Cinders / ash for dustbathing?

[kathyd]

Hi

My louse powder packet seems to suggest that you can add a layer of the powder to a bed of cinders or ashes as a dustbath for the chickens once you've dusted them yourself... is it OK to use ashes as a dustbath? I would have thought it might make them a bit dirty, and it might be a bit powdery.. but then they get pretty dirty when they dig out their own in the garden I suppose, and the soil gets quite powdery in dry weather, so.. has anyone tried using ashes? Does it sound like a good idea?

[RichmondHens]

Wood ash is fine, coal ash isn't. But you may find your hens don't like it anyway. Mine have mixed reactions, some are happy scratching around in it, but not many bathe in it. Most of them turn their noses up and go and find a mole hill (we have half the UK population of moles living here it seems) to use instead.

[Hilary B]

Ash is dusty, dusty.....dustbath....., The idea is to get some dust in under the feathers! Not all dust is suitable of course, but dustiness is certainly not a drawback!
Cinders are NOT dusty, and ttherefore unsuitable.
I've seen people recommend a mixture of woodash and compost, placed where it will stay dry.
Wet ashes are VERY unsuitable, wet woodash produces alkali!

[kathyd]

Ok thanks.. I just thought I'd read that 'dust' is bad for them because it affects their respiratory system or something - hence wood shavings rather than sawdust - but I guess it wouldn't be going in the coop so it'd be OK!

I have plenty of wood ash - wood's our main source of heat at the moment! I'll save the next lot instead of putting on the compost heap.

<<dustiness is certainly not a drawback!>> Which probably explains why they keep trying to get into the house! Lol . Maybe I could just attach a chicken to the end of a stick and hey presto, 2 birds with one stone so to speak! .

I'll put some ashes into a washing up bowl and see if they like them, or if they just ignore them like they pretty much ignore the sand I put down previously ... I suspect they'll do what RH said some of her's do, and spread it all over the place. Mole hills eh? Hadn't thought of that one.. wondered if I should use it as seed compost, but hadn't considered dust bathing! See, another bright idea, thank you!

[jessmorris]

I use spent compost mixed with diatomaceous earth. I put it in a big fishbox in the greenhouse, so the girls can have a nice warm 'bath' and preen!
JM