4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Shmoe & Rich]

Hi All

 

We just got our first Eglu and chickens today, Pete & Dud! It has been a great first day, but we are a bit confused about what we should do about a dust bath - please can you offer some advice?

 

Thanks

Jo & Rich

[Redwing]

Hooray - well done you! (and welcome!)

 

If you have put your Eglu on bare ground/grass the chickens will make their own dust bath by digging a dip in the ground, down to Australia in some cases

 

Some people use cat litter trays or wooden boxes but whatever you use the contents wont stay in it for long!

 

I use an old car tyre with some Aubiose in the bottom of it with a mixture of compost and wood ashes on top, I think some people use dry soft sand too. If you have nothing at all simply use dirt from the garden - just try and keep it dry though!

 

Congratulations on your chickens - they are the best pets ever

[jill the potter]

Mine actually made one on a mound of damp earth today. Consequently, their feathers were so caked in soil they could hardly move!!!!! They did enjoy it though they seem to go into a trance, it can be quite unnerving to see them the first time. When my girls first did it I looked out of the window and thougtht they were both dead!!!

[Valkyrie]

I agree with Jill - they resemble road kill, especially when they are virtually laying on their backs (one of mine does). Afterwards stand well back because they fluff themselves and a cloud of dust/louse powder/Diatom surrounds them and anything close - including me, I was coughing for ages as I had been sitting on a bench watching them.

Our dust bath is in an old turtle sandpit which is covered on yukky days with black plastic sheeting weighed down with rocks.

[Palmer06]

Hi, all our chickens did was perch on the side of the tub so we are goin to try again when its not so cold and wet to see if they use it then. So in the mean time we put it to good use! They seem to enjoy it!

 

[Shmoe & Rich]

Thanks so much everyone

 

They have been digging holes, so I suspect this is the "australian" dust bath! Can't wait for the weekend so i can actually spend time with them! I must sound like a right saddo!

 

Do any of you let them in to watch TV? I heard they quite like that!!!!

[Valkyrie]

Mine sometimes stand on their preening step outside the French windows and watch it - they like car chases it appears, or football, but a particular favourite (????) is the Iceland advert - they all look at that one and don't stop until it is over. Since the Christmas tree is by the window they haven't been standing there.

[helenmb]

Thanks so much everyone

 

They have been digging holes, so I suspect this is the "australian" dust bath! That'll be it - you can add some wood ash if you have any as they like this too. Can't wait for the weekend so i can actually spend time with them! I must sound like a right saddo! Not a saddo - you are just like all of us

 

Do any of you let them in to watch TV? I heard they quite like that!!!! Never heard of that one - I prefer to watch Hen TV myself!