Wood ash in coop

[abhaya]

Can I use wood ask in my coop instead of DE? I use a wood stove in the house for heat so I have a ton on ash. I dump it in a pile outside the chickens love rolling around in it. Will it work like DE in the coop?

 

[Judy]

I'd guess the problem with your question is there is such a variety of opinions about DE on here. Read the threads linked in the FAQs and you will see what I mean.

 

[rockinpaints]

I wouldn't. Wood ash is actually lye, I don't think it is safe for them. Does anyone else know about wood ash and lye (you can actually make soap from wood ash lye)

 

[dianaross77]

Lots of people put wood ashes out for their chicken to dust bathe in.

 

[can you hear me now?]

Quote:
By wetting wood ashes you can beach lye from them. To do this in a barrel you would fill.it with hay and pack it down really well. Then at the top you pour water into the ashes and have a hole cut at the bottom of the barrel. Supposed to be the lye that exits the barrel in the water. That is how I read it anyway.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I've seen some "recipes" for creating a contained dust bath than contain, at least in part, wood ash. The warning was not to use charcoal ash.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Wood ash from a wood stove is fine for chickens! It's what all old farmers use to put in the runs to keep bugs off their birds. I would not put it in the coop but the outside runs where they can fluff around in it. Make sure you have let it cool off well.

 

[abhaya]

I keep my ash from the stove inmetal buckets for a week before I dump it so I am sure it is cool. I will dump some in the run and see if they like it.