Safe Soil.....

[My 3 Chicky Babies]

Good Morning All,
I want to create a DIY dust bath for my hens but I need suggestions on the safest commercial top soil to use. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[little chick-y baby mama]

Good Morning All,
I want to create a DIY dust bath for my hens but I need suggestions on the safest commercial top soil to use. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

soil is not what you want to use for a dust bath. you instead need to use kids' play sand, fine gravel (Almost like rock dust, and that's it. None of those will hurt your chickens.

and just wondering, why did you post the same thing twice?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

soil is not what you want to use for a dust bath. you instead need to use kids' play sand, fine gravel (Almost like rock dust, and that's it. None of those will hurt your chickens.

and just wondering, why did you post the same thing twice?

Why do you say soil isn't what you should use? I once made a dust bath out of fine sand and my chickens never touched it. Instead they prefer to dig up the grass to expose the soil and dust bath in it. In the absence of soil, sure sand is okay, but sand isn't really "dust" so it's not really a dust bath. The idea is that the dust smothers any creepy crawlies. Sand won't really achieve that effect.

https://www.ruralsprout.com/homemad...ext=The soil that you use,to use in its place.

At the Rural Sprout, she uses loamy soil mixed with wood ash and some DE.

I was just curious about the basis of your opinion.

 

[My 3 Chicky Babies]

soil is not what you want to use for a dust bath. you instead need to use kids' play sand, fine gravel (Almost like rock dust, and that's it. None of those will hurt your chickens.

and just wondering, why did you post the same thing twice?

Thanks for your insight. I'm still learning on how to post on this site, hence the repost twice.

 

[My 3 Chicky Babies]

Why do you say soil isn't what you should use? I once made a dust bath out of fine sand and my chickens never touched it. Instead they prefer to dig up the grass to expose the soil and dust bath in it. In the absence of soil, sure sand is okay, but sand isn't really "dust" so it's not really a dust bath. The idea is that the dust smothers any creepy crawlies. Sand won't really achieve that effect.

https://www.ruralsprout.com/homemade-chicken-dust-bath/#:~:text=The soil that you use,to use in its place.

At the Rural Sprout, she uses loamy soil mixed with wood ash and some DE.

I was just curious about the basis of your opinion.

THANK YOU so much for your response and insight. Soil is one of the components I want to use, and will look into the link you added. Thank you again from a new Chicken Momma that is always learning from others willing to share.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

THANK YOU so much for your response and insight. Soil is one of the components I want to use, and will look into the link you added. Thank you again from a new Chicken Momma that is always learning from others willing to share.

You chickens will love the dirt I can assure you.

I once rescued 18 mo old ex-battery hens. They had lived their whole lives in metal cages. Some were attempting to dust bath the very day they were brought home! Their natural instinct will help guide you. If they don't use what you provide, tweak your "recipe" until they do!