-sarahjayne Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 We have everything else in place for our girls arriving except one thing.. the dust bath! We have the stuff to go inside it already but I was wondering what to actually put it in.. like a washing up bowl or something? I dont know. Help would be great, what do you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I tried a cat litter tray - they ignored it . I tried an old car tyre - they were so petrified of it they wouldn't go within 3 feet of it . I now just let them get on with it so they dustbathe wherever they fancy, wherever there's nice, dry soil & Easibed . I know some people use those shallow tub trugs (matching the eglu, naturally ). I think a washing up bowl might be too light - they'd tip it over if they perched on the edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-F-C Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I've bought a heavy duty plastic trug from ebay! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRUG-GARDEN-PLANTER-HEAVY-DUTY-PLASTIC-5-LITRE_W0QQitemZ200228098110QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN?hash=item2e9e86503e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I use a shallow tubtrug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I have a large seed tray about 18 inches by 2ft by 4 inches deep in the first run. It was filled with sand and they did use it for the first few months, then they kicked all the sand out of it and filled it with their wood chips and ignored it ! In the new run I had an old baby bath, again filled with sand, I thought the chooks would love my idea of a 'proper' bath for them, but apart from Ozzy going to sleep in it , it has been completely ignored and they all dustbathed in the dirt on the run floor . So today I tipped all the sand out of the bath and onto the floor and they've all been in it . Just dump the sand or whatever in the run because the ungrateful madams won't appreciate your efforts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I use a redundant baby's bath perfect for multiple dutbathing and stable enough not to get tipped or knocked over. Mine would only use the trug I bought if it was filled to the brim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 when mine were free ranging all the time, they used the borders, plants pots (they removed the plants before hand ) the lawn. Anywhere really. Now they are in their run most of the time, they find a good spot amongst the wood chippings and soil, usually under the bench and then the dust bathing beguins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I don't provide anything in the run but they do bathe in the borders or anywhere where there is dry soil Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Clucks-minusOne Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 What ever you use try to listen to them 'purring' I'm fascinated by the noises they make. Mine love to go under the same laurel tree, having ignored the washing up bowl and cat litter tray they used to have in their run. Bella usually starts making the dip and the other two squeeze in with her. It could be the size of a teacup and all three would still be happy rolling about. They get so hot that their feathers stick to them. Once they are busy bathing mine won't be moved, even for grapes or oats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 i've used an old baby bath but typically they've totally ignored it and used the soil and hemcore around it instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewels Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Hi, I also supplied my girls with a bowl filled with dirt and ash they never used it, now they just use the soil and bark around and in their run to dust bath in, they love it. Funnily enough my OH said at the weekend when both were dust bathing that they were making a funny "purring" noise just like 4Clucks-minusOne has said. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oh Carolina Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I have used an old huge enamel washing up bowl filled with lovely (and expensive!) children's play sand. They have completely ignored it, except for pooping in, and now don't seem to dust bathe anywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Mine when free ranging insist on using my large plant pots so we now have a large plant pot in their wir full of compost, which we just keep topping up, they love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Mine were using plant pots (that the kindly removed the plants from first - to save me the job ), so I thought I'd buy them a childs sandpit and filled it with an earth/sand mix. They were not interested one bit However, when I put the lid on the sandpit, they thought that was the greatest place to jump on to, and continued with their plant pot dust bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitfluff Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Glad I'm not the only one with choosy chickens! I've used a large plant pot, tyre and a girly pink tubtrug, which they've used to sit in, sit on and eat the contents of, but never actually dustbathe in. I've given up trying and they seem happy enough to sort themselves out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrin Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I have a cat litter tray in my run, filled with dirt and sawdust. They stand on the edge of it. They peck at the contents. They sctatch around in it, looking for treasure. They spread it all over their run. Never, not onece, have I seen any of them use it as a dustbath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Our girls have two favourite places to dust bathe - under the rhubarb or next to the wheelie bins!! They seem happy with making do with whatever is in the garden so I'm leaving them to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I know some people use those shallow tub trugs (matching the eglu, naturally ). I think a washing up bowl might be too light - they'd tip it over if they perched on the edge. that's what the light sussex chicks have done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbo_frog Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 mine keep making deep holes on an edge of their run... I have some spare trugs I was going to try... I was thinking of putting some diatom powder in with the sand etc... Is this a good plan...as its always a nightmare trying to get the girls dusted... Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggquisite Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi there...just read this thread.. We use the Shallow Tub Trug.. perfect size & the girls appear to love it... (take a look at pic on Rub a dub dub which I posted a little earlier ) Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Mine free range and have dug themselves a few big holes that they use. They can often be seen lying on their backs with their legs in the air. Trudy often falls asleep in that position when it is warm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
