Dust baths are a chicken's way of keeping clean. The fine sand or dirt
in their bathing area keeps their feathers in pristine condition and
helps them stay free of mites, lice and other parasites. Your chickens
will enjoy bathing and sunning themselves - and often bathe in groups.
It seems dust bathing is a communal activity! Here are a few tips to
building a BETTER dust bath area for your flock.
Often chickens will choose their own spot to bathe - whether it be next
to your prized rose bushes or in the middle of your dirt driveway -
creating deep 'bowls' as the wriggle and squirm to get the dirt deep
under their feathers. You can 'encourage' them to use the spot YOU
choose by picking a dry spot that gets plenty of sun and is out of the
wind. Once you've found your spot, it's time to get busy.
Stumps/Logs
I loved the idea of ringing the spot I chose in stumps (inspiration found HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE),
so after we lost a tree in a storm, my husband cut the trunk into logs
and I was ready to set up the dust bath area! The stumps help keep the
dirt contained and every so often when I overturn the stumps, you should
SEE the bugs and grubs for the girls to munch on! Our chickens also
love to stand or perch on the logs to get up out of the mud or snow.
Umbrella
My original dust bath area was great when the weather was dry, but took
forever to dry out after it rained. So I had the idea to construct an
umbrella over the bathing area. I used a stick and old vinyl tablecloth
for mine, but you could use a large beach or golf umbrella just as well.
Now the bath stays dry even in inclement weather and provides nice
shade when the sun is directly overhead, but is still in the sun as the
day progresses.
Dirt/Sand
Any loose, dry dirt or clean sand is a great medium for your dust bath.
We have sandy soil here, so I just carted a few wheelbarrows full into
the run and dumped it into the bathing area.
Wood Ash/Fireplace Ash
Wood ash or charcoal is a wonderful addition to the dust bath area.
Charcoal contains Vitamin K (a blood clotting agent), calcium and
magnesium so those benefits will translate when your hens nibble on the
wood ash as they bathe and rummage through the bathing area, as they are
prone to do. Charcoal absorbs toxins and research suggests that after
forest fires, wild animals will consume it for its medicinal properties.
Charcoal is also a laxative and helps cleanse the body of toxins, as
well as internal parasites, much like charcoal pills for humans. Note: Never use briquettes or any wood that has had lighter fluid or other chemical coating on it.
Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth
kills mites, lice, fleas, ticks and other parasites by cutting through
their hard-shelled exteriors, so is also great addition to a dust bath,
although opinion varies about the safety. It is non-toxic to mammals,
but the dust and small particles can irritate the lungs and respiratory
tracts of humans and chickens, so some experts advise not using DE in
dust bath areas where the dust will get stirred up.
We do use it in our dust bath in small amounts and always cover it with some dirt, feeling that by mixing it with the dirt and wood ash it is less likely to become airborne and breathed in, and the potential risks are far out-weighed by the very real chance of your chickens contracting mites and then having to be treated with Sevin Dust, Frontline or another equally harmful carcinogen or commercial preparation, which we DO NOT ever recommend. So just take care when applying DE in the dust bath area.
We do use it in our dust bath in small amounts and always cover it with some dirt, feeling that by mixing it with the dirt and wood ash it is less likely to become airborne and breathed in, and the potential risks are far out-weighed by the very real chance of your chickens contracting mites and then having to be treated with Sevin Dust, Frontline or another equally harmful carcinogen or commercial preparation, which we DO NOT ever recommend. So just take care when applying DE in the dust bath area.
Dried Herbs
Dried herbs sprinkled in the dust bath area can also be beneficial.
Dried lavender, mint, and rosemary are all good choices, as they are
natural insecticides. Dried anise, fennel, ginger, seaweed and wormwood
(artemesia) also help repel parasites. Dried yarrow is an
anti-inflammatory and helps clear respiratory systems as do thyme and
rosemary.
Dust baths not only help your chickens stay in tip-top condition, but
also stay parasite-free. Bathing is also a very enjoyable past time for
them as they writhe in the dirt and then stretch out in the sun basking
in the warmth together. These few tips should help your chickens enjoy
their best dust baths ever. As the quote from Field of Dreams goes, "If
you build it, he (they) will come." The same applies to dust baths!
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| -even the little ones love bathing once Mom shows them how- |
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| -Dust bathing is nearly always a communal activity- |
To read my original dust bath post from 2012, and see some great dust bathing 'action' shots, click HERE.
Original post by: http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2014/06/build-better-dust-bath-for-your-chickens.html#more
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