Flossie G Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Hello All, My hens need a dustbath in their run, especially now it's winter and muddy out. I've tried a washing up bowl filled with fine wood ash, and then with sand but they weren't interested. Any ideas? Would be grateful for your suggestions. FG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I use car tyres filled with wood ash and compost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Hi Flossie My girls have a dustbath with sand and ash mixed together. They love it now but it did take about 3 weeks for them to get the hang of what it was for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 My two newbies were having a dustbath together in aubiose, in their cordoned off bit of the run. I was worried that they were expired on their sides as they looked rather odd, from a distance. Once I got up close and realised what they were doing, it looked so cute I sat and watched them for ages. It was so funny when they stood up, fluffed and shook themselves and aubiose sprayed everywhere. The "old ladies" that I'm protecting them from (hehe they aren't even a year yet) did NOT look amused... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenopolis Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 We have a 3 m run attached the cube and we put bark down (ontop of soil) which the girls love to move around every day looking for the elusive worm. Under the cube, where it is dry they have their dustbath - they just move the bark out of the way and they dustbathe in the soil underneath flingin up soil, bark and anything else that gets in their way. I haven't put anything special out for them, they just dig deep, sit down and roll about. I think it does the job, they appear to be "bug free". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 my neighbour gave me a tyre for my chickens , so i filled it with soil and sand pah they just pooed in it.They make their own dust baths anywhere they please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I've made a dust bath from a horse feed trug that cost £4 from the local farm shop. It has sand and dry compost. They do use it, but they also dig their own dust bath in the Hemcore base, right down to the soil which seems to be more fun. They partcularly like to dig a mud wallow in the garden and make themselves spectacularly muddy as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 My girls have a deep tray which did have sand (from my boys sand pit) and garden soil, I say did as it has had heavy use! They queue up to use it, or all pile in on top of each other, really hilarious, as various bits of different chickens all flick about often nowhere near the dust just on top of their 'sisters'. Hen Solo also likes my lavender pot, I'm not so keen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 my neighbour gave me a tyre for my chickens , so i filled it with soil and sand pah they just pooed in it.They make their own dust baths anywhere they please ooooo I must get one will they pooh train themselves I have a low trug I bought specally for tem, it has wood ash in it.... they don't like it, thinking of adding some normal soil with it to see if that is better. They have a feaw special dustbathingplaces in the garden. The most beautiful sight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flossie G Posted November 26, 2009 Author Share Posted November 26, 2009 Thanks for your responses. Maybe a mix of ash and compost would be a more acceptable dustbath to them. I hope so because they have suffered with lice infestations and I gather that these can be worse in winter. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 oh really, I thought it was the opposite Someone will put us right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
