Dust bath inside the coop?

[pawsplus]

Can you do that? It's just mud in the run right now and will be for the foreseeable future. Now that I have a coop large enough, I'm wondering about putting a big plant tray of DE and sand inside -- would that cause issues w/ dust and the respiratory system, or would it be o.k.?

 

[Omran]

Quote:
Yes ofcourse you can,and your chicken will love it.

Omran

 

[jeannieo]

I picked up a big wooden box at the swap shack at the dump and put a bag of plain topsoil in it and they LOVE it. It took them a while to figure it out but now they are practically standing in line for their turns!

 

[Dawn419]

I'm using the Deep Litter Method in our coops (with pine shavings and DE.

I'd made up a dust bathing box for them then noticed that they like to dust bathe in the litter so I removed the box (instead of using it for bathing, several of the girls decided it was a nest box instead.

).

The old dusting box:

Goldie Hen (EE) and one of several dusting wallows (to her left):

Dawn

 

[cmom]

I bought one of those storage containers that will fit under a bed and filled it with sand. I keep it in the run and when rain is forcasted I just cover it with the lid to keep the water out.

 

[bills]

I dump our wood stove ashes, in a pile, in the run, which they soon make god use of.

 

[riley]

i think its a great idea im thinking samething i my coop. i like the deep litter method with de

 

[LynneP]

We use a box with play sand and food-grade DE. They love it. You can add Sevin or Dri-Kill if you get into a situation where you suspectlice or mites, or use it as a preventive.

It's under a platform to minimize spillage and anything that does get out coats the bottom of the ramp, a lucky break that treats the feet of those returning from outdoors.

 

[chickflick]

I use cat litter boxes filled with sand and placed under the nest boxes. They love it.