clucking mad Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 what happens if you dont have anything for the chickens to dustbath in? is there an alternative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 they will dig holes in the run floor usually just where you can step into them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Some ideas for a dustbath *here* for you to try out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safari chick Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Hi - I've bought a cat litter tray as recommended by another omletarian - the only thing is I dont know what to put in it. On another part of the omlet forum it said soil and white sand is recommended with a touch of red mite powder so they treat themselves regularly. Can anyone tell me where I get white sand? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 you could use play sand (not builders sand though). Or you could use compost, garden earth, or a mixture of all of them in the dustbath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1974 Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 go to wicks or b&q and look for kiln dried or block paving sand its much finer ours love it.and its cheep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safari chick Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Eggsellent - thanks I'll do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Mine ignored the cat litter tray with compost and play sand so they now just make their own in the middle of their run . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 we bought a special tray so they could dust bath in the run, but all they did was eat it. They dust bath when they free range, usually in a large planter (that has a plant still in it!) or they seem to have adopted a particular spot at the edge of the lawn that was very mossy (was being the operative word). Thinking about creating "sand pit" type area there for them that I can cover when they're not using it to keep it relatively dry. I'll ask the girls what they think (one cluck for yes, 2 for no ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We've got a flat tyre tub trug for ours filled will play sand... they never touch it , they prefer to excavate around the posts in run and give me heart attacks that they are going to escape.... At first i thought it was a fox that had got in and tried to dig it's way out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I've got an old enamelled (very vintage looking) tub with handles (OK, just one handle left). I fill it with potting compost and ash from my log burner... they lurve it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 would an old butler sink do?? could I sink it down in the earth so it's lower? what do you think? (thinking in new larger run hubby's building) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 That would be brilliant, if you keep it dry, so out of the rain, they will love to dustbathe in it when the rest of the garden or run is damp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 the run will have a roof so hopefully it should stay dry, but I have this sink and thought..ooohhhhhh!!!!! I think it would stand the test of time quite well. right that's another thing I dont have to think about. I have a smaller square one aswell that I can either keep in the run and they can have the larger in the garden somewhere or vice versa. I will do both! They are just sitting there unused at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Crikey! You're lucky to have two of them... I'll take them off your hands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 , hubby got them from a skip at work, they were ripping them out, (he's a carpenter.) he didn't like to see them getting broken up. I will see if he has more if you'd like, if I get a spare I will let you know. I know we past some to my father, so I will check if he's using his, he wasn't last time I looked. Whats the best dirt/sand/dust that they like??? anything?? or do they have a preference ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 That'd be great loopyloo :D I would happily pay something for it/them. I'm always rooting through skips, but never find anything that nice! I do have one butler's sink (used as my herb garden) which I nabbed when they were stripping out the basement at work. They like anything loose and dry, garden earth is fine and is full of bugs that they like to look for. I usually use some spare potting compost and some ash from the log burner (the latter is as fine as talc and they come out looking all grey!). It's quite a good idea to put some Diatom or red mite powder in it as it helps to keep them lice free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 thanks, I didn't know about ash from the log burner, I have a log burner... I knew about the red mite powder in the dust bath and have checked and it's already in the mail system so should be with me asap. Thinking about it, I gave some sinks to my brother aswell.. I will have a look around. Leave it with me. So my white Sugar will come out very mucky.. bless her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 My white japanese bantam has been burrowing in the borders and is now a delicate shade of mud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxBaz Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 As the girls get a lot more free ranging time during the weekend/holidays than during the week, I really enjoy watching them in their dustbath ritual during those days. During the week they get about an hour out free ranging and have never noticed them dustbathing then - I don't always have their litter tray in the run as it is so blimin difficult to get it in and of the cube run in a dry/protected area daily where they don't tip it over, but should I? Is dust bathing a daily ritual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 My white japanese bantam has been burrowing in the borders and is now a delicate shade of mud! aww dont you just love them!. Claret - I have checked and we did have more sinks but one got broken in the house move, and we've given lots away, BUT hubby says he's always seeing them at work and will get you one the next time he sees one.. ok? I told him to NEVER leave them - probably regret telling him this, I will live in a house of butler sinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 That's great thanks Loopy Loo - I'll take as many as he can find... my van is BIG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
