CharLeila Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 sorry, still learning. How important is a dust bath for my girls? If it is, does anyone have any good ideas on what to use as a container and what to use for the dust. I know it sounds stupid but im sure I read someone saying they use compost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I use a tub trug and a childs sand pit for the actual baths and a mix of bird sand, compost and diatom for the filling Don't apologise for still learning thats what the forum is for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi, i'm not sure how important it is but when i first got my girls i used a cat litter tray full of childs play sand from agros but they didn't use it, they just ate it. I then filled it up with some topsoil, they took no notice of it and made their own dust bath and they didn't use it that often,Only when it was a nice warm day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 All year round my lot have a supermarket cheap underbed storage box filled with dry earth. They love it especially now in Winter when the ground is soggy/hard/snowy. I pinch the dry earth out of hubbie's greenhouse In summer they will make their own dustbaths in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 we have a mini trubtrug (its purple - matches the cube ) we fill it with a combination of soil, ash from the fire, sand, DE and redmite powder (I think - kev does it ) they use it when they want to, or eat it with they want to, or just ignore it , I dont always see them bathing, I just see the "stuff" all over the floor and dusty chickens cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Hi all, A bit more advise please We've bought a cat litter tray. Will that do for a dust bath? Would a tubtrug be better? I have some childrens sand, Diatom & wood ash to mix together. Is childrens sand ok to use or do I need to buy special sand? Does it matter what percentages of what we use? Do I need it in this weather or should I wait until it's more comfortable for them? Many thanxs again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 When I put a cat little tray in they didn't use it . They make their own dustbaths in the run now. Quantities don't matter, Scubababe . Just chuck a bit of anything you've got to hand in - children's sand is just fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I've used sand and compost in a washing up bowl that they love to dig in but they just dustbath in the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I use old car tyres for the big girls and a cheap (£1 from sainsburys) washing up bowl for the bantams. As they are in their WIR they cant really make their own at the moment. I put in play sand, dry compost (old or used is fine) and a handful of diatom. sometimes they use it, sometimes they dont I think a few people use cat litter trays, so thats good too. When the weathers fine, they of course make their own in the garden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
