Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[Gallina]

While looking up lice in relation to a question elsewhere, I found several references to encouraging hens to have a dust bath in wood ash, because it was an excellent preventative.

 

Has anyone tried wood ash in their run? I get quite a lot of it and use it on my plants at the moment, but I lilke the idea of using it in the run instead. Would it get very damp and unpleasant, or would it help keep the run dry?

[WitchHazel]

I use wood ash as one of the main components of my Girls' dustbath though.I have a large shallow tubtrug, and they love to bathe together.

 

I'm not sure about putting it in the Run though, it would be very messy and would turn everything silvery grey I would have thought.

[Gallina]

I think you are probably right. It was just wishful thinking.

 

I will put a heap of ash outside the run next time the hens are out and see if they like it. I may need to make a dustbath inside the run for them, as my soil which is normally light and sandy has got very compacted in this wet weather.

[Helen&Lee]

I have used wood & coal ash in their dustbath area in their run, they love it

Bit scary looking when they emerge from the dustbath though

 

Helen

[Gallina]

I just had a thought: if hens like ash so much, everyone must take extreme care after a garden bonfire to keep the hens away from the ashes.... They stay hot for many hours after a big bonfire.

[chickenanne]

Mine aren't that keen - would rather dust-bathe in the flower beds. Mine do like to eat it though, which apparantly is perfectly OK and nothing to do with deficeincies or wahtever. Admitedly, mine do have odd tastes - won't touch any green vegetables (other than grass), HATE tomatoes, etc.

[muzzie]

Mine have a dust bath equal parts wood ash, DE & play sand in a plastic litter tray it is in the run under the shade so that it is kept dry. They also do eat it.