Cube Mark One Run

[doctors girls]

can you people tell me what are the ingredients for a good diy dustbath i have read people mix cat litter, sand and compost together and at what time of year do they use this my chucks are confined to their run and is it best to keep it away from the elements cause it cant be much of a dust bath after the rain (mudbath)

 

john

[green]

I've got playsand and compost with a dusting of diatom on top, and I've placed it under a shade, so that it doesn't get wet. My chooks love it and seem to be constantly either bathing in it or perching on the handle.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I put topsoil in mine. I use a thinnish layer in the bottom of a couple of gravel trays. I don't have a covered area to keep the dustbath in so I bring it out on clear days and they all leap in!

[bouldercroft]

I put dusty old potting soil in mine - I have to top it off regularly as they kick it about alot and spend hours picking away at it...crazy chooks!

[Old Speckled Hen]

I keep mine outside

 

 

At this time of year it contains wood ash from the log burner. They love it and it's so funny when they shake in a cloud of dust.

In the summer I mix play sand and compost about 50/50

[Lavenders_Blue]

That's fab, OSH! Where did you get it from or is it home made? I think I definitely NEED one of those

[bouldercroft]

that's sooooooo cute!!

 

 

I keep mine outside

 

 

At this time of year it contains wood ash from the log burner. They love it and it's so funny when they shake in a cloud of dust.

In the summer I mix play sand and compost about 50/50

[Old Speckled Hen]

It's from Flyte so Fancy but looks easy enough to knock up. Just a wooden tray with a roof on.

[Eggasperated]

I've never thought of using the ash from my wood burners although there is never much left so it would take a while to save up - are you burning soft or hard logs ? Cos what I get left is very fine, almost like a powder, would that be ok?

[Old Speckled Hen]

Yes. It looks like grey diatom.

 

As for what gets burned.........just about anything. Pine,Cherry,Oak,Ash,Sycamore,Beech,Hawthorn and pallets (nails removed)

They say that coal ash is harmful. I do put a few nuggets of coal on just to get the fire started and they have never been a problem. I usually sift out the big bits and any nails I've missed with a garden sieve.

[Eggasperated]

I don't use any coal at all so mine should be fine, my girls will be pleased, thank you

[Mercedes55]

That is a beautiful dushbath and what a gorgeous picture too

 

My OH made one for our girls with some offcuts of decking timber that he bought for inside the WIR. We've put it on top of the table that the Eglu used to be on and filled it with sand. It's taken ages for the girls to start using it, for a long time they just sat on the edge of it and used it as a poo tray