Let's talk dust baths!!

[weber427]

I have food grade D.E. and all purpose sand... what type of soil can i use. I have a bag of miracle gro potting soil i was just going to add in but it has the little white pieces in it so i wasnt sure if it is safe... I also wanted to make a small one up of just soil for the brooder babies but i dont know what type of soil to add to theirs either. Help i dont want to harm my babes just trying to make them happier and healthier!

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

We mix sand with peat moss and the girls love it


Eta not sure where your located but our local tsc, Walmart, and hardware stores carry it in big 2cubic ft or 3 cubic feet bags that are more like boxes or bricks lol

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I wouldn't use the potting soil nor the DE. Problems with both.
The DE is composed of minute crystals that can lodge in the respiratory system. The potting soil will take too long to break down into appropriate dust size particles (read that as a couple years).
I mixed sand with regular garden soil or any soil out of the yard even if it is clay because it will evolve into the consistence chickens prefer.
From there, I always added agricultural lime and wood ashes in equal measure. The combination of the 4 ingredients quickly become just what the doctor ordered.
Don't use ashes from a barbecue pit because it will have fat drippings in it.
The chickens want to get the dust down to skin level between the feathers. This does the trick to ward off lice and mites.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do not use potting soil or any sort of soil mix with additives. Straight up plain old dirt from your yard is the best option (especially for the chicks if they're still very young, to expose them to outside bacteria and pathogens to get their immune system going), otherwise 100% peat moss or top soil with zero add ins.

 

[Nym]

Mine love bathing in the natural mulch from fallen pine needles.

 

[weber427]

Do not use potting soil or any sort of soil mix with additives. Straight up plain old dirt from your yard is the best option (especially for the chicks if they're still very young, to expose them to outside bacteria and pathogens to get their immune system going), otherwise 100% peat moss or top soil with zero add ins.

We did straight dirty from the ground for the babies and they love it! We did peat moss sand ash and de for now but going to order lime to use for it!