dust bath

[clucking chicks]

Please could an expert give me the ideal recipie for making a dust bath for my ladies? I am fed up with waiting for the rain to stop so they can find a patch of dry soil!

Thank you!

 

[Marigold]

i mix up about 45% dry play sand, 45% dry earth or old flower pot compost, and about 10% wood ash from a garden bonfire. I then add plenty of diatomaceous earth or redmite powder so they will treat themselves whilst using it. You need a good deep box under cover so it stays dry.
Some people say you shouldn't use old garden compost because there may be residues in it, but once it's been used I've never had any trouble from it.

 

[tygrysek75]

I use only play sand,wood ash(from bonfire and diatomaceous earth on top time to time.I'm using old tire from my car to keep the sand inn it works very well and sand stays mostly there.My run is dry most of the time,unles is rains really hard and for long time so I have some water siping thruu,but tire stays dry.They using it during the winter too.

 

[BabyBantam]

I use a a giant flowerpot (see avatar). I fill with old compost, sand, soil, in fact anything that I can get hold of that they are willing to bathe in. I always add diatom and mite powder. It's totally portable and so I can move it into the dry, or renew the contents without a fuss.

 

[WileECoyote]

Ah! Didn't know ash from garden fires could be used this way. Next time I have such a fire I'll mix some of the ashes into the girl's favourite dust bath spot. Presumably the potash has some sort of anti-pest properties?

 

[chrismahon]

Yes it does WileE. It is the recommended treatment against red mite in France, where all the chemicals we use here are banned for environmental reasons. The other weapon is lime wash, as their chicken houses are usually stone built. Presumably you have tried to buy chemical pest treatments over there?

 

[WileECoyote]

... Presumably you have tried to buy chemical pest treatments over there?

Not yet, I'm a relative newbie to chicken keeping. So far my pullets are happy and healthy so I've had no need of any medication for them.

 

[Stapfam]

Don't use one as my run is covered and the girls make their own dust bath area- but I have seen some Dust Bath trays being sold. About 2ft x 2 ft with 9" sides and a cover over the top to keep it dry. Seems ideal if you have space in the run to put it. I am on clay soil but my girls manage to break it down to a fine dust and seems ideal so sieved dry soil that is dry from your garden with possibly some sand mixed in would seem ideal. Bonfire ash from WOOD fires may help aswell taking in mind the red mite deterrent. Just make certain that it is not so fine that it forms a dust cloud when being used.

 

[Sue]

I use 50% play sand and 50% top soil, both bought from B & Q. I have to buy it as I don't have any spare soil in the garden. I add Diatom to it and mix well then add more Diatom on top. It isn't under cover, but I cover it up if it rains. Keep meaning to build a shelter for it, but haven't got round to it yet!