If you have chickens, you’ve probably seen your hens dig a hole in the ground and roll around in it to get as much dirt under their feathers as they can. You might have wondered what on earth they are doing and why. Well, the answer is simple: They’re taking a dust bath!.
Dust baths are not only a fun activity for chickens but also play a vital part in their hygiene and health. In this blog post, I’ll explain the benefits of dust baths, the best ingredients to use and how to create an effective one for your flock.
They love to dust bathe, as you know as a chicken owner. It’s an important habit that helps them clean their skin and feathers, get rid of extra oil, and keep pests away. But have you ever thought about what the best materials are for a chicken dust bath? This guide has everything you need to know to make a nice dust bath for your chickens that they will also use.
Why Do Chickens Dust Bathe?
Chickens know that a good dust bath keeps them clean and healthy. When their feathers start to feel dirty, they look for loose material like sand or dirt to roll around in. The dust soaks up the oil on their skin and feathers. Also, it gets rid of dead skin cells, parasites like lice and mites, and other junk.
Dust bathing is a social activity for chickens. They often bathe together, scratching and flinging materials over themselves with enthusiasm. A good dust bath leaves their feathers fluffed up and clean.
What to Use in a Chicken Dust Bath
While chickens will happily dust bathe in any loose material they can find, not all materials are created equal. Some work better than others to clean feathers and deter pests. Here are the best dust bath substrates to use:
Sand
Fine, dry sand makes an excellent dust bath material. It is slightly rough to help get rid of dirt and skin flaky bits. Sand is also hard for parasites to stick to because it is rough. Plant-grade sand that doesn’t have any chemicals should be used. Children’s play sand works very well.
Wood Ash
Wood ash has microscopic jagged edges that dislodge debris from feathers. It also contains lye which helps to control oil and kill microbes. Use wood ash from untreated, unpainted wood or charcoal. Do not use ash from chemically-treated wood, coal, or fire pits.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural sediment made of fossilized diatoms. It has sharp edges that can cut into soft-bodied insects like mites. Make sure to use food-grade DE designed for use around chickens. It’s also very drying, which helps remove excess oil.
Dirt or Clay
You can use regular dirt, clay, or topsoil from your garden. Choose fibers that are loose and fine so that chickens can fluff their feathers. Do not use potting soil or any other type of dirt that has chemical pesticides or fertilizers in it.
Peat Moss
This is a very absorbent material made from sphagnum moss. When dry, the coarse texture helps rub away dirt. It’s naturally moisturizing too. Look for organic, chemical-free moss. Rinse thoroughly before use to remove any excess dust.
Straw or Hay
Dry straw or hay make great additions to a dust bath. They add bulk and allow chickens to get an invigorating scrub. Use straw or chemical-free hay that is fully dried. These materials on their own lack abrasiveness, so pair them with something grittier.
Setting Up the Dust Bath
Now that you know what materials to use, let’s look at how to set up the perfect dust bathing station:
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Location: Pick a dry, covered spot inside or outside the coop. Provide at least 2-3 ft. of space for chickens to roll around.
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Container: Use a low plastic tub or bin, cement mixing tray, baby pool, or wooden box. The container should be just deep enough to hold 2-4 inches of material.
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Drainage: Add small drainage holes if using a plastic or wooden container. This allows the bath to stay dry.
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Mix of Materials: Use 2-3 inches of an assortment of materials like sand, DE, wood ash, and straw.
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Turning: Turn or till the materials daily to keep them light and fluffy.
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Refreshing: Top off or replace materials weekly or whenever they appear packed down.
Maintaining the Dust Bath
To keep your chickens dust bathing happily, follow these maintenance tips:
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Remove droppings daily to prevent soiling of the dust.
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Rake or stir the materials frequently to prevent compaction.
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Add or replace substrate as needed to maintain 2-4 inches of depth.
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Fully change out the dust bath every 2-4 weeks as materials get dirty.
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Use litter rake to sift out feathers, bugs, and other debris.
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Check chickens regularly for signs of external parasites.
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Provide ample space for all chickens – 10-15 ft. per bird in the run.
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Make sure chickens have access to both shaded and sunny areas.
With the right mix of materials and proper maintenance, a dust bath can be an enjoyable retreat for chickens to cleanse themselves naturally. Pay attention to how often your flock uses it to ensure their bathing needs are fully met. Happy dust bathing!
The Best Ingredients for a Dust Bath
A key ingredient for a good dust bath is sand. Sand has a fine texture that can easily penetrate the feathers and skin of chickens and it also absorbs moisture and oil. However, sand alone is not enough to create a good dust bath. You should also add other ingredients to enhance the effectiveness and the aroma of the dust bath. Here are some suggestions:
- Soil: This gives the dust bath greens and minerals and helps the sand stick to the chickens’ bodies.
- Adding wood ash and charcoal is a good idea because they kill bacteria and parasites. For your chickens, they also give them vitamin K, calcium, and magnesium. Make sure that the wood ash and charcoal you use don’t have any nails, chemicals, or fire starters in them. These things can hurt your chickens.
- Wood shavings: These add a carbon source that will soak up any chicken poop that the hens drop while they’re taking a dust bath. Wood shavings should be made from soft woods that have not been treated and should be free of dust.
- Add some scent and flavor to the dust bath with dry herbs. They are also good for you. Lemon balm, wormwood, rosemary, mint, thyme, and ginger are some of the best herbs to use. These herbs can help with pain, inflammation, and infections. They can also keep bugs and rodents away.
- Bugs Away is a product that has diatomaceous earth in it, which is a natural insecticide that kills parasites by drying them out. After adding Bugs Away the first time, it’s a good idea to add a sprinkle about once a month to make your dust bath work better.
How to Make a Dust Bath for Your Chickens
Making a dust bath for your chickens is easy and inexpensive. You only need a good container, a dry place to store it, and the things we listed above. Here are the steps to follow:
- Find a container that can hold more than one chicken at the same time. In an ideal world, it would be at least 60 cm across and 20 cm deep. You can use an old toddler sandbox, a plastic tub, a wooden box, an old tire, or anything else that can hold the dust bath stuff.
- Pick a spot that won’t get wet or windy because you want the dust bath to stay dry and comfortable for your hens. Put it under a roof, a tree, a tarp, in a shed, or, better yet, in your coop or run. Your flock should have a good-sized run, and you shouldn’t let them roam around freely very often. Keep your dust bath inside the run or coop. Putting it in direct sunlight can make the dust bath too hot for your chickens to use in the summer, so don’t do that.
- Each of your chosen ingredients should be filled up to at least 10 cm deep in your dust bath container. Make sure to mix them well. You can use any ratio you want, but a good rule of thumb is to use 20% sand, 20% soil, 20% wood shavings, 10% wood ash, 10% charcoal, 5% dry herbs, and 5% Bugs Away.
- Put the dust bath where you want it and let the chickens enjoy it. You can also add toys like balls, bells, and other things to make it more fun and interesting for them.
How to Make a Dust Bath for Your Chickens (With the Right Ingredients)
FAQ
What is the best mix for chicken dust bath?
What should I put in my chickens’ dust bath? Include a mixture of fine sand or dry soil, wood ash (from untreated wood), diatomaceous earth (food grade), and dried herbs like lavender or mint.
What can you use as a container for a chicken dust bath?
For a chicken dust bath, you can repurpose a variety of containers, including galvanized tubs, old tires, kiddie pools, children’s sandboxes, or even dresser drawers. Other options include large plastic tubs, wooden crates, or even a metal fire pit ring.
What soil can I use for a chicken dust bath?
You can buy sand or use regular dirt. If you have rich topsoil, you might want to mix it with some sand. The point is to have loose dirt your flock can easily toss over themselves.
Can I use Quikrete sand for chicken dust bath?
Do not use Quick Crete construction sand. It can contain silica. That’s a rough way to die for little chickens.