GrannyTrish Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 The girls love scratching about in our raised veggie beds but DH has covered the beds with fleece now, much to the girls disgust. So I filled an old basin with sand and soil to see if that would placate them. They queue up to use it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Sillies! Might want to protect said veggie bed from hungry beaks! Do you have a dust bath for them? Similar tub filled with dry earth or sand will make them swoon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted March 13, 2018 Author Share Posted March 13, 2018 Veggie bed is now protected! I want to get a bigger container to fit all three of them and fill that with sand. I'm thinking of a kids sand pit/paddling pool; one of those rigid ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Funny how chickens are pleased by the simplest things. They will love something bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 I've ordered this tubtrug for them! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Looks perfect. The girls are lovely too. We used to have an old sandpit (the big green turtle), but it dropped down to a red tub trug and at the moment the little darlings have an oversized drip tray in the greenhouse. They loved the soil, but haven't used it since I added sand! They happily bathe in the gravel instead around the edge! This was a couple of years ago - Tipsy in the red, Merry, Pippin and Squirt in the sand pit. Then Skye had a go - actually she chased Tipsy out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 I've temporarily added another basin and just put sand in it. They love both of them equally. I love watching them have a bath! Your girls are gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 Connie is sunbathing in the new sand bath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) Mine have always been terrified of trugs etc filled with sand! They will only sand bathe when I put in a pile of fresh aubiouse. Not sure why. Maybe they don't like sand? Or large alien objects ? Edited March 22, 2018 by Patricia W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 On 3/15/2018 at 8:24 PM, GrannyTrish said: I've ordered this tubtrug for them! I like that! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 1 hour ago, Patricia W said: Mine have always been terrified of trugs etc filled with sand! They will only sand bathe when I put in a pile of fresh aubiouse. Not sure why. Maybe they don't like sand? Or large alien objects ? Maybe sprinkle some treats in a trug to tempt them in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 If you keep the tub-trug outside, make sure it has a couple of drainage holes in it. We used to keep one outside with a mixture of sand and soil in it but it got very yucky being left out in the rain. I love how chickens have their dust baths and enjoy sunbathing. It always makes me take a deep breath and think awwww. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 It is under cover, Luvachicken, although the rain could get in it if it was really windy. Once DH has extended the WIR, when he gets round to it , and put a roof on it, it'll go in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I've given up with artificial sand baths with this lot, Granny Trish. From time to time, in the sunmer, they'll dig their own. These are the oldies, between 10 years and 6 years, so they're rather set in their ways! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
