Happy Mrs Chicken Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I've just bought a shallow tubtrug to use as a dustbath and was wondering what is best to fill it with.Would they prefer just ordinary soil or maybe sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammy72 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 you need to ask speckleyboo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 My experience is that ordinary dry soil works fine - you can try mixtures of sand, soil etc but they will kick it everywhere so you'll constantly be refilling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen3 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Yip dry soil is the preferred choice by my flock. Tried sand but they didn't seem to like it. Read somewhere not good for their crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I do a mix of a bag of garden compost and play sand, plus big squirts of diatom too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Dry old dirt is certainly the best thing since sliced bread (or mealyworms) for my chooks. I wasted loads of money at different times, trying Chincilla sand, play sand and nice compost and all were rejected. In frustration I emptied some old pots out in their dust bath . . . and they loved it Later, in the autum, some crushed dried leaves mixed in are popular too, it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Mine have compost in their trugs in the run for when it's raining or the other dust baths they have made under the trees and bushes are already engaged with prostrate chickens! They love it and are so funny to watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracyann Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I give mine spent compost from pots, I just tip it on a heap and they help themselves to it. My 6 hybrids like to "communal" dustbath all together, which is such a funny sight to see. They also sunbathe together - I like the way they lay there with one wing in the air. Hillarious... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Mrs Chicken Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 Thankyou for all your replies,i have filled the trug with soil and they seem to like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 What amazes me is how a white chicken can role about in her dust bath, look quite grey and then in about half an hour look like she has had a wash in Persil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
