Talk to me about dust baths

[LaurelC]

My run is 12x12 and covered. My soil is pure superfine sand with nearly no organic matter. If necessary, I will put something in for them to dust bathe in, but if not, I'd prefer to let them to pick their favorite place and do their thing. Is it necessary to designate an area and provide specific media for them to dust bathe in? Will it do the trick?

 

[sourland]

Sandy soil will do the trick. No need to get fancy .

 

[eviemethugh]

Yours sounds fine. Ours usually just dig a hole in the grass and go to town. You can watch them and see if they like the sand. If not try something else. They will probably just go with what they have. Babies in brooders dust bathe in pine shavings all the time. They just do with what they have.

 

[aart]

You can designate a special area,
and put all the 14 different wonderful things often recommended in it......
....and they will ignore it and dig their own dust hole

 

[chickengeorgeto]

You can designate a special area,
and put all the 14 different wonderful things often recommended in it......
....and they will ignore it and dig their own dust hole

And besides that.... if you look quick enough you may catch your rooster making crude and rude hand jesters at you..... Seriously, I don't see how chickens ever evolved without a human holding their hand.