littlecrow Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 my two love nothing better then a good old dust bath, but the round is so wet and very little dust about to bath in... wondering.. would sand be ok to use? (new at all this learning along the way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-F-C Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Hiya... I think its better if you use play sand... not sharp sand or builders etc... I put mine in a shallow plastic trug... mixed with some garden compost, diatom and ash from the BBQ... and keep in under the shelter of the cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sand is fine to use but it is better mixed with dry earth or something along those lines Put a little diatomaceous earth into the dustbath, that way, you can kill any lice on the chicken. (diatomaceous earth is found in the omlet shop) xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlecrow Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 Thank you for being so promt in answering ... we are early birds aren't we. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Have you got a greenhouse? In winter I use the dry earth out of the greenhouse. Or put a few shovelfulls of wet earth in the greenhouse and it dries out in a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-F-C Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Thank you for being so promt in answering ... we are early birds aren't we. I've been up at 6:30 every day since I got my chickens... I'm off on holiday today so I thought I'd have a lay in... I managed to 7:20 before they woke me up! It is the first time i have been woken up by them... looks like the 6:30 routine will have to carry on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlecrow Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 Thank you for being so promt in answering ... we are early birds aren't we. I've been up at 6:30 every day since I got my chickens... I'm off on holiday today so I thought I'd have a lay in... I managed to 7:20 before they woke me up! It is the first time i have been woken up by them... looks like the 6:30 routine will have to carry on! i am up early most morning .. hense keeping chicks a good idea, i love the early quiet time, just me and the girls, if i dont get they up before 7 they get in a right mood,lol BTW .. thanks for the tip about the greenhouse, i'll be getting one this winter to start for next years crop, but in the mean time my mother has one .. i feel a favour coming on ,lol thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I put 50/50 playsand and compost in one of these Got it from Flytesofancy but you could easily make your own. In the winter I use the ashes from the fire, mostly wood but some coal. They love that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Have you got a greenhouse? In winter I use the dry earth out of the greenhouse. Or put a few shovelfulls of wet earth in the greenhouse and it dries out in a few days. So how often do you change the dust bath? Or is it simply that they chuck it all out?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 DA - I love that chicken dust bath! I want one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlecrow Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 DA - I love that chicken dust bath! I want one! i'm going to call on my dads services for this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 That is the daddy of all dustbath houses - ironically I have just given my dad a whole load of wood from our old bed - I can see that I might have to ask him to recreate it into one of those...at the moment the girls use the flowerbed (or what was once a flowerbed!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
