allyson Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 i have 3 chickens, all between 18 and 20 weeks old. i have had them for nearly 3 weeks and they have settled in really well and one is already laying (gorgeous little Ginger). Today they have demolished a pot plant and made it into a dust bath, throwing soil all over my patio and patio doors in the process!!! little devils. What i would like advice on is how to make them a dust bath? what should i use ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 try posting in the chicken section for more relpys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Allyson, I hope you don't mind but I'm going to move this posting into chickens, I think you'll get a better response there That said I use an old washing up bowl, that I filled with dry earth out of last summers spent grow bags, and I've added a generous sprinkling of louse powder as well, not sure if that'll be effective but anything to try and deter the little blood sucking beasties (the lice that is ). Any container that'll hold a reasonable quantity of dry earth that wouldn't be too easy for over enthusiastic chooks to knock over would do the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 i got a really good under the be storage box for 9.99 from homebase its about 7" tall and about a meter wide, plus it has a lid so you can close it at night so no rain can get in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I used the plant pot that they demolished (they obviously liked it ), topped it up with compost and sand plus red mite powder and diatom and put it by their run. They use it as soon as they are let out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 washing up bowl and cat litter tray. Litter tray is best BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 I use a cat litter tray and just put dry compost and/or play sand in it with a generous sprinkling of red mite powder. All three girls squash into it and have a great time flicking sand and dirt all over the place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Have had mine 2 weeks and they don't seem to be doing the dust bath thing yet - should I be worried? I haven't provided anything purpose built for them, but having said that they have a choice of empty(ish) flower beds and plant pots. Is it because things are rather wet at the moment? Should I make a sand box for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 i've had mine 2 weeks and they show no signs of dust bathing yet either...i've put a plant pot with compost in the run but they thunk it's food! I'm going to get a littler tray and try them with that.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allyson Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 thanks for all the advice, i will set up a dustbath as advised. It is good to know i can rely on the forum for help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridgy chooks Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 We got our girls a purple trug to match the eglu...they love it! We got the large one and half buried it in the ground in their run, then filled it with dry soil, sand and red mite powder. It was from countywide...here's the link! http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice;jsessionid=95A6C7A97BEACA73FC9196080C763827?ProductID=1325 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I used the plant pot that they demolished (they obviously liked it ), topped it up with compost and sand plus red mite powder and diatom and put it by their run. They use it as soon as they are let out. Snap! But then they just moved onto another one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fryer Cluck Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 My four have the use of my greenhouse - spoilt or what! Cucumbers and peppers for me were a disaster this year so my large greenhouse with its bone dry soil is a chicken dust bath-but what a mess! Still I sprinkled lice powder on the soil and when it rains the girls can be found each in their own dust bowl having great fun! So far they have ignored the flower boarders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 How big does it have to be? Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Not big, Jen... sonme people have used flower pots & there was a a cute picture on the following link http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10904&highlight=dustbath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 I used the plant pot that they demolished (they obviously liked it ), topped it up with compost and sand plus red mite powder and diatom and put it by their run. They use it as soon as they are let out. Snap! But then they just moved onto another one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Mine dig holes in our garden whatever we give them Abbie took weeks/months to start dustbath and didn't do it even if the others did. She just picked for food around the bits of earth they dug up. She now dustbathes in either an aubiose/food mixture, or as yesterday the tray full of layers mash they scatter on the floor It is very powdery, but OH thinks we now need to empty it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Min did it today!! A hole in my garden. Sandie kicked it up a bit and then they all had a good roll and flap with their eyes shut. It was soooo cute, like a big chicken orgy, with purring and whirring noises and beaks and feet everywhere. Florence (cat) was a bit confused... I think she thought they were ill and maybe she could have a go at getting that chicken supper she's been after! But I must get a container with a lid for them, as I'm a bit worried the cats will decide their chosen spot is a toilet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
