Setting up our dust bath

[TammieR]

https://youtu.be/bW1ceWI3Stw

This may not be new news, but it may be entertaining!

 

[nuthatched]

I'd recommend you skip the Diotomaeceous Earth, it's extremely bad for them and you to breathe. It's like asbestos to a bird's lungs.
It doesn't control or kill external or internal parasites, unfortunately .

 

[Debbie292d]

Food-grade diatomaceous earth does not contain asbestos and has less than 1% crystalline silica.

Our two macaw parrots have had it in their cages for over 20 years, and our chicken coops for nearing a decade.

We just make sure we nor the birds inhale it, much like we wouldn't want them or us to inhale flour either. We wear masks and take the birds out of their cages or coops before spreading it around about once a month.

 

[Ted Brown]

FWIW I eventually retired my dust bath container as the ground my run sits on is largely sand and gravel and my flock prefers that.

When I did use the container I had a mix of sand, wood ash and Sulphur. Also hung a delicate garment mesh wash bag with Sulphur over the pop door such that the flock would brush it on their way in/out. Sulphur does kill mites & other pests just takes longer than permethrin etc.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

My birds made it pretty plain that they prefer to dig their own dust baths, generally in very inappropriate areas. But occasionally they will condescend to using the one under their coop platform, to humor me, I guess.

 

[Debbie292d]

FWIW I eventually retired my dust bath container as the ground my run sits on is largely sand and gravel and my flock prefers that.

When I did use the container I had a mix of sand, wood ash and Sulphur. Also hung a delicate garment mesh wash bag with Sulphur over the pop door such that the flock would brush it on their way in/out. Sulphur does kill mites & other pests just takes longer than permethrin etc.

We have a wood burner so use ash too. We'd all die waiting for DE to kill anything, but at least it keeps the bugs out of our cages and coops. I have permethrin here for the parrots, but never in all this time needed it for the chickens as the DE/ash kept them clear of them. These chickens all free range around wild birds, squirrels, chipmunks, etc. so it's quite amazing to me they've never had a mite.

 

[Cloverfluff]

My birds made it pretty plain that they prefer to dig their own dust baths, generally in very inappropriate areas. But occasionally they will condescend to using the one under their coop platform, to humor me, I guess.

Same, I have so many new holes scattered around my yard.

 

[Three Stents]

I'd recommend you skip the Diotomaeceous Earth, it's extremely bad for them and you to breathe. It's like asbestos to a bird's lungs.
It doesn't control or kill external or internal parasites, unfortunately .

Wrong, please do not post incorrect info. Food grade D-E is good for dust baths

 

[nuthatched]

Wrong, please do not post incorrect info. Food grade D-E is good for dust baths

No, it isn't. I have researched this pretty heavily, is not safe for your you or your especially your birds to breathe. It offers little benefits and the negatives are many, even in the food grade stuff
It's not a safe or eco friendly product, it's a product of strip mining.
The only reason people use it is because blogs and vlogs still parrot that it's a good product, misinforming thousands.
I recommend you look at peer reviewed scientific research, easily accessed through Research gateways online.

 

[nuthatched]

Food-grade diatomaceous earth does not contain asbestos and has less than 1% crystalline silica.

Our two macaw parrots have had it in their cages for over 20 years, and our chicken coops for nearing a decade.

I said *like* onto asbestos. It didn't it was.

The not subtle difference being, Parrots and the like don't roll face down in dust multiple times a day, they typically bathe in water.
I also imagine it was under the floor on the tray, where they couldn't reach it easily even had they wanted to.
Indoor birds cages also get cleaned regularly, due to the general filth that birds create.
Most indoor pets don't have issues with external or internal parasites to begin with anyway.

Indoor Aviary bird care can't be used to justify outdoor Fowl care, the two are very different. It's not really worth mentioning.

our chicken coops for nearing a decade.

We just make sure we nor the birds inhale it

Can I ask how are you making sure they 'don't inhale it' after you put them back in the coop after spreading it?
Chickens dig and dust constantly.
They don't get to wear masks and their respiratory system is so much more complex and delicate than yours.
The production of d.e also leaves massive yawning pits in the earth that won't heal for centuries and disproportionate amounts of pollution in the water and air of surrounding areas.

I can't reccomended against enough, their are better, safer ways to prevent and treat pests but whatever floats your goats.