[blossom1044]

we've recited our hen house and run.  It is now on concrete as before they were on grass.  We're adding wood chip and a dust bath.  dust bath - is old, but clean litter tray.

I think a dust bath should be ordinary garden soil.  Dh agrees, but he's suggested that we use the left over sand from DS sand pit instead.  (We replace DS play sand yearly as it gets bugs and all sorts).

So question - Sand alone is not a good idea?  Is sand ok anyway?  most garden soil has some quanity of sand hence why I think "some" might be a good idea or am I wrong?

[poultrygeist]

We started off with nothing but sand but over the months it's become a mix of sand, soil and anything else they kick into it !

I change/top it up occasionally.

if there's bugs in it, they'll be writing you thank you letters. They can snack while they bathe.  

rob  

[kimT]

I fill the girls dust bath with sharpes sand and just top it up as and when.

[FCG]

Do your chickens eat some of the sharp sand Kimt?

[Porffor]

i have sand at the bottom of our henhouse now (on the ground as it's raised) and they love digging around it in. but the former flower bed in front of the henhouse is their favourite dust bath place when it's dry.. they make us laugh with their rolling around and kicking up dust!

[blulagoo]

Do they eat some of it? My 5 have eaten about a third of a washing up bowl full in the last couple of months!!