Need advice for dust bath

[amanda1]

i bought a $6 wading pool, mixed dirt, sand and wood ash, punched some holes in the bottom and had a nice dust bath for them. . . Until it rained. Now I have either a solid block of adobe, or a mud bath. I have nothing to put it under.

Do you think if I cut out the whole bottom and kept the sides and tried it again, it would work? I have noticed they typically want to use dirt in a place that does not get wet, but I have no way to keep it dry. Is having a cover the only way to keep it nice, or is it just a matter of proper drainage? Do you think I should put a layer of gravel down before putting in the dirt/ash/sand?

 

[RAsChickens]

That'll work well.

 

[RUNuts]

A kiddy pool is big. I'm using a kitty litter box under the coop. Some use it and some made a wallow in the dirt. Would a smaller box make it easier to keep dry?

How about a dog house filled with sand mixture?

Or make a frame, turn the kiddy pool into a gazebo roof and dust bath under that? I know I'm stretching, but thinking of options. Let us know what you decide.

 

[amanda1]

The pool is only about 3 feet in diameter. I wanted something that more than one could use at a time. I'm just trying to figure out if I can make this work without a cover. I'd love to build an outdoor roof for them at some point in time, but it's a bit more than I can handle on my own!

 

[Kellycbf]

I used an old tire. They seem to have made more as needed. The do love the old tire filled with old bedding (from their chick days) that has a lot of spilled feed in it, ash from the fire pit and some sand.