Is a dust box needed in the winter?

[ametauss]

Wildfirejane, do you have pics?? I have some old tires but I can't picture how you use them for feeders and waters....

I get the dust area and I think I'll set one up for them... they need it bad...

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

I'm lucky enough to have a lot of space so I keep a truck topper on the ground. The soil is sandy and I throw some ashes in there once in a while. This morning I go out and there is a cloud of dust just foating out....there must have been ten of them bathing at the same time. Very funny to watch. Even with over a foot of snow on the ground they have plowed a path about eight inches wide right from the coop to their hang-out. It seems to keep them happy and out of the coop for a while every day.

 

[cmom]

I don't have a dust box in my coop but do have one in their run with a lid for it, so if it rains I can keep the water out. I also use FOOD GRADE DE, Diatomaceous Earth in the shavings in their coop, in their run, where they dust in their holes in their yard and in their sandbox. I don't have any problems with fleas, flies, mites, lice or any other pests. I just add some DE periodically. I also got my container at Walmart. I recently lost one of my big girls to a 4 legged preditor. I don't know if it was a dog, cayote or fox, but the tracks were dog like, so for now unless I'm able to be out to watch them they stay in their run during the day.

 

[cmom]

I have also seen posts where some people use small wading pools for their sand boxes.

 

[wildflowers]

I feel like my chicks are missing out. I made them a dust box, filled it with play sand but they don't use it. Am I missing something? Do some not like dust baths?

 

[luvmygirlsinAK]

Quote:
How long have you had it? Is it inside or outside? (Am wondering if it is outside if it is very cold? And whether that really matters) Have you placed them in it? All of our chickens love their dust bath. We also put DE in with the play sand, and sometimes ashes. Both are very good for keeping the pesky little "predators" off of them.

It is hilarious to watch them take a bath!!! You can just see the relaxation that it gives them, even though it is an energetic relaxation!

We just bought one of those heavy rubber pet tubs for it, and refill as needed. It's heavy enough that if the sand gets on the low side it won't get kicked around.

This picture has one of our quail in it. See how he is laying on his side? They like to roll in it and wiggle while pushing themselves in as deep as they can, and they'll take a wing and brush the sand onto their back with extremely fast movements, which is so funny to watch! I sure hope yours start liking it, because it is something I would hate to give up, now that I know what I'd be missing out on!!!

Here's hoping for the best!!

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
You said "chicks." How old are your chickens? If they're really young, they just might not have figured out the whole dustbath thing yet. Mine didn't start dustbathing until they were adults.

 

[wildflowers]

they are 13 weeks old. I am guessing that still qualifies them as youngins, right? I put it in a litter box in a sheltered, covered and away from wind, area. They don't seem to mind the cold, though right now it is just around the 40's I did try to place on in it, my calmest one. She also seems to be the leader. Hoping that if she started the others would. She honked at me and looked at me like I was crazy

They are funny. I will keep trying though. They seem to be kinda stubborn.

 

[Beau coop]

My girls take a bth in the dirt outside in nice weather. So can I put dirt in a container in coop in winter instead of sand and DE?

 

[gritsar]

My chickens have an 80 acre "dust box". Even if they were enclosed in a pen, I'm sure they would quickly scratch out an area to use.