simone Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 silly ? but what do you put in there dust baths, just getting stuff ready before my arrives on tuesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPoule Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Mine love a mix of potting compost and wood ash, as demonstrated here... Unfortunately, as it's the middle of summer, I've run out of ash! I have tried mixing the compost with aubiose, but it's not having the same enthusiastic response... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I tend to go for dusty/dry earth from the veg patch or under the hedge. They then break it up for themselves and have a lovely time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Mine has compost, diatom and sand in it. They will use it or sometimes go down the bottom of the garden where there is dry earth and throw that around insteaad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simone Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 thanks for all the reply canny wait till i get me chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_blackwell1 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Mine have made about three of their own in various spots. I had no say or input into the design!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simone Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 im sure if i get a place prepared for them, they will go elsewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Mine have dry top soil (although that's easier said than done at the moment with the weather), Diatoms and louse powder (there's nothing like overkill and a nice smelling dustbath) and when we have some, cinders ash from the BBQ (hardly BBQ weather at the mo). It did take them a week before my first girl discovered it and showed everyone else what to do, now they are in it every day. It's hilarous watching the dust clouds come off them as they have a good shake afterwards. They haven't as yet made their own elsewhere in the garden but there's still time, they have only been with us for just short of 4 weeks and they certainly like digging so no doubt will make their own given a bit more time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I bought a lovely blue cat littler tray and went and bought some playsand to put in it.... they turned their beaks up at it and made themselves a little 'pit' under one of the bushes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 My girls have a vintage enamel wash bowl filled with soil and woodash (sand if I don't have ash) and I always add some Diatom. It's in their run so that it stays dry when the rest of the garden is too wet for them to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPoule Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 My girls have a vintage enamel wash bowl Hmmm...very bunting cupcake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I wish I dug it up in the garden... it only has one handle, but is just the right size! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Mine have one like La Poule (Picasso is just the cutest by the way ), I fill mine with a mix of soil, play sand and Diatom. In fact Donna and Sarah-Jane are dustbathing in it as we speak. I also have a childs sandpit as an extra one, but they always choose the tub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPoule Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Debs - Thanks! Picasso really is a lovely chicken. She is friendly and chatty, and loves to be carried around. However, after getting some new, white, chickens, I have noticed how shockingly dirty her crest is! Let's hope I can keep it cleaner once the WIR is built Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Mine also have the same tubtrug as LaPoule (to match the cube!!) Just normal multipurpose compost in mine. It is in their walk in run though so nice and dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-F-C Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I've got pretty much everything mentioned in my dust bath... except chickens!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simone Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 kfc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufusrooster Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 my all weather dust bath (dogloo) is a big hit now, they wouldnt go in it until i persuaded them with some bread, i couldnt be bothered to shovel mud from the garden so bought a bag of top soil from b&q, mixed in some diatom and stalosan f, now its dried out they love it. (well, Gene and Lisa do) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
