What to use for dust bath box??

[RockyToggRanch]

What do you think works best for a winter dust bath box inside the coop? What type of sand do you suggest?

My flock free ranges and they have their favorite sand holes all summer. Last year I scooped up some of that sand and put it in a box, but I never saw one use it.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

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[eggsrcool]

For some reason a cat litter tray came to mind? This would be my first choice to use

 

[RockyToggRanch]

will they go into a covered box to dust bathe? Straight DE or mixed with something?

 

[catwalk]

My birds like to dust bathe in their feed

 

[RockyToggRanch]

How do they do that? My feeder is a gravity thingy and I use crumbles. Never occured to me(or them I guess) to roll in it.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

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[Megs]

i have heard that pete moss mixed with mite powder (that way they dust themselves) works, have yet to try it myself, though now that my runs are soaked their dust holes are hooped, ill have to give them something soon.

 

[ginaseven]

I use a cat litter box with play sand. I swear I have to fill it 2 times a week, they wait in line to get in it.

 

[gsim]

I did one outside using twelve cinder blocks end-end in a horshoe shape, around a young 8" dia oak tree. I piled up dirt, compost (which chooks love) fine sand, and DE. Mixed well and they are in it every day exc when it rains. I have a 12 x 24 x 6" deep post office poly tray that I use indoors. They walk in it a lot but I never saw one in it yet to wallow. They do not ever poop in it tho. Could be that on long rainy spells they will start to use it. The outside one is raised and on a 5:1 grade, so it does dry very well. I chose a spot that is shady in hot weather and sunny in cool weather. They love the outside one.