UPDATE: *with pics* The Bathing Experiment - Dirt or Sand?

[WCHomestead]

We put two bags of sand in one of our runs and they simply ate it with no bathing. After we "mucked" out the other run after our snow and ice events we put down grass seed, peat moss and covered it with straw. They have been having a ball in the dry part of the run bathing in the peat moss (and finding all of the grass seed-so no grass). So, looks like we'll be putting in a peat moss bath in the other run too!

 

[WCHomestead]

After putting the sand in a container, they have now decided it is appropriate to bathe in! They still eat a lot of it, but it seems to make them happy when it is not in a pile on the ground!

 

[chick-adee]

My chickens like really really fine dry dust to bathe in. They can deal with dirt but they hate sand.

 

[pollodelbambino]

Love this experiment!!

 

[yellowchicks]

Our girls love the sand dust bath. It is 2 parts sand, 1 part DE, and 1 part wood ash in a large concrete mixing tub. If they can't get to their dust bath, then they would dig a dirt hole in the yard instead.