Winter Dust Baths

[SilkieNation]

I have two baby pools in the coop, one with sand and one with leaf compost. They love them. I also store some contractor bags of the compost for a change some months in. The sand is easily scooped with a kitty litter scoop.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Oh Gosh yes. They'll love it in the winter and a very good idea as parasites like to look for nice cozy down to snuggle in for the winter.
I got one of those galvanized tubs setting in the run. Inside the tub is dry sand from our drive way washouts and ashes from my parent's fireplace. Blended real good together. I have in the past done a sprinkling of Diatomaceous earth in the dust baths but now I kind of wonder about them inhaling that stuff while they are dusting. So I quit doing it. Just saw a few warnings about it.

You can buy those tubes of sand that they use for weight in pick up trucks in the winter. Pretty cheap. And ashes...if you don't burn wood, build a bonfire and get some there. I think the pH of the fresh ashes (especially hardwoods) can be nasty on parasites as well as dessicating and smothering them. Good Idea. And plus its just such a natural instinctive behavior of chickens to have it available to them is really treating them with their behavior needs.

 

[aart]

@Bogtown Chick's got the farnorthwinterwonderland for chickens right there!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

@Bogtown Chick's got the farnorthwinterwonderland for chickens right there!

It sounds so nice the way you say it aart! But actually their coop is nearing zero tonight . Winter wonderland testing those feathers!

 

[aart]

It sounds so nice the way you say it aart! But actually their coop is nearing zero tonight . Winter wonderland testing those feathers!

Lots of space that is protected from wind and snow....stuff to climb on and dust bathe in...deep bedding to scratch thru. Looks pretty wonderful to me, way better than this:

 

[Leahs Mom]

@aart
Dang. That makes me cold just looking at it. (I was trying to forget winter.)

 

[aart]

@aart
Dang. That makes me cold just looking at it. (I was trying to forget winter.)

Am trying to get used to the idea....first dusting of snow on the ground this morn, did chores in sweatshirt and gloves at 22F.

 

[Molpet]

Am trying to get used to the idea....first dusting of snow on the ground this morn, did chores in sweatshirt and gloves at 22F.

and I am south of you and it was 17f .. why am I so lucky to be colder than Michigan?

 

[aart]

and I am south of you and it was 17f .. why am I so lucky to be colder than Michigan?

Am only 15 miles from the big lake, can buffer the cold this time of year.

 

[Molpet]

Am only 15 miles from the big lake, can buffer the cold this time of year.

umm that means you get more lake effect snow than I do... I do not want that LOL