Using wood ashes??

[Dixiedoodle]

I made a dust bath for my chickens, using ash from my wood stove and a little DE.. I noticed that the ashes have a few chunks of wood that didn't completely burn up...Some are as large as a golf ball....Should I take them all out??? Will it hurt my girls?? Thanks Dixie

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

We have a wood heater and stove and I always throw ashes in my compost pile or mix in flower pots. Never thought of letting the chickens dust in it....

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I use wood ash but mines usually all burnt so might be a good idea to screen out the bigger chunks. I add DE to mine too!

 

[elmo]

Yes, I remember reading that you should sift out the big wood chips because these can damage your bird's feathers.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I read that it's good for controlling mites and other pests, my girls seem to love it.. I'll screen out the chunks tomorrow...Thanks

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree. I do the same thing my ashes go into my compost piles too. I guess when the colder weather comes and we fire up I will have to save the ashes for the birds.

 

[Waldo]

I read in a poultry magazine to put a layer of wood ashes under whatever you use for nesting material. I have some in my guinea nests and plan to add it to the chicken nests as we use our wood heater this winter. The ashes are supposed to keep mites etc. off of hens. I'm thinking it is good to use for broody hens, as they sit for three weeks on the same nesting materials.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I knew I would be getting chickens this summer so, I saved the last ashes --I just left them in the stove.. LOL They are clean and very nice...

 

[Kansaseq]

What do you put your wood ash IN? If I put it on the ground, it just disappears.

Also, my girls seem to love dust bathing in their coop shavings, so I put DE or Sevin in them.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I have my ashes in a plastic container used to mix cement in..but a short Rubbermaide type tote would work as well.