Unsecure chicken perches

[cheekymonkey200]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm fishing for a bit of advice again- my two girls are in their run during the day (we all work and there are loads of foxes about ) and free range, supervised, in the evening. The only problem is, they love to dig and dustbathe. It's not a huge problem but as we move the run around the garden every other day in an attempt to preserve the grass, as well as get the most of their moss scarifying skills, they have to dig a new hole every day! This is not great for the lawn...

 

Is there any way of getting some sort of artificial dust bath so they dont have to excavate a new hole every day? I tried a seed tray full of soil and sand but they (literally) poo-poo-ed it. They dont dust bath in the evening when they're free ranging because they're too busy eating everything in sight...

 

Any tips...?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Holly x

[muzzboy]

What sand are you using? I am sure I have read that builders sand is not good for chickens and people were using play sand in a container and that worked.

[Sam]

I have a mixture of mud and bird sand in a bucket type thing, but it's totally ignored. They much more prefer making their own holes. Sorry not much help

[Duncan08]

We had originally planned to keep moving our Go and run, but when it came and sat in the middle of the garden, we decided to find a permanent place for it. Especially when we extended it to 4m.

We did the usual chippings and bark over soil and edged with log roll.

The girls can dig away to their hearts content now - and they do! They don't usually pick the same spot either, they seem to like to dig a new hole each day.

 

Do you have a little spot you could set up a permanent place for it.

 

I have seen some good ideas on the forum though, an old tyre filled with play sand looked good, but then again it wouldn't be suited to moving about.

[gongladosh]

What sand are you using? I am sure I have read that builders sand is not good for chickens

yep - it can give them an upset stomach - it's quite sharp and contains chemicals that are not that good for hens.

[Chortle Chook]

I find my chooks rather like a mix of wood ash and old potting compost that is all dry and no good for plants. You could try this in a tub trug (colour to go with your Eglu of course ).

[Sam]

I find my chooks rather like a mix of wood ash and old potting compost that is all dry and no good for plants. You could try this in a tub trug (colour to go with your Eglu of course ).

 

Thats the one!! I thought it was a trug grub Didn't want to look stupid

Of course, must be colour matching !

[Lavenders_Blue]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but whatever you give them they will poo in it!

My girls have a dustbath with a roof (looks likes a little wishing well) and they poo enthusiastically in it They also dustbathe in it, which is pretty gross if they get in before I have had a chance to poo pick

[chickric]

We tried a tub trug and various other things but struggled to find something big enough for them all to fit in comfortably.

A fter lots of searching we found this which is large enough for them to all bathe together

 

We use a mixture of play sand and compost with some DE mixed in.

[Chortle Chook]

My girls have a dustbath with a roof (looks likes a little wishing well) and they poo enthusiastically in it They also dustbathe in it, which is pretty gross if they get in before I have had a chance to poo pick

Is it one of these from Flytes so Fancy My JR dog peed in it once

 

[52fish]

We put a large round shallow plant pot in the run and poured in sand - they love it!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Is it one of these from Flytes so Fancy My JR dog peed in it once

 

Yes and

 

Mine's not painted a funky colour like yours though.

[Chortle Chook]

My OH did that for me for Valentine's day. He is warming to my chooks and feels guilty that it took me so long to win him round Wasn't long after it was painted that my JR thought it was a dog litter tray. Oops

[cavysqueak]

We have an old metal oval container - almost like an old fashioned bath, but much smaller. We've filled that with play sand / compost mix with a hint of diatom powder. They love it - particularly one girl, but they still dig random holes in their run & in the garden to serve the same purpose! Its not in the run though as everything we put in there got pooed in, so they have to use it when they free-range.

 

So what I think I'm trying to say is that chickens are funny creatures & you can give them something to dust bathe in, but they may, or may not, choose to use it!