Soil-less potting mix for dust bath?

[notsooldmcdonald]

Hi all-

I just read a post in another area where the poster suggested putting a pile of dirt in the run for a dust bath. This got me thinking. I have several bags of dry, dusty, soil-less potting mix. It's predominantly coconut coir. Would this material be safe for dust bathing?


-Christian

 

[azelgin]

It has to be better than dried mule poop, which is what our prefer to bath in.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:

 

[shelleyd2008]

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[JennsPeeps]

Your chickens would love LOVE that potting soil!

 

[patandchickens]

I know someone who puts a bale of peat, with an opening cut in the top, into the coop in winter. The chickens dustbathe in it and gradually scratch the peat out into the bedding, which is then peat-enriched once it hits the compost pile in spring.

I would think this would be awfully dusty, and am not keen on the profligate use of peat resources, but am told it works and the chickens like it. No reason that I can see that coconut coir should be any different. Dunno about potting soil mixes. I don't think you're going to find actual safety info

, just have to go with your gut on this one!

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[debnla]

My 3 month old chicks are eating it right now-hope it’s ok....it’s coconut coir potting soil. It’s pretty fine like peat moss and I put some out in a low 20” pot for them to dust bathe in but so far they are just eating it. We’ll see if they are ok...