When do you give them a dust bath and what do you use?

[Going Quackers]

Noticed my babies are mock dust bathing in their brooder( i know that is normal).. they are bedded on shavings. I am putting them outside now for a bit while there real coop is under construction but i was thinking of adding a dust bath in the outside area they are going in but a little confused on what age do you do it and what do you use? I have some DE.. to you just use a small container/box?

The chicks are 18/19 days old. Thanks!

 

[Life is Good!]

Ours dust bathed in whatever was convienent. So, when super little, shavings were the choice. When a bit bigger and out on the grass for a bit, grass was the option. Then, they discovered dirt. Wow! Who knew what pleasure a chick could have with dirt! I've had to fence off the compost, or I know they'd be all in that too!

What to use? Whatever's on hand. If you have some - a small box-lid of sand is fun for them. I've been using a lid off a ream of paper to hold fun stuff like this. Or perhaps plain potting soil (no vermiculite) or garden soil brought in from somewhere else in the yard. Then they get to hunt for bits. What bits? Nor sure, but mine peck at the stuff for hours! (Grit, pebbles, bugs, bug eggs, who knows?!)

 

[Adenium]

Mine started going crazy with the shavings too - I was thinking of getting a mix of sand and DE and wood ash and putting it in a small box. I bet they'll keep using the shavings just to spite me though.

 

[furbabymum]

Mine use plain ol' dirt and love it. The weird thing is they seem to want to dust bathe by the only opening to the dog run. It's like they enjoy torturing our dogs.

 

[Adenium]

Mine use plain ol' dirt and love it. The weird thing is they seem to want to dust bathe by the only opening to the dog run. It's like they enjoy torturing our dogs.

And people say chickens aren't smart.......

 

[HappyHenMama]

Don't use too much DE. It can be harmful in large amounts.

 

[RonC]

I took an old drawer from a kitchen remodel and filled it with sand and put it in their run. At first they would step over in it and peck a little at it. Then one got the idea and went to town with the dust bath. Scared all the others and then in the commotion scared her and then none would go near it. They would dust bath on the bare dirt but wanted nothing to do with the sand. Finally just poured the sand in the spot they always bathed in to fill the hole. On the DE I would just sprinkle a couple of handfuls where the dust bath. I have read where you can put in an old pair of stockings and dust them like a powder puff.

 

[Going Quackers]

What kind of sand? pretty sure i have some old playsand in the kids sand table from years ago. I know gentle on the DE it's dusty.

 

[RonC]

I've heard some say to use river sand. It contains a variety of particle sizes. I've heard that play sand is a carcinigen. I think the hazard is over stated though. For the poor guy working in the factory breathing it 10 hours a day it probably is a problem. I had a sandbox when I was a kid and 50 years later no problems.

 

[Going Quackers]

I've heard some say to use river sand. It contains a variety of particle sizes. I've heard that play sand is a carcinigen. I think the hazard is over stated though. For the poor guy working in the factory breathing it 10 hours a day it probably is a problem. I had a sandbox when I was a kid and 50 years later no problems.

River sand? where on earth would you get that? play sand is bad? maybe that is what's wrong with my kids(kidding!)