Dust bath - container???

[Lucylou]

Second question of the day!

Poor chooks are trying to dust bath amongst the wood chippings! I gave them a large plastic tub with sand but they don't seem to like it. Its one of those rectangular storage boxes. I did wonder if it stands too high above the ground, what does everyone else do? Should I bury part of it? (Difficult in my clay soil 09 but I could try) or just get something else.

Thank you x

 

[rick]

I use a large bendy bucket but a bag of molehill in there is like adding bubble bath!

 

[Marigold]

It's fine if they want to bathe in the chippings. Probably they're warmer than sand at the moment, and they may well enjoy your lovely dustbath when the sand warms up. As Rick says, some dry earth will also be attractive. I add old compost from last year's pot plants when I have it.

 

[elmdene]

I use a large cat litter tray so two of them can get in together, which they love, although the contents do spray out a little bit. I use old (dry) growbag compost with a bit of wood ash from the woodburners and a generous sprinkling of diatomaceous earth. They do seem to like it 'alfresco' - usually it's positioned under cover so it doesn't get wet, but whenever I clean them out and put the tray out on the grass in the sun, they immediately jump in!

 

[Lucylou]

Thank you, will persevere on their behalf! Never thought of the warmth/cold aspect, I'll put it in the sun (if it actually arrives!) this weekend to see what happens.