65Making A Dust Bath For Your Chickens
Don’t you take a shower or bath EVERY DAY!
I love to see people’s reactions when they ask how I bathe my chickens. When I tell them that chickens love to take baths in the dirt, they give me a puzzled look and usually ask a few more questions. I remember the first time I saw a chicken dust bathing…I thought for sure she was flopping around to her death. Little did I know, she was probably having the time of her life! When I learned that chickens get dirty to get clean (strange I know!), it made so much more sense.
Why Do Chickens Dust Bathe?
Chickens learn at an early age that when their feathers start feeling a bit dirty, it’s time for a bath. They usually dig a shallow little hole and will burrow down into the loose matter (dirt, dust, sand or whatever they can find) and start happily flipping that said material all over themselves. They continue this action until the dirt has settled down into their skin and has covered their feathers. They do this to keep little bugs like mites and lice away. Once they think they’re “clean” enough, they stand up and shake off like a dog shaking off water after a dip in the lake. They will usually do a little preening (using their beaks to clean off any excess) and move on to their cute little routines for the day.
Chicken baths are sometimes a social event where multiple chickens will roll around in the dirt together. Chickens are very social birds and don’t like to miss out on anything exciting in the coop or yard.
A healthy and good smelling hen NEEDS to take a dust bath on a regular basis. Chances are if your bird stinks she does not have access to a dust bath and if she doesn’t have access to a bath, the probability is higher that your flock will carry lice and mites.
For those of you that have watched chickens dust bathing, I think you will agree that it is not only comical, but shows your hens in the utmost state of contentedness.
During the act of dust bathing, chickens will do their best to get as much “dirt” as they can all over their bodies down to the base of their feathers. This in turn actually cleans the chicken (see ingredients below) and will asphyxiate any pests that may potentially prey on them.
If you let your hens free range and DON’T provide a dust bath in the coop/run, I guarantee that they WILL make a dust bath where your favorite plants are growing. If you do not let your hens free range, or they are limited to free ranging because of Winter conditions, than it is essential that they have access to a dust bath. The need is ingrained in their behavior and essential to their personal health. So…… why not build a dust bath in your chicken run?
How to Make a Dust Bath for Chickens
In order to get started, you will need a container for the dust bath. I only have 3 hens and an old apple crate that is around 12 “deep, 15″ wide and 24” long works well for this application. If you have a larger flock, you will need a larger container. I’ve seen kiddy pools used for this purpose and they appear to work well.
Next, you are going to need to fill the dust bath with 4 essential ingredients. The 4 ingredients that you will need are:
- Builder’s sand (don’t waste your money on the more expensive kid’s play sand).
- Wood ash – I get the ash from my wood stove and take out the larger charcoal pieces with a cat litter scooper.
- Soil – If you are purchasing soil, make sure it is fertilizer, chemical and vermiculite free.
- Diatomaceous Earth Make sure it is FOOD -GRADE and not for use in pools. The bag MUST read For LIVESTOCK FEED. See more on Diatomaceous Earth in on following page.
Wood ash
Diatomaceous Earth
Sand, Soil & Swifer
Add equal parts of each ingredient to the mixture and top up when necessary. You will know that your hens are using the dust bath if:
- You find some of the “bath” contents on the floor of the run.
- You see them nestled up together in the crate throwing dirt on each other.
- They are free ranging and suddenly shake from comb to feet and a cloud of dust emerges around your hen.
Honda demonstrating for you!
So……before it gets too cold or your chickens destroy your prized petunias, why not make them a dust bath. They’ll thank you with being vermin free and consistently giving you all the eggs that they are capable of laying.
Here is another way on How to Make a Dust Bath for Chickens
How to Make a Dust Bath for Chickens?
Honestly, I could build the coolest dust bath in the world and some of my girls will still roll around in a patch of dirt or even their bedding. Chickens are curious little creatures and have minds of their own. However, with that said, I still like to provide them with all they may need to stay healthy and happy.
My daughter and I worked together to create this little dust bath and the girls are going wild over it.
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Baby pool (You could also use a galvanized tub, large wooden crate, sturdy plastic bins, old tires or lids from a sandbox.)
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Black dirt
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Sand
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Wood ash
The girls checking out their new bath
Strong Animals Chicken Essentials has carefully formulated all of its products to ensure the safety of your backyard poultry. Preen Queen uses peppermint and citronella essential oils to keep everything smelling fresh. To maintain your dust bath, clean out droppings regularly and replenish the “dust” materials every few weeks or as needed.
Just about every time I head out to the coop, there’s at least one chicken in the dust bath. They have taken full advantage of their new “powder room” and it makes me so happy!
giving the bath a try. I think she likes it!
Dust baths are super important for the health of your chicken. Lice and mites and other bugs can quickly make a chicken really sick. By taking regular dust baths, your girls’ will naturally combat these little pests!