HENthusiastic Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi guys. My friends have an open fire which they burn coal and would in. Wood ( ) the ash from the combined coal and would be okay for the girls dustbath? I've heard people say that wud ash is ok but dont know about coal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 You crack me up , don't know the answer to your question though, sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 If we have a bonfire the girls love it. It sometime hard to stopping them going in before its cooled though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Wooden know. Sorry, couldn't resist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I must admit I use the combined ash mixed with compost for the dustbath although I try to use the ash from days where we have used mostly wood for the fire because I don't think its strictly ok to use coal ash but I can't remember where I read that...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 Mostin: fat lot of help you are Madmitch: blimy; that sounds scary! Cinnamon: love it! Redwing: Thanks you for the sensible reply in the midst of all this sillyness Wonder why coal ash isn't okay?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I've a feeling (rustled from a dim & distant memory imparted by Christian I think) that coal ash is acidic (?), but ok in small amounts. Wood/wud ash would be ok though. I mix either type with some soil from the garden or compost when it's dry enough, they love it!! Sadly we don't have a wood burner as our chimney is too dodgy to have one, we only have a gas stove , so we rely on donations from neighbours & parents Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Coal ash is bad for the garden as it contains a lot of sulphur products making it acidic. If you burn largely wood with some coal this is perfectly OK for the chooks. I clean the fire every morning and put the ashes through a garden sieve straight into the hens' dust bath. They love it. It's quite a sight when they emerge, shaking a plume of ash into the air. They have been bathing in ash from the fire for a year now and are perfectly OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 HEN Surprised Yew wood think Redwood was giving a Poplar answer and gave a Fig. I twigged that Yew Pine for a Plane answer knot to Spruce up your Horse chestnut but the Cherry of your eye. Yew Pine for a Box full of Ash. Plum x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Plum! thats great, have you been working on that? I think it was Christian that warned me about the coal ash too, and as Christian taught me everything I know about chickens I decree that he is correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Didn't know about you and Christian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 PLUM Thats fantastic love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Didn't know about you and Christian. OH and I went on one of Christian's chicken keeping courses and managed to accidently rob him of several hours of his precious day off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
