kellygreaseball Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I know chickens are supposed to have dustbaths, but what do we actually put in it? We've bought some of that Diatomaceous Earth... But we dont really know what we have to add it to? I mean do we just mix it withs some compost or something? Help! Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Firstly, welcome aboard Kelly! Watching your chooks dustbathe is one of the best sights ever! There are many things you can put in a dustbath but personally i use a shallow tubtrug and fill it with compost and add in a little redmite powder to make it smell nice You can add ashes from the fire (if you have an open fire) and i know the chooks love that, however they do look very grey afterwards If you let your chooks free range in the garden im sure they will find their own spot in which to bathe - a flowerpot, flowerbed or among your favourite flowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 My flower beds are empty at the mo and my chooks take full advantage of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 We initially used a large flower pot with a mix of play sand and soil. they IGNORED this and picked my flower beds . Fortunately they now use the bare grass area under our trampoline. The ground is often warmer there I suppose and a bigger area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 We initially used a large flower pot with a mix of play sand and soil. they IGNORED this and picked my flower beds . Yep, same with my girls, went out and bought a cat litter tray and play sand, it's been in their run for about a month now. Have they touched it? Have they nelly! They much prefer to scratch up the grass and have a good wriggle on the soil instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Mine have scratched a dry patch underneath the children's slide! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Mine have always steadfastly ignored any of my offerings. They love a particular patch in a sunny corner of their area. I put the diatom in the nestbox with the Aubiose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I also use a tubtrug with playsand and red mite powder and a bit of diatom. My two love it - they're in there most days throwing it all out again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I use a shallow tubtrug which has a mixture of playsand, compost and woodash in. I also added some Diatom and Stalosan, and a bit of Aubiose. My girls love it and spend ages bathing or showering, both individually and communally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Only had my 5 girlies for two days - bought them a nice orange tubtrug to match the cube and haven't yet figured out what to put in, soil or sand. But hey, three of them have already made their own dustbaths........they've dug out huge holes in the run! Can't wait to let them out on Sunday afternoon, I bet they go straight for the fir tree which has lovely soil at the base. Got all the Diatomaceous ready with the treats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
