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

[DazeGoneBy]

I've read on here to put sand in for dirt baths. We currently have "river sand" in the run, which I think will drain rain away nicely, but with the bigger gravel than "play sand" is not condusive to chicken baths.

When we let them out to free range, they run right to my flowerbeds and take a dirt bath. So, I'm confused...do they want fine sand, or dirt, to bathe in?

So, I will scrape up a corner of their run and put in play sand. BUT, I will also get a big 10 gallon plastic tub and fill it 3/4 full of potting soil and put that in their run. Hubby is worried if I put dirt down in the corner of the run, it will just wash away/turn to mud, so keeping it conained in the tub is a better idea.

I will mix both with DE to make for a nice mite-busting bath.

I will report back with pics. on which the chicks prefer...dirt or sand.

Please let me know if I should be using something other than potting soil...

 

[flowergirl60]

My girls love peat moss.

 

[JackE]

My chickens MUCH PERFER to dust bathe in dirt, than sand. We have the same problem as you, with the chickens going where we don't want them to go. Outside of fencing them out of the vegetable garden, We gave up on the rest of the yard. Unless you keep them penned up (I don't want to do that) or fence all your flower gardens, This is part of the joy of chickens.
Jack

 

[DazeGoneBy]

Hubby just called from Home Depot...he was reading the contents off the bag of potting soil and it seems it is mostly made up of chicken poo and cow manure.

So, Peet Moss it is! Thanks, Flowergirl60!

 

[SC-ChickMom]

You could also add the ashes from a fire or the grill. I use hardwood coals for grilling. Those can go in the mix. Poultry Mag had a 1pt ashes, 1 part sand, 1 part de, 1 part soil/peat moss for a dust bath recipe.

 

[DazeGoneBy]

Quote:
Thanks so much, ChickMom.

Now, I'm wanting to get all scientific-y and put out all 3 and see what they go for.

I'll report back.

Science! Hey....this might make a great experiment for my son's 4th grade science fair.

 

[Farmerboy16]

I had put a tub of wood ash in the hen house in the winter, they love taking their baths in it.

 

[DazeGoneBy]

OK...
Here are the materials:

First step is take off the run cover so we can get in there:

Scrape out the corner, and put a piece of wood for separation from the river sand. This is about 4 inches deep - goes down to the chicken wire we put under the concrete footing:

Here is a comparison of river sand vs. play sand:

Now, fill a tub with pete moss:

Sprinkle everything with food grade diatomaceous earth (DE):

Put it all back together and let the girls in. They voted with their feet! Pete Moss wins.

Maybe they just haven't seen the play sand yet? I'll keep watching!

 

[citychickx6]

What an interesting experiment. So far here mine head to the spot with the soil and won't even consider dust bathing in sand. I know what they are getting next.... a "bathtub" of pete moss.

Thank you for the information.

 

[DazeGoneBy]

After 3 days, I report back that they spend a majority of their time in the dirt bath (peat moss). Just hanging out. They absolutely love it. So much so, that I feel guilty I didn't put one in sooner!

Play sand still being ignored.