New Girl Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong area. How do you make a dust bath, I mean what do you use? I have a largeish shallow bowl and my husband has brought home some sand (builders for making cement), I'm not sure what else goes in and is my sand the right/wrong kind, it's very orange?! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Hi New Girl You need play sand, the sort that goes into sand pits, B&Q sell it. I wouldn't use builders sand. I use a mix of half play sand and half cheap garden potting compost, mixed together in a large shallow earthenware flower pot or you could use a washing up bowl or shallow tub trug. Add a generous sprinkling of mite power and/or diatomous earth (sp!!) which should help them keep the bugs away Don't be surprised if they ignore it at first though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Hi New Girl You can use soil or ash mixtures and if using sand use the Playsand. I just use sand mixed with some red mite powder (to make it smell nice). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Don't be surprised if they ignore it at first though or eat it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Mine have a shallow tubtrug full of compost. They would rather have a hole in the ground though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Mine seem to eat it, although they did use it as a dust bath as well It seemed to slowly disappear over the week I must admit it is empty in their run at the moment - I have been emptying a flower bed of heathers - the girls have discovered it. Pretty much made their own dust baths - they will hate me when I replant it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Even though mine free range and have 2 enormous craters in the flower bed, I still have a dustbath permanently in the run for when they are locked in. I use an old plastic box and dry garden earth and that's it. If I have some DE (diatomous earth) I sometimes put some in. But not an essential to rush out and buy. Obvious, I know, but make sure the dust bath is placed under cover out of the rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Morris Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 This picture could have been taken in my garden today! All mine are having a good old dust bath under some bushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane 20 Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 OH found a wooden frame - 3' x 2' and we fill it with earth and some compost and put it in a corner of the run . They still prefer the asparagus bed though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Girl Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 Thank you all for your replies. I'll ditch the sand then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Mine have a large shallow tub trug with 1/2 play sand, 1/2 compost and a good few scoops of diatom earth.. they love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Mine prefer destroying borders so i stuck a load of sharp sand in with the soil at various spots so its nice & fine plus it drains quickly after rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Being the dutiful hen mother, I bought play-sand to give the girls a home-made dust bath. However, they decided they were much more efficient at said task. They have completely ignored my efforts and have made several craters under the oak tree, particularly Mabel who likes to half bury herself before covering her beautiful feathers in soil. A joy to watch. I should have been doing the ironing - oh I do love any excuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
