Sand Box for Dust Bathing

[chickencoop789]

I want to make a sand box for the chickens to take dust baths in. Is playsand ok or is there something better to fill the box with?

 

[eggspectation]

We use all purpose sand and add DE which makes a great dust bath for our 20 hens.

 

[HS Pye]

We just use a fine 'dusty' dirt. They love it. We've never had success with sand though.

HS Pye

 

[KayTee]

I started off using potting compost - the sort you buy in bags from the garden centre to pot up your plants. I bought the cheapest type (no added fertilisers etc), and they thought it was great.

Then we got a wood burning stove, and I had the bright idea to save the ashes. Now every time I empty the ash pan I tip it into a big bucket, and once a week I add it to the dust bath. The result - chicken heaven! They absolutely LOVE the ashes - they use it all the time.

 

[HS Pye]

I started off using potting compost - the sort you buy in bags from the garden centre to pot up your plants. I bought the cheapest type (no added fertilisers etc), and they thought it was great.

Then we got a wood burning stove, and I had the bright idea to save the ashes. Now every time I empty the ash pan I tip it into a big bucket, and once a week I add it to the dust bath. The result - chicken heaven! They absolutely LOVE the ashes - they use it all the time.

Yup, our chickens love to use ashes too.

HS Pye

 

[eggspectation]

I read about using wood ashes on BYC andnow we have all my friends, who have wood stover are now saving ashes for thw dust bath.

 

[cholmberg]

Is it normal for hens to not want to dust bathe? Since it's cold perhaps? I put a big, shallow bin
of sand/DE mix out for them, and so far they will have nothing to do with it. Do they
just not like sand? The fact that it's -cold- sand? Should I mix some plain dirt into it?
I don't have access to any wood ashes. =(

 

[KayTee]

Mine don't like sand for dustbathing, especially in the winter. I've given them a bag of the cheapest potting compost I could buy (no added fertilisers etc.) The texture is nice and crumbly and loose and they loved it!