won't use dust bath

[janetk]

how can i get my chickens to use the dust bath i've provided them in their coop? i'm dealing with mites so i made them a dust bath with sand, DE and carbaryl. they won't use it. i then added some dirt and still no go. any ideas?

 

[SpringChickens]

You can dust them with sevin dust to get rid of mites, too. I don't think you can "force" them to use a dust bath.

 

[turtlebird]

I am dealing with this very same thing! The ladies are in a tractor/elec. poultry netting that I move around the backyard....there is a lack of bare ground for them to dust in. I put some dirt in a large galv. wash tub, thinking they would LOVE it.....nope

So, I dumped the dirt/sand on the ground near the base of a tree and they are loving that!

I guess that means I am going to have strange little piles of sand all over in my back yard! Oh well.
Good luck.