childrens sand pit or chicken dust bath?

pete_inthehills · childrens sand pit or chicken dust bath?

We were in tescos today and they had a deal on a nice plastic sand pit and two bags sand for a tenner.

I instantly thought "what a lovely children's present." no, no, not really, what I actually thought was "what a lovely chicken dust bath".

I'm going to sink it in the ground, add the sand and some diatomaceous earth, build a roof over it and it'll be all weather dust bath.

When I told the lady at the tills about my great plan. She gave me a look. But didn't say anything.

pete
inthehills

Smooth Hound

good idea

i get funny looks like that too

it always seems so logical, till you tell other people

then they put doubt in your mind

if it hasnt got chicken dustbath on the box, then its not one

Forget-me-Not · Sand Pit

Brilliant! I used my bottom bit to make a wildlife pond but have kept the lid for a roof to be made over chook food shelter. Green tortoise roof, very stylish!

Have dropped a few hints to OH, he just heard your post and has decided to build it today!!!!!

Thanks Pete!

Beth

Julie

I hope you can persuade them to use it after spending all that money. The chickens will make their own dust bath in any bit of sparsely foliated ground so if you just clear a small patch for them to use they will be just as happy.
I love to watch them get up from a good wallow. They shake like dogs and clouds of dust emanate from them.
It always puts me in mind of the time I patted the seat on the bus to tell my daughter to sit down

I've never wanted to sit on one since and that was nearly thirty years ago

Forget-me-Not · Chook bath

I got ours from freecycle for the children and then recycled it after them. I originally had raspberry canes down there and moved them, my chooks use the craters left for their dust baths. What makes me laugh is the way they laze in them, first time I thought the hen had died but used to them lying all squ whiff (how on earth do you spell that?) now.

The botom bit made a great pond base with dark liner over the top, those pre fab ones cost a lot and I never saw one on freecycle, now I'm hooked and would like to build another, my Dad started like this and now his latest is as big as a pool.

Beth

pete_inthehills

I'm going to use it as a way of medicating the chickens. I'll put sand in, but I'll also add lice power and the like.

With a roof over it, they'll always have somewhere to go even when we're having torrential rain.

pete
inthehills

Forget-me-Not · Sand pit

Great idea!

My food shelter is being made as I speak, the food has been under the trees but only a matter of time or wind direction until it turns to mush. Next, a chook shelter; they have two trees, a bench and some plants for shelter but all will be no good in autumn. They do have a purpose built shelter but they don't use it as has filed with nettles. I'm hoping to get a cheap new shed in the autumn that can be customised and can replace this one as decades old.

On a sad note, we just found Morag, our scruffiest old rescue, dead.

Beth

Kelly

ooh Pete I have one of those!! Its the green turtle one! I need a roof though..of COURSE i was going to put the lid on when it rained ..like I did when the kids played in it...so oops..chicken paddling pool now

They do like me moving it and finding bugs underneith though

childrens sand pit or chicken dust bath?

Sand Pit

Chook bath

Sand pit