ignored the tubby. Took snacks out.

Managed to catch the rooster. Cuddled him then set him in the tubby telling him that it is not a monster. Nope.

All they do is play ring around the rosey with it...

No holes anywhere so I think I have chickens that are the "smelly chickens in class"....

Tubby the day I put it in there...

Tubby with the untouched snacks. (notice the amount...I tirelessly tried ~~ yep a pun)

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

My chickens all liked to dust bathe in the freshly planted hosts garden that I planted for my dad. Needless to say I’ve replanted it about 5 times.

 

[TwoCrows]

Typical chickens, you go through all the work to build a perfect dust bath and they turn up their beaks at it!!

I have done this numerous times and my efforts are always fruitless. I give up!

BUT, they are sneaky little creatures, wait and see if one of them does decide to use your new dust bath, might be shocking, but they can surprise you.

 

[Ms Biddy]

I'm actually thinking about removing it completely since they aren't using it for the intended purpose.

I think if you dump it out they'll probably say, "Oh wow, look at all this awesome dust! Let's roll in it!"

My chickens all liked to dust bathe in the freshly planted hosts garden that I planted for my dad. Needless to say I’ve replanted it about 5 times.

Mine used to like dust bathing in the front flower bed, after they scratched all the flowers out, devoured the comfrey and pooped all over the front porch. They also loved waiting and listening for the crazy lady to come running out the front door yelling at them. It was their favorite thing to do...then they got a tractor.