Dirt Bath container

[nthole]

Wanting to embed a container to hold the dirt bath for my girls in their new run. What size should I be looking at for the 4 of them. I was thinking of using an auto oil change pan dug mostly into the ground. New of course! It would be under a roof section so should stay mostly dry but I can drill some drain holes in it to ensure any water drains through and out.

 

[Chickensandhorsesforlife]

I would go big enough for 2 birds to fan out, and they will squish into it. Mine huddle together so hawks do not see them as food. smart girls

 

[3KillerBs]

If you give them access to the ground they will happily dig their own dust baths.

 

[RojoMarz]

I use an old plastic doghouse for a dust bath.

 

[perkolator]

I use an old aluminum boat, seems big enough to retain most of the dirt when they're tossing it around. They don't always use it, they just dig a hole pretty much wherever the sunlight hits, I've got holes all over the orchard from chickens dust bathing in random places when free ranging

 

[Sally PB]

I have an old circular metal washtub. I can set it about 4" into the ground so it stays cooler in the summer, and the sides catch most of the sand the chickens fling around.

They love it. And two or three other places on the bare ground.

 

[microchick]

There is an area in their run where the soil stays loose and powdery. I can usually find 3-4 there. I use kitty litter buckets turned on their side for nesting boxes. In the winter I just keep one empty and throw sand in it for them. they take turns going in and dust bathing. Makes a heck of a racket but they seem to enjoy it.

I've tried giving them a dish pan with sand, a tire filled with sand. They dug for bugs in the tire and laid eggs in the dish pan.

I was thrilled that they found something they actually would use. I guess each flock is different.

 

[kerbotx]

I saw this on reddit a few months ago, clear tote with lid:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardChickens/comments/j6s7mx

 

[K0k0shka]

Whatever you end up using, make sure it has very tall walls. Otherwise they'll kick all of it out.

 

[nthole]

I saw this on reddit a few months ago, clear tote with lid:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardChickens/comments/j6s7mx

I love this idea! Thank you! I have one little spot next to my run that is about 1.5ft x 3ft under the nesting boxes. I could take a container like this, cut and entry way and build a way to attach it to the run. They could go in and out and I then have access to the lid to clean and replace without even going in the coop. Just have to make it so I can secure the lid from predators. Great idea!