Winter Dusting

[AEG]

Hello. I have a new flock of 5 Sex-Link Brown layers. We live in northern Alberta Canada. We have created a coop with good ventilation and a large outdoor run. Both have wood chip floors. My question is in the winter when snow gets deep and we have prolonged periods of -30C I anticipate my girls will spend more time indoors. Do you typically keep a dust bath inside your coop for them to use in the winter?

 

[DiYMama540]

If you have room for it inside the coop I'm sure the girls would appreciate it!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello. I have a new flock of 5 Sex-Link Brown layers. We live in northern Alberta Canada. We have created a coop with good ventilation and a large outdoor run. Both have wood chip floors. My question is in the winter when snow gets deep and we have prolonged periods of -30C I anticipate my girls will spend more time indoors. Do you typically keep a dust bath inside your coop for them to use in the winter?

In my old set up, I kept a very large tote of peat moss, wood ash and some soil in a sheltered area of the run. Obviously, they make a huge mess when dust bathing. Your coop would be a huge mess if they regularly dust bathed in there.

ETA: I kept the dust bath in the run, not the coop.

 

[aart]

Do you typically keep a dust bath inside your coop for them to use in the winter?

I did, they barely used it...quit putting it in there after a couple years.
I have a 4x8 sheltered area in the run(under the coop), it stays dry thus unfrozen and they can dust bathe there all year round.

Is your run covered with a solid roof?
Pics of your coop and run might garner more suggestions.

Oh, and ....Welcome to BYC! @AEG
Thanks for stating your location.
here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[chickens really]

I have sand in my Run and it's covered in hardware cloth plus a tarp. In winter I wrap my Run in vapour barrier plastic.