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

[PeggySue1]

Hi all, my excuse for this daft question is that I am new to hen keeping I would like to know what hens like to dust bath in? I have a tub ready but don't know what to actually put in it thanks for any suggestions.

[sjp]

i use potting compost spent if i've got enouth but otherwise the cheapest i can get. mainly because the area under the hen house is to big to use sand and i can dig it in to the garden when i change it

[chelsea]

Multi purpose compost in a tubtrug here. It must be dry though.

 

Some people mix earth with wood ash for a dusty affect.

[Hen Watch]

My lot just get dry earth from the garden (or bone dry earth stolen from hubbie's greenhouse ).

 

That's it really.

 

Sometimes I mix louse powder in their dustbath too.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine just dustbathe wherever they fancy . I tried providing dustbaths but they ignored them .

[K-F-C]

In mine I mostly have play sand and compost... but with some fine bird grit too (from pets at home), ash and a handful of diatom.

 

When I initially put it in their run I put a few mealworms on top... just to encourage them to get into it.

[CluckyBucks]

I half fill a cat litter tray with dry earth from under the bushes in my garden

 

That seems to do the trick.

 

Oh and welcome to the intricate world of henkeeping!

 

xx xx

[JoanneFrizzle]

Hi,

 

My daughter set up a dust bath for ours yesterday. Today they pecked at the grit, which was good as they seemed to be eating it (a first for them). Then one got in and that was it, they loved it and spent at least 30 minutes flicking it everywhere.

 

How often do you need to provide them with a dust bath, as it's empty now? I thought about putting one in every weekend for them.

 

Joanne

[jackieb]

Mine have a B&Q grow bag with a shake of diatom in it every couple of days and a small scoop of bio dry, they love it and hopefully it will help keep them mite free.

[gazzagerkin]

mine just dig a hole wherever they like a plonk them selves in it, i did try play sand in a cat litter tray but they started eating the sand!

[vikpow]

well first i used an old cat litter but they werent impressed so i bought a bright yellow tub and filled it with play sand and compost, convinced they would love it , but would still rather use my flower beds ( that are now pretty flower-less !)

[jkl]

Mo - Dora, Lets empty all the pellets onto the ground and then have a bath in them!

 

Dora - Lets do it when the human male grape provider is watching

 

Mo - Good idea- he must like it because he starts muttering to himself lots and then gives us more stuff to eat