Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Thalia]

Hi All,

 

I've been a keeper of chickens for all of three weeks now so you'll have to pardon my lack of knowledge. My girls usually spend the morning in their run while I'm out and about, and they don't currently have a dust bath in their run. Do they need a dust bath in the run as well as the dust bathing that they do in the flower beds? And if it would be wise to give them a dust bath, can I just put normal soil in it or would people advise adding anything to it? I've seen people suggesting putting some diatomacious earth in it or red mite powder, but I couldn't work out if that was something that was always done, or just occasionally.

 

Thanks

 

Thalia

[Laura & CTB]

Hi Thalia and congratulations on becoming a chicken keeper

 

My girls made their own dust bath under the hedge and queue up to use it but they also have one in their run which gets used especially if it's raining outside, so your girls might appreciate it as something else to keep them amused. I put a mixture of playsand, soil and any ash left over from the bbq and they love it. I do usually add a bit of d e and red mite powder - just to make it smell nice more than anything else!!

[Alis girls]

I made a nice dustbath for mine but they use a bald patch in the lawn 12inches by 12 and all try to roll in it at once - very funny to watch.

[Thalia]

Thanks for the help. I've got some play sand that was destined for my son's sand pit (poor guy, it might be a bit less full if I keep taking the sand for the chickens ) and having just read all about red mites, I think it's definitely better safe than sorry and to try to prevent them every way possible.

 

Thalia

[dannablue]

I put a dustbath in for mine...never wanted to use it. Much prefer to dig their own in the chippings in their run and use that! You just cant please some chickens

[Gelbel]

I put a dust bath in on a mezzanie floor - little madams ignore it. They prefer the garden under the forsythia or a good old roll in the hemcore.

[scarlettohara]

I bought a large shallow tubtrug for dust baths - they only use it if I put it outside the run

[sezra]

I am glad you asked this question as I was just wondering the same thing. MY childrens sand needs 'refreshing' so I think the girls might like that! I have a large plastic tray that I was going to use, do you think this will be ok?

[scarlettohara]

If the sides are high enough otherwise they will chuck most of it out

[yogiwoods]

I put a dust bath out for my three girls (a cat litter tray) filled with play sand & spent potting compost. I have only once seen one of them take a dust bath in it. The little madams much prefer to eat it!!

 

Don't you just love fluffy bums??!!

 

Yogi

 

Lola Light Sussex Bantam

Lotta Light Sussex Bantam

Gloria Gold Laced Wyandotte Bantam

[sezra]

If the sides are high enough otherwise they will chuck most of it out

 

I think it should be ok, it is like a large cat litter tray. As all I have had in their nesting box so far is poo, I am expecting them to poo in the dust bath aswell!

[rachael_farnsworth]

Well fancy seeing you here...!

 

I just cleaned out an old litter tray of Elphie's and put a bit of compost and some barbecue ash in it. They don't like it as much as they do my raised vegetable beds - it is a bit too small for them both to get in unless they really cuddle up - but I have seen them use it when they think I'm not looking.

[Gelbel]

I am sat here with the only England team worth watching today on one side of me and the girls out FRing on the other. Cissie and Madge are knocking bells out of each other trying to use the same dust bathing spot under the forsythia at the same time. Ada is happily doing roly-polies under the red roses.

[annettec]

I have an old tyre, that was free from a tyre suppliers and filled that with soil and ash the girls love it !!!!

[sezra]

Success!

 

Popped out earlier as I couldn't see the girls and there was Jenny and Betty literally sprawled out sunbathing in their new dust bath! I think this means they like it!

[Forge Cottage]

The old tyre sounds like a very practical idea for a dustbath. But I would have to site it under a hedge with all the other holes - it's like the Great Escape in our garden!