sand box for 4 week old chicks

[tjb]

I thought I would add sand to one side of the area for my 4 week old chicks.
they seem to only be pecking/eating the sand. I was hoping to give them something to occupy them/sand bath. Will they naturally know what the sand is for at a young age or should I remove the sand?

 

[Sara Ranch]

I don't have an exact answer for you...

My 2 week old chicks tried taking dust baths in their shavings. Yeah, 2 weeks old! It was only one batch of chicks (out of quite a few batches) and these are broilers/Cornish Rocks. The chicks are still in the house.

My 5 week old chicks were in the coop. I have sand in the majority of the animal houses. They were taking dust baths inside.

I also have kitty litter boxes outside with wood ash and sand. They know what to do. The rain kinda ruins it, but the sun dries it out....

Try it. The 3 week olds might surprise you.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

Mine all prefer a standard dirt bath over sand. And I give it to them as young as 3 days so it shouldn't be much issue as long as the sand you got is safe for consumption.

 

[tjb]

great, thank you. I did notice them rolling around in the shavings at first which gave me the idea. I may try going 50/50 with clean dirt and see if it is better.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I've got some that love sand/wood ash, some that love mulch, and some that love dirt.

I've got some that love to do it inside and some that love to do it outside.