Wood Ash for mite/lice control

[Pets Galore]

We recently installed a outdoor wood burning furnace. When my son cleans out the ash he puts it in a large pile in front of the furnace. When it has cooled down I place it in a large covered container to save to spread on top of the dust baths they have created around our yard. I just recently read that when the ash gets wet it turns into lye. Is it dangerous for the chickens to bathe in it after it rains and then dries Also, sometimes the ash gets wet from rain before I can add it to my container. Does that make it unsafe to use once it has dried?

 

[gimmie birdies]

I don't know about that, but you can use diatomaceous earth for dust baths and can mix 1 cup or so into their feed bag if they ingest it it helps prevent lice.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Maybe keep it in a covered area so that it isn't getting wet?
I mix the wood Ash with soil and sand so that they are bathing in more than just wood Ash. It is kept in a low bucket of sorts under their coop where it can stay dry. I keep the ash in a container in the shed so I can use it throughout the season. But, I don't put it in there until it is cooled. We only use what comes out of our wood stove. So, it is cooled before I move it.

 

[m1chelle1]

I'm no expert on this, but you can run water through wood ash to get lye for Soap, which then goes on our bodies (and we do fine with those smaller quantities..)....but I couldn't imagine that the lye would be hazardous for the chickens, in that ammount. I think, if anything, when the ash (on the ground) gets wet, the lye would flow downward in the direction of the water, and would either go into the soil or serve as runoff in the water. I'd imaging that a small amount would stay in the general area, but I personally don't think the chickens develop any issues. I mean, if their feathers start falling off, might wanna investigate. Obviously you don't want to get to that point. Id ask you-
1. How long have you been putting the wood ash in their dust bath areas?
2. Have you observed any ill affect to their skin or feathers since doing so?
That might be a good place to start. If you've been doing this for a while and no ill result- odds are the chickens will be fine.
I'd be interested to see if anyone else had any input.....

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I keep my dust bathing in a kiddie pool under an old awning to keep it dry.

I put the ash on top of sand and soil. In my rainy Oregon, I have not had any trouble with the occasional blow in rain causing lye build up and irritation.

But yes, a bucket of ash left to sit in water will create lye that can burn skin. Soap making was very noxious back in the day.

The other poster made a good point about leeching the lye away if the ash is on the ground.

I've wondered about that too.

Lofmc

 

[aart]

mix 1 cup or so into their feed bag if they ingest it it helps prevent lice

Ehhh...I don't think so, DE won't do much even if applied externally.
Putting DE in feed will kill any grain mites that are in feed.

Even wood ash in dust bath may not deter an infestation of lice or mites,
be sure to check your birds regularly for external parasites.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would not be at all concerned about it. I put ash on my lawn and on my garden all the time. If it ever became that Basic, it would kill all of the plant life. It will kill iris and other acid lovers, but only b/c it changes the pH of the soil so it is not to their liking!

 

[gimmie birdies]

Read the diatomaceous bag.

 

[Pets Galore]

Thank you all for your input. I know the ash does not get wet after it is put in my collection bucket (and it is dry when I put it in), so my main concern was after I spread it in their dusting areas and then it gets rained on is it safe (these are holes they have created around the yard)? *However, I like the reasoning behind the water running off any lye that may have been created!
I do use diatomaceous earth as a dewormer (I mix it in with cornmeal), and also rub it on roost poles and in the nest boxes to deter mites.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The lye in wood ashes is what makes ashes such a good amendment to chickens' dust bath. This is especially true when lice attack your birds. Besides lye is basically nothing but Baking Soda and lye is used in a 101 ways to produce and improve the food we eat. Especially corn flour, taco flour, hominy, and hominy grits.