YickerAL Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hi All Having spent Sunday clearing the garden borders back from encroaching (sp) on the patio at the OH's house, I was frustrated (well not really!) to find 10 mins later that the girls had thought that the newly turned earth would be a great place to a) scratch about in and b) dust bathe in. Now I will admit that it's a great sight watching the 3 of them bathing together in the border, but I don't want to have to go through the clearing activities every weekend (I am lazy you see!) So, does anyone have any ideas for creating a place for them to bathe away from the borders? What type of container will do the job? Should I just put soil in there? I heard somethng about play sand somewhere, but can't seem to find it. Apologies for starting a new thread for this, but couldn't search for anything! Cheers A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 play sand is available at ELC! I know because we buy it at the Nursery where I work. I use an old butler sink sunk lower in the ground for mine to dustbath, it's great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 We have a big shallow tub trug (which matches the of course!). This has dry compost mixed with play sand from B&Q however the girls IGNORE this and head straight for my veg beds (currently empty) or under the big conifer to dust bathe. Now that the eglu run is all Aubiose they have a good flap about in that too now. So tub trug 6.99 Compost 3.49 Sand 2.98 Girls having a whale of a time in the veggie borders - PRICELESS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I put a dustbath in with the new girls today of aubiose as thats all I had to hand I thought, well they are on grass they might like to play with this... they had great fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipCaldwell Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 just put a dustbath in the run tonight as they made a lovely big hole in the lawn, used sand as other people recommended it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 My girls have a car tyre filled with compost and wood ash, when they are not in it they are all sat around the edge having a chit-chat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I am going to use sand, but I haven't had time to get the right sand, so I gave them aubiose in it for now and they didn't mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 OMG We have about 8 dust "holes" around the base of our fir tree, despite an especially purchased low rise tub trug filled with prime dustbath material such as soil, diatom powder, louse powder and red mite powder.... can't be too careful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Mine have a big old wooden drawer filled with play sand.... .... they ignore it. I am hoping in the summer (if we get one) and it gets warmed by the sun they might like it better - but in the meantime it sits in the garden all alone, and OH keeps complaining about it and wants to throw it away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I gave mine a cat litter tray with playsand and DE powder, all they did was eat it, so I took it out again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Here's mine I fill it with ash from the fire, mostly wood but with the odd bit of coal, put through a garden sieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 That's just lovely, DA . (I've been eyeing up our birdtable but it's too small ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 That's just lovely, DA . (I've been eyeing up our birdtable but it's too small ) It's wonderful as thy use it in all weathers. Hopefully by the time summer comes they will be so used to it they will have forgotten about the flower beds. I also have a cat litter tray with a lid in the run, that way they don't throw ash all over the place when they are confined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I have today tried again after my last dust bath attempt failed to intereste my lot. They have hopped in and straight out again but will have one last go. They prefer to cram themselves into the tiniest of places where there is some sandy soil... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewhitehouse Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I've given mine a low tub trug filled with old compost and put it in a spot where I've seen them sitting and flapping about. I've seen a couple of them sitting in it and they've come out with mucky chests so at least they're doing something with it. It was so funny seeing their heads poking over the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Well I say forget it 'cos if they are not digging dust baths in your border they will dig it up and kick it around looking for goodies. I have to sweep up every time Just think its good exercise and think of the new energy you'll have and you will have forgotten your lazy ways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 we seemed to 'lose' sugar in her dustbath for age today, you could only see her bottom pop up every now and again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittycat Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 We use a medium sized cat litter tray with rim (£3.99 from Pets at Home) and wood ash from our wood burner - plus diatom powder. The 3 girls all love it and are often in there 2 at a time! They haven't been allowed to free range yet (we only brought them home on Sunday) so I guess they may still find their own favourite spots around the garden. I'm hoping they carry on using their dust bath in the run though as it's reassuring to know they are giving themselves a good rub down with Diatom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
