Pool for the chickens?

[foureyeddragon]

I found an old tin livestock waterer in the garage, its only about 6 inches tall, and I was thinking that it might be a good bird bath for the wild birds...or chickens. Do chickens like bird bathes?

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Here is a thread about swimming chickens:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/538337/silly-swimming-chickens-i-mean-ducks-i-mean-chickens

 

[foureyeddragon]

So in other words, they likely wouldn't appreciate it much unless I trained them to use it.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Would it work for dust bathing?

 

[foureyeddragon]

Would it work for dust bathing?

Dust bathing?

 

[binza1979]

I have a kiddie pool with sand in it for my girls to take dust baths in. I drilled holes in the bottom so water can drain out when needed. My girls love it. I have to put more sand in it a couple of times a year because they kick it all out after awhile.

 

[1muttsfan]

My understanding is that chickens can actually drown in pools. Don't love that video, seems like the chicken's not so happy either. Chickens do love dust bathing.

 

[foureyeddragon]

I have a kiddie pool with sand in it for my girls to take dust baths in. I drilled holes in the bottom so water can drain out when needed. My girls love it. I have to put more sand in it a couple of times a year because they kick it all out after awhile.

I will have to get that a try. I never considered dust bathing for chickens. I guess the little patches of dirt covered in feathers in the run make sense now!

 

[Gargoyle]

I use limestone dust for the dust bath (of course, I have a big supply of limestone dust, so that makes it easy). Limestone is calcium carbonate, same stuff as tums and rolaids. Sand is silica, the stuff that causes silicosis, so my uneducated guess is that breathing sand dust is bad for their lungs and breathing limestone dust is harmless.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Gargoyle, what about soapstone/talc? Is that ok for chickens or the composter? I have a friend who is a stone carver.