Need answers fast

[Thechickentrainer1999]

I'm trying to make a dirt bath for my chickens and I have very little time left to do so. Is this dirt okay to use from home depot? I'm looking for something that has no chemicals or bad stuff that could hurt them

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

Also any other dirt/sand suggestions you would use that's not expensive?

 

[JessaDee]

I just made a dust bath last week. I have a bag of garden soil, two bags of play sand and, in the spring, I put in some poultry dust

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

I just made a dust bath last week. I have a bag of garden soil, two bags of play sand and, in the spring, I put in some poultry dust

So is it okay to use play sand? I heard it doesn't do well cause it gets hard and packs together. And what kind of garden soil did you use, I'm looking for some without any chemicals that is safe for them?

 

[JessaDee]

So is it okay to use play sand? I heard it doesn't do well cause it gets hard and packs together. And what kind of garden soil did you use, I'm looking for some without any chemicals that is safe for them?

You could use topsoil and put some peat in it. The sand can pack down, but I’ve never noticed it being any harder than soil. My chickens love nothing more than a bunch of peat. It doesn’t stay wet for long and they fli g it everywhere. Especially when I’m trying to plant my

 

[moniquem]

I used dirt from my garden and mix it with play sand. They love it especially when they find worms or bugs in the dirt pieces...

 

[Perris]

my flock's favourite dust bath is where I have had a bonfire; that makes sense as bonfire ash used to be a trad ingredient, with sharp (builder's) sand and soil. And if you have bonfires anyway, it's free! This was a recent communal session

 

[cheekychick3]

I also use soil, similar to the one you have, and play sand and also ash, if hubby
has burnt some items. Then put it through a garden sieve, so it is nice and fine.
When they see they are having new, they all get in together. lol Pushing and shoving
each other, out the way. They love it, and i find the soil is nice and cool too. I live in UK
and buy my play sand at Argos as it is only £5.00 for 15kg and i get 3 fresh dust baths
out of it. The ash is no cost at all and that size bag of soil you have, will last you a
long time. My girls love it, lol.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I know it's a late response but Home Depot often has bags of 100% peat moss, that's what I use. Or there's bags of super cheap filler dirt/top soil, which should be just straight up dirt with some sand/gravel mixed in.

 

[moniquem]

Ash is supposed to be a really good component to a dust bath, I never can get a hold of any though.