Chicks and Dust Baths?

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WildCochinReba

WildCochinReba

Songster
7 Years
Apr 30, 2016
110
5
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I was wondering if it's okay to give chicks dust baths? Because my Cochin Reba's feathers look ruffled. Should I buy special dust for chickens? Or find some dirt?
 
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Chicks give themselves dust baths. A dust bath is when the chick rolls in the dirt. It's instinct for them to do these dry baths and it helps rid them of parasites. My chick's started going through the motions of "dust bathing" in their brooder at just about 2 weeks old, so about 12 to 14 days old. I don't understand YOU giving your chick a "dust bath" do you mean a wet bath? Or are you wanting to actually put dirt on your bird? It does not work like that. When a dust bath is needed it's something they do themselves. And they start doing it very early in life. As far as a wet barh, I wouldn't recommend it. The chick could chill and become sick. Dust baths are something they take care of themselves and start very young. Hope this helps and best wishes to you and your flock.
 
realsis said:
Chicks give themselves dust baths. A dust bath is when the chick rolls in the dirt. It's instinct for them to do these dry baths and it helps rid them of parasites. My chick's started going through the motions of "dust bathing" in their brooder at just about 2 weeks old, so about 12 to 14 days old. I don't understand YOU giving your chick a "dust bath" do you mean a wet bath? Or are you wanting to actually put dirt on your bird? It does not work like that. When a dust bath is needed it's something they do themselves. And they start doing it very early in life. As far as a wet barh, I wouldn't recommend it. The chick could chill and become sick. Dust baths are something they take care of themselves and start very young. Hope this helps and best wishes to you and your flock.
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Thank you for your reply! I wasn't going to bathe them in water nor was I going to put dust on them. I was wondering what age they should do a dust bath. Thanks for answering my question!
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I wanted to add Ruffled feathers can be a sign of illness, especially coccidosis. Watch for lethergic behavior, Puffed up apearence, excessive sleepiness, foamy or runny poo. All that can point to coccidosis. If you suspect coccidosis, treat the whole flock with Amprollium ( brand name Corid) I just wanted to bring this up because when you mentioned "Ruffled Feathers" it made me think of coccidosis. Not saying your chick has it. Just giving you the symptoms to look out for. Hope this is helpful.
 
realsis said:
I wanted to add Ruffled feathers can be a sign of illness, especially coccidosis. Watch for lethergic behavior, Puffed up apearence, excessive sleepiness, foamy or runny poo. All that can point to coccidosis. If you suspect coccidosis, treat the whole flock with Amprollium ( brand name Corid) I just wanted to bring this up because when you mentioned "Ruffled Feathers" it made me think of coccidosis. Not saying your chick has it. Just giving you the symptoms to look out for. Hope this is helpful.
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Thank you for the warning! Here are some pictures of her.
 
If you want, you can build them a nice dust bath, but any patch of bare ground is going to be used for dust bathing. Try to locate the dust bath in an area that they will use and where it will remain dry.



It's instinctual for them, they'll find a nice dry location and start...er...bathing. I have not planted my garden yet, so at the moment the communal dust bath for the flock is the nice dark, rich, fluffy soils of the garden. Once they pick an area, the dimensions of the dust bath may grow in size, unless you frame it with a boundary...


Dust baths can get pretty active and actually fun the watch. Believe it or not, in this photo there are 6 chicks and a duck.
 
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