The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on February 07, 2018, 02:57:19 pm
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it is good? :chook:
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I read that somewhere and provided it, and robins etc. use it, but my chooks prefer dry soil...
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Dry soil (dried molehills is relatively clean from vegetable matter and muck) or dry soil mixed with sawdust. I son't like them breathing in ash.
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It depends on your set-up. In the winter we let our hens into the polytunnel so they can dust bathe in dry soil, but for the rest of the year they are not allowed in. So, if it's raining then they might not be able to find anywhere dry to bathe. However, ours have now made themselves a batheing area in a dirt floored leanto. We did used to leave a tray of wood ashes under cover for them, and they loved it, and sometimes now we add ashes to their favourite spot. We never had respiratory problems when our hens did use ashes alot, but it could well be a risk factor. I suppose you could add diatomaceous earth to their batheing hollows, or to soil in a box, and that would help against passengers, which is what wood ashes do. I used to be doubtful about the use of DE but now I like it.
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We put wood ash in our soil baths if they are using them frequently, which can be a sign of lice. Used in moderation in the chickens' dry soil bath it does indeed control lice well, but it is completely useless against any red mite carried on them.
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I once made a big covered dust bathing area for our hens and filled it with a mixture of dry soil, sand and wood ash.
The hens loved it. Unfortunately our cat thought I'd built him the best outdoor toilet in the valley! This situation persisted until our neighbours built a 1000m2 outdoor riding arena filled with wood chips. The cat thinks this is the best outdoor toilet in the whole universe, so thankfully now leaves the hens alone!