What to use for dust bath?

[TheAmundsons]

Hi! I'm just wondering what everyone uses for their dust bath, and why they chose that item. We're trying to see what the best option for us is! What are some pros and cons of the products you use? Also, where do you recommend putting the dust bath? Thanks!

 

[SueT]

Mine dig holes in the run and dust bathe in the dirt. They decide where.

 

[PirateGirl]

Give this a read...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-dustbathing.1170731/#post-18420250

 

[Creteloc]

I bought expensive pre-made chicken dust bath at IFA, and my chickens ignore it and dig holes in the ground of their run, the garden, around the fence and hot tub. They make their own dust bath out of just regular old dirt in the yard.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Hi! I'm just wondering what everyone uses for their dust bath, and why they chose that item. We're trying to see what the best option for us is! What are some pros and cons of the products you use? Also, where do you recommend putting the dust bath? Thanks!

My chickens showed me what they wanted. They love soft, powdery dirt. When I let them out to free range, they make a beeline for this one spot next to the coop. They've dug out a huge hole almost 6 inches deep, they spend a good hour or so dust bathing in it.

My bantam's coop floor is dirt, they love to dust bathe in corners and up against the wall.

Pros to soft dirt: it's free! My chickens love it!

Cons to soft dirt: Your white chickens are almost always dirty other than that I really haven't had a bad experience with dirt.

I'm going to try river sand later this year, I can let you know how it goes.

 

[TheAmundsons]

That actually makes so much sense...our chickens have dug 3 holes in their run, and I couldn't figure out why. They don't have a dust bath at the moment, so I'm sure that's what they were doing! My mind was just blown! Haha thanks so much! Maybe we'll just have to loosen up the dirt in the run for them a little bit (it's really hard and cracked, so I as planning to do that anyway!).

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Mine dig holes in the run and dust bathe in the dirt. They decide where.

X2

Some spots look like moon craters

 

[TheAmundsons]

Hahaha! Our holes ren't quite that big! And they seem to be digging at the edges of the run, so at first we thought it was a predator or something that had gotten in the run! Then we kept an eye on them and saw they were the culprits! They have been digging where the dirt is softer, so this makes so much sense. They're definitely long overdue for a proper dust bath!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Mine dig holes in the run and dust bathe in the dirt. They decide where.

X2
Mine do too...they make the holes. I have added pine needles/leaves and ash to the run and over time that has broken down to make a nice loose dry dirt. (this is under cover)

Wet parts of the run, I periodically turn the dirt and sometimes add ash. They just dig a hole where they want.

And yep...white chickens+dirt bath=dingy chickens

 

[PirateGirl]

That actually makes so much sense...our chickens have dug 3 holes in their run, and I couldn't figure out why. They don't have a dust bath at the moment, so I'm sure that's what they were doing! My mind was just blown! Haha thanks so much! Maybe we'll just have to loosen up the dirt in the run for them a little bit (it's really hard and cracked, so I as planning to do that anyway!).

When the dirt in my run gets hard-packed I will take a pick to it and break up the top few inches a bit. The girls love it. They make new dust bath spots, they scratch around, they find worms and bugs they couldn't get to before, it also helps with waste management/composting in the run as well.