What do you suggest for dustbathing

A couple people here have mentioned sand. I've found that if I turn up dirt with a shovel or dump dirt from somewhere else, the chickens run right over and have a ball in it!

 

In my coop I use a wooden wine box half filled with play sand. The girls love it. In the summer they like to make their own dust bath area under the lilac bush and dust with the dirt and soil under there.

 

Our chickens like our garden but that is off limits now, also we have a pine tree with a lot of sand near by they enjoy, but they will find just about anywhere to dustbathe, they found a spot along the fence line and have dug a hole that they all share, you just never know where or what will attract them.

 

We use Sand, Food Grade DE and wood chips. I have pics here.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5015&p=2

Our birds don't dig in the yard. They go into the hen house and dust bathe in the pool!

 

While I was in China I would see chickens dust bathing in old and new fire pits.

 

My chickens dust bath the good ol' fashioned way. they especially love the dirt next to the house foundation, and have loosened up all the dirt, and made a few holes. They like that spot, cause it gets the most sunshine during the day! they are quite content. If I was to make something, they wouldnt use it. here are some pics of them doing what they do best.

 

A chicken will take a dust bath anyplace there is some dirt. They will dig around to loosen up the hardest clay on my property if that is the spot they want. Others like to go down by the pond where there is some sand. The next day the ones in the clay will be by the pond and those from the pond area will be in the clay. Buying them special sand is paying for something they don't need, get them some grass clippings from the kid mowing a lawn. Give the kid the money you would've paid for the sand. This will make both the chickens and the kid happy. Feed range them and let chickens be chickens, they will make themselves happy.

 

I buy play sand at home depot.$3.50 abag(50 lbs) They love it!! Merry

 

I also use food grade DE, play sand, and garden soil. The girls add pine shavings as they see fit.