redcharlie43 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Hello everyone. As quite a newbie to the forums can I pick all your brains on dust baths please? Up until the rain this weekend my girls were using their fenced off areas to dust bath which was fine. These are now mud pits so I want to put a dust bath into their run this weekend as they have to be kept in this week due to work commitments. What would you recommend I use. I have got a dust bath from Omlet but it seems quite small and shallow and knowing my girls they will just kick all the wood chippings from the run into it. Does anyone use a flowerpot? I quite like the idea of this as its quite high and will give them something to jump up to. Also what do you recommend goes in the dust bath? Thanks you for any ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splodge88 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Ours use a tyre full of pete soil...sure they would love a flowerpot too tho have heard other people sometimes use sand or things...but ours love the soil they also love to dustbath in the vegetable patch...but thats not always appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 My 3 girls have just a plastic deep square storage box .I just keep it filled with any dry soil or old potting compost.They love it as when I fill it up there are usually a few worms etc., in there.I also sprinkle red mite pwder or sanatizing powder on the top...At the moment the place they like when they FR looks like a mud bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memphisto Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Ours have a grow bag tray from the garden centre which is quite long and a good depth. We used a bag of top soil and a little play sand left over from our son's sandpit in the summer, I hasn't to add he hadn't played in it, it was what was left in the bag after we filled the pit They like it.....although they've now taken to congregating at the end of the garden and have made a little dust bath up there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Millies Chicken Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I use an old plastic dog bed which sits under the cube. I 1/4 fill it with a mixture of soil/sand and sometimes woodash. Although it does take up some floor space cause it has rigid sides it also doubles up as a perch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I've just bought a brand new one of those for my Border Terrier! Great idea for a dust bath though and a fantastic photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Mrs Chicken Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I use a shallow tubtrug which is of course is purple to match my eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Warrens Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I use an old plastic dog bed which sits under the cube. I 1/4 fill it with a mixture of soil/sand and sometimes woodash. Although it does take up some floor space cause it has rigid sides it also doubles up as a perch. i recently chucked one of them away becuase i didnt need it anymore, ggrrrrr wish i had kept the thing now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcharlie43 Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Thanks, I don't have dogs but will hunt around the house for something similar. My OH says I have a storage obsession so I should be able to find something suitable. I think I will have to dry some soil out before I add it to the dust bath. I have some dry sand so will put that in too with some diatom. I think I will try the flower pot but if the girls don't like it I will try a shallow trug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 If you have a tub and not a flowerpot it will be big enough for them all to get in and have fun at the same time instead of queueing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Mine have a coupe of garden trugs, which are empty at the moment, I need a quick trip to the garden centre for some more compost. Job for today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 ive got a low plastic trug but gladys has decided she prefers wood especially if it had plats in ,,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazzy73 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 What a great piccy really made me chuclke,I think chickens arent into new things they love the "grungey" look stuff mine hate it when I rake thier run all nice neat and level they look at me like I have ruined all their fun but between the five of them it looks like the craterville again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 she doesnt want to bath in cheap plastic rubbish wood is far more vogue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Lovely photo Sammiboo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcharlie43 Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 Yeah! At last the dust bath has been used I have been at work all this week and have been out every morning at dawn and every night with my torch to make sure the chicks are safely in bed. They have not used the flower pot up until last night but today I noticed auboise all around the flower pot rim. It looks like they have been in the dust bath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Bless 'em. Only brought my new girls home yesterday and this morning they were rolling around having a dustbath in the hardwood woodchips on the floor of their run! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I use a shallow tubtrug which is of course is purple to match my eglu. Same here! Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
