What to put in dust bath??

[Henny0831]

We’re going to make our chickens a dust bath and was wondering what do you all use? I’ve read conflicting things on using play sand and DE. We were planning on mixing play sand with dry dirt with a little DE. Does this sound right? Any one NOT suggest using DE? Thanks!!

I’ve also read about using certain herbs?

 

[chickenlittle21]

I use just DE and my chickens love it.

 

[DobieLover]

We’re going to make our chickens a dust bath and was wondering what do you all use? I’ve read conflicting things on using play sand and DE. We were planning on mixing play sand with dry dirt with a little DE. Does this sound right? Any one NOT suggest using DE? Thanks!!

I’ve also read about using certain herbs?

DE is a respiratory irritant. I'd never put it in the dust bath.
Plain dry dirt or dry dirt mixed with peat moss and/or wood ash is a nice mix.

 

[Henny0831]

I use just DE and my chickens love it.

Thank you for the feedback!

 

[Henny0831]

DE is a respiratory irritant. I'd never put it in the dust bath.
Plain dry dirt or dry dirt mixed with peat moss and/or wood ash is a nice mix.

Thanks! We actually can’t find any DE right now so I guess it’s not an issue

 

[chicklove14]

we do ashes from the fire pit and play sand

 

[Henny0831]

we do ashes from the fire pit and play sand

Thank you! We actually wanted to add play sand but there was a mix up and we ended up getting all purpose sand. Any thoughts on all purpose? I’ve read different things about it being ok for chickens because of the silica.

 

[tralfaz]

I've also had trouble identifying which sand has xtalline silica. Currently we are using equal parts of sand, ash and dirt

 

[aart]

Nix the DE.
Just plain dirt is fine.

 

[BoCRon]

I think it depends on your dirt. I’m in Georgia so my dirt is red clay. It compacts into a concrete consistency so I generally need to add sand and such to get a better dust bath.