The Bantam of the Opera Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 So here's me thinking now that its winter, its colder, its wetter and the sun is rarely out that my chooks would not dustbath as often. I mean its not like there's any dust around for them to bath in. but i went out at lunch time to visit them all and herro came charging down the garden from her favourtie bathing spot and shook herself off all over my trousers, Big clumps of wet soil and mud all over my shins. Thanks herro Do anyone elses hens like to do this? maybe herro is just giving herself a mudpack. ive always wondered what her secret is to getting those silky feathers lookingso good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Ella had a dustbath yesterday in wet soil. Misty had one today in the same spot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenzin Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Put a small roof over the dust bath area , it'll keep it dry and they will spend more time there having a bath . 2 big logs at either end and a large sheet of plywood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 good idea! thanks ill try and get it to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Mine do that too Jem and my white chook is brown now I've givent hem a cat litter tray full of earth and fire ash in the dry run and they are now using that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Oh mine do this by choice! The first time they went in the farm behind me they did it in heavy recently ploughed clay, that was lovely The first time I noticed it I thought one had some horrible disease as I could just see all this brown gunk around the shafts of the breast feathers, thought it was some hideous festering injury they are funny yet skanky critters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Funny you should post this, today my girls have dug a nice hole in my boarder and covered themselves! Missy apon seeing me jumped onto my decking and sprinkled clods of earth everywhere. That will teach me to get round to building them a proper dustbath with sand. My White star isnt looking so white! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I made mine a lovely dust bath from play sand. They totally ignore it and roll in the mud instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 yeha ive tried covering over the area to keep it dry. what do they do? make a new one. i guess they didnt approve of my DIY skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...