Ginfiend Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 How big does a dust bath need to be? I have 2 chickens and an Eglu run + extender, which the girls spend most of their time in at the moment - due to foxes and too many escape holes in fence and hedges...(to be sorted when the weather improves!) I've seen other posts where people use cat litter trays - but they're quite big given the size of the run they've got...so I was wondering what would be the smallest size that would do for them? And one more question....do they need it all year round? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Mine have cat litter trays in their eglu runs & given the chance overturn them & dig their own bath They are fine with the size of the tray in the run, they either walk through it or round it, depends on their mood, ours are placed against one side and there's still plenty of room for manoeuvres....much smaller and I think they'd move it too far up the run for me to sensibly take it out for refilling And yes they dust bath all year.... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-sarahjayne Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 I made a dustbath for my girlies, but they too decided to make their own in the garden. If they free range they will probably find their own dustbath, therefore you don't need one in the run. However if they don't freerange, I would use a horse-type-bedding on the floor of your run [this needs to be on a hard surface i.e slabs and covered from the rain] they will dustbath in that. Or you could just put a very small tray of dry soil/tiny bits of shredded paper [this is what mine like to dustbath in) at the end of the run. They will make the most of it, and in the winter they won't want to dustbath much anyway. In the summer they will find a flowerpot or flowerbed and help themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 One of my set-ups is the same as yours and I have a tyre in the run It does take up a fair bit of room but the chickens are always sitting on it as well as using the dustbath (which they ignored for a while until they realised what fun it was) so I figure its a good feature I think its a 13 or 14 inch tyre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Hello, I use a 15ltr tubtrug, one of the shallow ones, just watched Betty enjoying a dustbath in it actually! I've just half filled it with dried out top soil and diatom, they seem to be enjoying it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Mine have plant pots and a 30cm saucer for a plastic tub, just filled with soil and they love it! The soil is flicked out everywhere so needs topping up quite often And it isn't pleasant in this cold weather... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginfiend Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 Loving the pictures! Hadn't thought of the plant saucer - that's a good idea and I've got a few kicking around. Might also try the tyre - I've got to replace 2 on my little car before next month's MOT (shudder) so I could use those. Doesn't look too imposing in those pics. Thanks for the advice guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guildfordchick Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 I have looked for an answer to this on the posts, but haven't found one yet, so hope I'm not repeating something that's already been answered.... We've tried making dustbaths for ours using shallow trays but they're endlessly knocking them over! The tire is a good idea, but not quite sure where to get hold of one. Apart from that, any ideas for wedging it in place or what else to use so they can't just knock it on its side once some of the dirt is kicked out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unit Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 Was just looking for the answer to dust bath sizes and found this. Plant saucer seems like a good idea as we've got tons of those knocking about! Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 I use a very cheap, clear plastic box from Ikea...room for 4 at the last dust-bathing session Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 My girls have an old enamel wash bowl full of potting compost and wood ash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 I have the same as redwing but they have 4 tires but still choose 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Maybe a silly question but where do I get wood ash from? Thank you Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I get it from my woodburner - do you know of anybody who has a stove or an open fire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbet Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Hi - i have been just browsing on here as i am awaiting my delivery on Tuesday 7th July of my Eglu classic & 2 Gingernut rangers. I have been getting things ready and am interested to find out what you can put in the dust bath, i think the tyre is a great idea, do you have to put top soil in and if so can you also put sand in it? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Yes I use dry soil, play sand, some potting compost, chick grit and diatom. You can use ash (perhaps not with a white chicken ). Whatever you have to hand but I wouldn't use builders sand because of glass and sand fleas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbet Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Thanks Plum for that, i had got some play sand so thats good. I am sure i will be on here quite often from Tuesday! Am very eggscited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Yes do but make sure you show us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 I made one under the slide and keep putting them in it but they are not interested - cat now sleeps in it as its shady Instead they have made a "hen" shaped dust bath on lawn. I was sitting with OH watching them roll around in this bald bit of lawn and waiting for the "look at that in the middle of my lawn" and sure enough he chokes on his tea and said "look etc etc" - I started giggling - and pleaded for their lives. He has threatened to get a bit of turf to fill it - we will see Hes very anal about his lawn - dont know why its no show piece after kids, rabbits and hens have mucked about on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 popped to the local 'horsey' place today to buy supplies for my girls and just as the young lad was loading my car I was drawn to a pile of old tyres...and one of them is now being used as a dustbath for my girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Great. I acquired one but OH was disgusted I would have an old tyre in the garden and had to get rid of it. He did make me a rather good one though . You better post a pic of your using their tyre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Love your dustbath...I WANT ONE OF THOSE!!! Well done that man I do prefer the tyre to the plastic, clinical-looking, plastic box i had before...the tyre has a kind of 'rustic' look if you know what I mean...I will be poised with my mobile on camera stand-by next time the girls all pile in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doody Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 I get it from my woodburner - do you know of anybody who has a stove or an open fire? I have a wood burning and charcoal pizza oven in our garden, could i use the dust from that mixed with dry soil or sand??? Only had my chooks 3 days, so new to all this lol.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 That'd be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzagerkin Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 we put a cat tray in the run they knocked it over ,spilling the contents ,they make their own in the shrubbery now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
