Winter Dust Bath

[RoosterML]

So a couple days ago I decided the chooks needed a nice place to take a dust bath during the winter. Kids no longer use the Turtle sand box so I figured great that will do just fine.. NOT..what a mess.
My mixture includes:
2- 50 lb bags of play sand
1- 3/4 full 5 gallon pail of wood Ash from stove
1- 5 gallon pail of organic soil. Yes I bought a bag everything around here is soaking wet, besides it was on sale for $3
1-cup food grade DE , that's all I had left.
Mixed it all in a cement mixer, placed inside chicken coop in the turtle.
Took 2 days of checking it out and Bam the mess began. Soil flying everywhere.
At one point both Roosters and 2 hens were in at once.
So I went to Home Depot and picked up a 55 gallon tote to try to keep things more contained. I'll have to see if the chooks like it but I know I will if it keeps the coop clean. Here's a picture of them in action.

In with the new tote, them checking it out:

It's tough to see but the Black boss rooster is inside the tub checking it out in this last photo.

Should give them a nice unfrozen place this winter.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Dust baths are always a hit no matter the time of year.

 

[MissChick@dee]

What a nice Rooster-dad you are. You know they are just so happy with that. Not to mention healthier. Mine really go for miracle grow soil.
Good job

 

[RoosterML]

What a nice Rooster-dad you are. You know they are just so happy with that. Not to mention healthier. Mine really go for miracle grow soil.
Good job

I bought the organic stuff because I didn't want them in fertilizer or whatever other stuff they put in there.
Reading the label it contains "poultry litter" as one of the ingredients. It got me to thinking that what if where they get there poulry litter from they have some disease let's say like Mereks. I wonder what if any precautions they use for that?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use a turtle as well, and yes they kick and throw peat moss everywhere, but that's normal. Mine's out in the run so there's no need to contain the mess.

 

[itsy gritsy]

I bought the organic stuff because I didn't want them in fertilizer or whatever other stuff they put in there.
Reading the label it contains "poultry litter" as one of the ingredients. It got me to thinking that what if where they get there poulry litter from they have some disease let's say like Mereks. I wonder what if any precautions they use for that?

I can only offer speculated comfort, sorry. If it says composted poultry litter you are better off than with straight poultry litter. As litter goes through the composting process the temperature raises to levels that kill some bacteria and other microbes.
I can't speak to the brands practices...but hopefully a company that big is doing what many nurseries are choosing to do to prevent spread of disease in their compost and that is heat treating the soil/steaming it. I have worked at a couple of nurseries but only one steamed the soil before using it for potting new nursery stock. It is likely in some states this is regulated, but where I have lived I think it isn't yet.

 

[Col1948]

I just got a big turtle too, I got it last night, put a mix of peat and sand in, I don't think they know what it's for to be honest, so will wait and see.

Col.

 

[RoosterML]

I just got a big turtle too, I got it last night, put a mix of peat and sand in, I don't think they know what it's for to be honest, so will wait and see.

Col.

They will figure it out soon enough. I am glad I switched to the tote it cut down on the mess. They are in it 2 sometimes 3 at a time.
If you can add wood Ash luckily I have a wood furnace. Great pesticide and safe.