Old Wood Ashes... safe for dust bathing?

[cdimmey]

I read that the best dust bath is equal parts ash, garden dirt, compost, and diatomaceous earth. You can also throw some herbs in there to promote other health factors.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

We use equal parts wood ash & peat moss for their dust bath. Sometimes I add some DE. It's in an old galvanized tub in the covered run so it stays dry. Hens love it!

 

[Zgm12]

I know this thread is older but I thought I'd try to post anyway. I have a wood burning stove and it has lots of old ashes in it. However, we used fire starters in it. Would the ashes still be safe for chickens?

 

[tequilajade]

just adding my two cents here. I use wood ash to make lye for processing biodiesel. it has to be HARD wood to create enough acid to initiate saponification. The type of wood you would use in a meat smoker. and it still has to be filtered and processed with water to get the lye water. soft woods, like what is typically used in a wood burning fireplace are much less acidic, and even with tons of processing it is difficult to nearly impossible to get enough acid to do the job, even for soap.

I personally wouldn't think twice about using it, if I had a fireplace that burned wood.

I wouldn't use the hardwood ash from the smoker, but I use that for my biodiesel anyway, so much too valuable for me to just throw around. LOL.

 

[gsgosselin]

I have a "burn pile" where I burn paper products, cardboard, wood, etc. After the ashes have cooled the next day, the chickens and turkeys enjoy rolling in all of the ashes.

 

[gsgosselin]

Lots of discussion about safe and unsafe. I'm going with safe. Assuming there is nothing toxic in a burn pile. I.e.: pained wood, tires plastic etc. Is it safe to use ashes from a burn pile that would have all manner of yard clippings? Specifically boxwood, holly, and crepe myrtle?
And what if the pile contains poison ivy or poison wood (this one does not but just wondering)
I'm new at this and loving raising my chickens!!

 

[Hokum Coco]

I I am wondering if it would be safe to use the old wood ashes in the coop and for the chickens to dust bathe in?

I have been using it works good for my hens. Have no clue about poison plants only if they came into contact with them in my ashes they had no ill effect.

 

[twilightgecko]

just found this thread.. found a chicken body louse on one of my hens so am going to offer up more dust bath areas before treating the lice with anything else.. it's winter here in upstate new york, my girls have access to dirt, and sometimes sand.. but i like the wood ash idea.. i have buckets of it..

 

[timtikihutt]

HOLD IT!!!

Wood ash contains potassium hydroxide. Yes it will kill lice, fleas bacteria but DON'T USE IT IN A COOP. It is very very caustic and not good for any living animals!!

Take a half a cup of wood ash, add a cup of water, mix it really well with spoon. Stick your hand it for a less than a minute. You'll find that your had is silky soft and smooth! That is because it is MELTING your skin away!! If it doesn't keep it in there for another minute or two.

Stuff is very very caustic and was one of the main ingredients in making soap from animal fat. The process is called saponification.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponification

DON'T PUT WOOD ASH INTO THE COOP OR NESTING BOX!!

 

[timtikihutt]

I'm starting a leaf pile burn ..imma gonna put this to the test