EileenH Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 (Our 2 lasses + eglu arrive next Thursday!) I`ve been reading about dust baths and wondering how to provide them. Any bare soil in the garden is usually damp from the rain. Do I provide a tray in the run? What should be in it? How do I keep it dry? What will happen if they don`t get to dust bathe? Oh dear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I have a cat litter tray of soil in cube run Eileen, but with all the rain we have been having up here it has turned to mud (even though it is covered) so I haven't got a good answer I'm afraid. The girls seem to enjoy drinking the muddy water - despite there being clean water on offer! Mine have made their own dust bath in the border of the garden and I put some of that Diatomaceous Earth in it as I read somewhere here that they get it right into their feathers when dust bathing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 (edited) Hi Eileen... Mine use a big plasic trough thing filled with half play sand, half compost and some diamateous earth... Here is Babette demonstrating! Sorry it's so big, haven't quite cracked the picture thingy yet. Mine stays under the Omlet cover and so far is dry..... Edited August 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Don't worry Eileen . My girls were given a cat litter tray in their run but totally ignored it . So I leave them to dustbathe in the run wherever they fancy. I keep my run covered with corrugated plastic so it stays nice and dry. They'll also do it in the flowerbeds if it's dry enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I used used an old stone effect square planter and filled it with play sand and aubiose. At first they didnt much use it and i was well disappointed! but one of the newbies we now have, used it from day one and loved it and suddenly - they all decided to do the same. Its used on a regular basis by all now and I have added some Diatom in it too. Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I use a large shallow tub trug .. same as quickcluck.. with half compost, half play sand and a good scoop of diatoms.. they love it and all pile in together for hours of end! I have to replace every weekend though as by the time they have all carried some away in them selves, kicked loads out and eaten a fair amount .. there is very little left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephine77 Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Mine prefer to use the vegetable patch - it's far more fun to bathe in the lettuces and onion seedlings than just plain old soil Bless them though, I don't have the heart to tell them off...who needs vegetables? there's always chocolate!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EileenH Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks very much folks. I`ll provide a tray of stuff as you advise and see what happens. In fact I reckon that the next few weeks will be totally `try it and see what happens`! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesL Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I've just witnessed Hilda's first dust bath and how amusing it was! I wasn't quite sure what she was doing at first other than looking like she was trying to play dead by trying to lie on her back! I did provide a tray with sand in the run but they just pecked at it. Hilda decided to go in the border. I'm quite happy for her to continue her funny moves in the same place as it is right in front of my kitchen window so I can get a good view! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazoo Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I did provide a cat box outside the run for them but they naturally bathe in a part of the garden bed where there are no flowers. I know this doesn't help if you have immaculate borders. The baths are so interesting to watch even though they look like they've broken their legs and wings sometimes A natural phenomenon and so cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChirpyChirpyCheepCheep Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Just witnessed Ronnie and Roxie having their first dustbath. They found a lovely spot by a border and off they went. They looked like they were in a trance! Sorry EileenH, this doesn't help you, I wanted to share. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo1962 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I have dug a square 'bath' in the ground and filled it with playsand and regularly sprinkle mite powder and mix in. The girls love it and all you can see is their sweet heads sticking out! There are often three in at a time! When it gets wet they have a good dig around and get very dirty but it soon dries up as it is in the full sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
