Would chickens like a children's sand box for dust baths?

[rod5591]

I built my chicken yard on top of an old gravel driveway. So its difficult for them to take dust baths--they can not penetrate the gravel, which goes down at least 4 to 6 inches. I thought I would place a child's sandbox into their yard, to allow them to dig down into the sand and toss it over themselves. I have a 3 foot by 3 foot raised garden bed I was going to place into their yard and fill with sand.

Does this sound like a good idea that would work? What are your thoughts?

 

[CapricornFarm]

Yes but it will need to be covered.

 

[Neggative]

yeah, i think that would be great...

 

[rod5591]

Yes but it will need to be covered.

How do you mean? If I covered it, how would the hens get in for their dust baths?

 

[Amylynn007]

How do you mean? If I covered it, how would the hens get in for their dust baths?

I believe they mean to keep it protected from the elements. Chickens won't want to bathe in wet sand.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I used a raised garden bed for a dust bath for a couple of years, and yes the main issue was that rain made it pretty unusable for stretches of time. I now have a covered kid's sandbox for a dust bath and it's much better and the bath stays completely dry - lid only comes off in good weather for dust bathing, lid goes back on for rain/snow.

 

[rod5591]

My chickens just ignore all of the nice white sand, even though it would be a great dust bath for them. I don't get it....