It sounds counterintuitive, but chickens roll in mud to stay clean! Although this habit may seem strange to us, rolling in the mud is pure heaven for a chicken. Furthermore, it plays many important roles in keeping a chicken healthy and clean. To ensure your flock is at its best, make sure you give them plenty of opportunities to bask in the glory of the dirt! Not sure how to give your chickens the best dust bathing experience? We've got you covered. We offer some DIY dust bathing ideas and details on the art behind the chicken dust bathing protocol.
What is chicken dust bathing?
The behavior of rolling in dirt is called dust bathing. All chicks instinctively feel the need to take action on this unique (and endearing) activity. Chickens even participate in dust bathing.
Chickens aren't the only creatures that participate in this ritual. In fact, all birds take a dust bath. This also applies to squirrels, chinchillas, horses and zebras.
All chickens love to 'splash' in the ground. Even northern herds passing byfree range in summeroften benefit from a self-built dust bath in winter, when they may not be able to get to their usual bathing places.
What exactly is a dust bath?
A dust bath is simply an area of loose dirt where chickens can roll around in the ground to take a dust bath.
If you've ever seen a chicken taking a dust bath, it may seem strange and uncomfortable at first. If you haven't already, imagine a chicken lying in the ground, rolling and flopping around as it uses its feet to kick loose dirt into its damp feathers.
Dirt can really fly when a chicken takes a dust bath!
Why do chickens dust bath?
Dust bathing is essential to the health and happiness of your flock. If you don't give them a dust bath area, they'll make one themselves!
Chickens dust bath for several important reasons. Chickens do not bathe in water. Given the amount of feathers they have, allowing many wet feathers to dry out would jeopardize their survival in the wild. So instead, chickens take a bath in the mud!
Dirt works just as well to help keep a chicken clean and free of parasites.
Here are several reasons why dust bathing is important for chicken health:
1. Oil check
A chicken has an oil gland that produces oil that the chicken can apply to its feathers to keep the feathers clean and water-repellent. Rolling in the dirt absorbs excess oils that are sometimes produced by the oil gland.
2. Prevention of external parasites
The dirt can suffocate and dehydrate small external parasites, which like to hide under a chicken's feathers and feed on the chicken's skin or blood.
3. Head health
Dust bathing helps remove dead skin cells and promotes healthy skin. In this way, a chicken dust bath is similar to a spa treatment with mud or even a salt scrub.
4. Dust bathing builds community
Dust bathing is often a community activity in which many pack members participate at the same time. The more the better in the dust bath hole! They seem to enjoy pecking at the ground while each bird takes a dust bath. While dust bathing, the chicks also eat small insects they find and ingest small pieces of gravel to aid digestion.
5. A welcome relief from the heat
Like pigs in mud, a layer of dust helps keep your chickens cool. Additionally, only the top layer of dirt or dust in your flock's dust bath tends to heat up under the sun. As your chickens scurry and shake in the deeper soil, they'll find a layer that's much cooler – and perfect for a hot summer day.
6. Enjoy and enrich
Chickens really enjoy the community activities. Not only does it feel good to bathe in dirt, but it is also a stimulating and enriching natural behavior.
Plan your DIY chicken dust bath
Fact: Chickens love dust baths. So much so that they will try to make their own dust bath at any cost if you don't give them dust bath space. And even if you give them a dust bath, they may prefer a different spot and completely ignore your chosen spot!
To make a DIY chicken fabric bathtub as attractive as possible, you need to consider a few factors.
1. Location, location, location.
Before you decide where to put your chickens' new dust bath, consider where they will want it. Chickens naturally choose a place that is protected or has a protective element nearby. Loose dirt near thick shrubs or at the base of trees are often ideal locations. Wet, heavy dirt is not good for dust bathing.
Like 'most chicken', the dust bath should ideally remain clean and dry.
Ideally, you should build the chicken dust bath in a spot where the dust bath used to be. When they go to take a dust bath, they will be pleasantly surprised to find that their bathing area has been upgraded!
Chickens like options
Chickens also like the opportunity to have different areas where they can dust bathe. Sunny spots are ideal for cool days or for sunbathing and dust bathing at the same time. Shady areas are ideal for super warm days when your flock feels like itdust bath to stay cool.
A chicken dust bath can be made in the chicken coop, in the chicken coop enclosure or in the free range. If you introduce a dust bathchicken coop or fenceMake sure the area is far enough away from feeders and walkers to prevent dust from contaminating the flock's food and water. Also make sure the area is far enough away from perches and nest boxes for the safety of your flock.
2. It is important to contain the dust storm
Before you dive into your DIY dust bath, consider how you want to contain the dust bath. Chickens don't always like to be kept within certain boundaries when dust bathing, but if placed in a prime location or constructed correctly, you can give your flock an enclosed dust bathing area that they will love!
Size and inclusion
When choosing a method to contain the chicken dust bath, consider the size of the dust bath. Because dust bathing is a communal activity, the dust bathing area should accommodate at least 3 to 4 pack members at a time, preferably more members if the pack is large.
Dust bath container options
Here are some chicken fabric bath containers for you to consider:
- Crates or shallow wooden boxes
- Custom made plastic bags
- Galvanized barrels
- Old large flower pots
- Surround an area with planks, logs or large rocks
3. Keep the dust bath dry
You may consider building a shelter over the dust bath to keep it dry. But you still want some sunshine to reach the dust bathing area, as chickens like sunny places to dust bathe.
4. Ingredients for chicken dust bath
Finally, consider the ingredients for the dust bath. Yes, chicken dust baths contain ingredients! While loose and dry natural dirt is often sufficient for a chicken dust bath, there are a few other modifications you might consider adding to the DIY dust bath you make for your flock.
The essential basic ingredient in a chicken dust bath should be plenty of loose dirt. It may be natural dirt wherever the dust bath is located, or you may have to make your own dirt mixture to fill a dust bath container for your flock.
Some sand will work
Sand is often a good choice for the dust bath because it remains loose and is easy to obtain. However, sand is often not the litter of choice for dust baths, so you will need to mix some extra dirt into the sand.
Sand can help exfoliate and remove excess oils, but dirt works better at suffocating and killing external parasites.
If you use sand, make sure you only use sandsand in construction quality.Construction sand is also called universal sand, construction sand or multifunctional sand. As a starting point you want coarse sand that is not super fine, which is what fine sand can lead toaffected cropupon ingestion. Do not use play sand in the chicken coop or in the dust bath, as this is often treated with chemicals.
Regular dirt will also do the job
A regular dirt bath is healthy for your flock! However, you may want to consider adding a few natural amendments to your flock's dust bath for additional health benefits.
Additional dust bath ingredients to consider
Check out these additional ingredients for the chicken dust bath:
- Diatoméjord: Diatomaceous earth helps kill external parasites. However, the fine silica particles can be very dusty and cause lung irritation. Limit the amount of DE you use in the dust bath area. A few drops are sufficient.
- Peat moss:Peat moss is a good addition to clay soil. It helps keep the dirt from the dust bath light and aerated.
- Sulfur dust: Sulfur dust is very effective in combating external parasites. It can be purchased and added to the dust bath mixture as an adjustment.
- Lime (not garden lime): Lime helps with odor control in the garden and helps kill pests.First Saturday Limeis a safe brand of lime to add to a chicken dust bath.
- Spices: Herbs can help repel pests and promote relaxation. The natural oils from the herbs may also provide health benefits. The chickens can nibble on them and they dust bathe too! Good herbs for the chicken dust bath include catnip, borage, cinnamon, ginger, lavender, mint, nasturtium, sage, thyme and yarrow.
- Wood ash or charcoal: Wood ash or charcoal can help combat external parasites. Be sure to use only clean wood ash and not ash made from burned materials other than untreated wood. Be careful when using wood ash and charcoal because they both contain potassium chloride, which can cause burns on the skin when wet.
How to make a chicken dust bath?
Once you've chosen the dust bath location, found a way to contain the dust bath, and have some dust bath ingredients on hand, it's just a matter of assembling the dust bath and introducing your flock to their new bath area! This is what you need to do:
- Start by setting up the dust bath container in the ideal spot or surrounding an ideal spot with rocks, short planks or logs.
- Make sure the dust bath is filled with a thick layer of loose, dry dirt.
- Then add small amounts of natural changes if you wish.
If you choose the location well and make the dust bathing area large enough and attractive, your flock will naturally want to use their new DIY chicken dust bathing area!
What if your chickens opt out of your dust bath?
If your chickens don't want to use your homemade dust bathing area and instead want to create their own dust bathing area somewhere else, consider why they might not like the dust bathing area you choose. Perhaps the dirt is not loose enough, the area is not large enough, there are too many additional changes in the dirt, or it is not protected enough.
How to make a dust bath for chickens?
From an early age, chicks feel the urge to dust bathe. Babies will often try to dust bathebrood wasteonce they are a week or two old. Whena mother hen raises chicks, the first thing she will often do when she gets the chance is head straight for a dust bath. Her chicks will follow her and learn the art of dust bathing.
Create a mini dust bath for your chickens
To get your chickens to enjoy a dust bath, simply give them a mini version of the 'big chicken' dust bath.
- Use a small, shallow container that holds the dirt from the dust bath. Just make sure that your chickens can easily climb in and out.
- Fill the container with loose, dry dirt. If you don't have a lot of dirt available, you can add some sand.
- Avoid making any changes to the dust bath at this time. Chickens are so small and sensitive that plain old dirt is best for them! However, adding a few sprigs of herbs won't hurt.
- Place the dust bath container in the brooder and watch your chicks instinctively know what to do!
Because it is a new object in the incubator, they may be afraid of it at first. Just leave it in the incubator and let the children try it out at their own pace. They will soon learn what it means! You may even need to limit dust bathing time if the children get too carried away with the 'bathing' or start eating too much of the dirt.
As the chicks get older, consider introducing them to the 'big chicken' dust bath if it is not used by the rest of the flock. A large version of their mini dust bath will be a joy for your offspring to discover and use!
Few things are as beautiful as a happy chicken in a dust bath
It doesn't get much more fun for a chicken than playing in your dust bath! A well-built chicken dust bath isa great gift for your flockwhether they are roaming free or locked in their cage and running! Giving your flock a place to take dust baths is the perfect way to keep your flock happy, healthy and of course entertained. Both chicks and adult chicks benefit from and enjoy dust bathing!
