How to Make the Best Chicken Dust Bath
How to Make the Best Chicken Dust Bath
How to Make the Best Chicken Dust Bath
Chickens learn instinctively how to clean themselves… but not with water. Chickens use a dust bath to clean themselves by getting rid of bugs and parasites that do not belong in and around their feathers. You’ll often see them finding a dirt spot or ash area to nestle within, then gathering together to preen themselves with their beaks.
Your feathered buddies will usually find a place to take care of their cleaning business. However, its really a smart idea to create a dust bath within the run or in a covered area (or both). When the weather is bad, providing a covered dust bath will allow them to continue uninterrupted with their cleaning rituals. Chickens have glands that secrete oils. Over time, excess oils and dead skin can build up, creating the perfect home for parasites. The fun part about the whole process is that there are many ideas out there for recipes and containers (such as Simple living Country Gal’s tires) to help your keep your chickens happy! I prefer a more shallow bucket (pictured) but there are so many ways to create a bath.
Other containers can be used to hold the dust bath material. Start with an item around the house such as a metal shallow bucket or a kid’s small swimming pool. Some people use tires as well as wood boxes.
Ingredients
There are a few things needed in their bath mixture:
- Dry dirt
- Wood ash, clean, not from wood pellets or commercially produced fire logs, not from a charcoal grill
- Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
- Construction Sand (not too fine)
- Herbs (mint, thyme, oregano)
- Edible flowers (nosturtium, violets)
This is a great guide to help get started!
My favorite herbs to use in my chicken’s dust bath are thyme and mint. These are the best for me because there is such an abundance in my garden. Feel free to hang bunches in the chicken coop to dry or use them fresh in the dust bath mixture. Thyme also helps with keeping flys at bay. Here are some other herbs that you can use as well! Happy dust bathing!
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But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
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Shopping List for all things chicken related
These are some resources that we are using:
Where to keep the chicks when you first get them!
Cashton Farm Supply for feed and more
Grow from seed any plants to feed the chickens!
A great resource for leaning about chickens and all other aspects of homestead living!
Heated water bucket for norther winters!
Growing resources
Great website for other recipe mixes
Here is a great place to order seeds.
Strainer Lids for jars (Sprouting)
Another option for straining (Sprouting)
Trays for growing Microgreens with Domes
A Kit if you would rather have everything together
Good resource for explaining and growing sprouts versus microgreens
Another great resource for information
Best site for buying seeds: High Mowing Seeds- Microgreens
Other Equipment you might like:
Gardening gloves (these are awesome)
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By reading this website, you agree that the information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not meant to treat, diagnose, or cure illnesses or diseases. This website does not replace medical or veterinary advice by a licensed veterinarian. LifeintheGreen.House is not a licensed vet.
Chickens learn instinctively how to clean themselves... but not with water!