Dust bathing – Why, where and how? Keeping your flock clean and happy.

Even though I have always tried to put sand inside the coop for dustbathing (VT winters } I never thought to contain it so it disappears quickly.. great article and I will be putting in a container for the sand/ashes.. thank you!

This was great! Thank you! If I didn't read this, I probably would have never even think of making a dust bath for my chickens! It makes since now though, when my chickens make a little hole for themselves in my garden! I thought it was them just trying to stay cool. Again, thank you!

thank you! I needed this. I love the ideas I am seeing and think I know what I will do to keep my birds happy.

This was very informative and actually lead me to rethink how i was going to setup dust baths for my new babies. This helped me make a safer, more informed decision. Thank you!

Loosely following this “recipe”, I made a nice dust bathing area in my run using sand, a little diatomaceous earth, some ash from my wood burning fireplace, some pine mulch, and potting soil. I was quite proud of it.
My chickens turned their beaks up at my bath and made their own in another spot in the run. They prefer theirs which they created by scratching up a bunch of dirt. Lol.

I'm getting ready to make a dedicated dust-bath area for my pullets, and I was glad to find this article while searching the site for ideas.

Thanks for the helpful tips and the photos help too!

Great article. There are dusting holes all over my yard. Perhaps creating an area would confine some of this. Potting soil is a great idea. Have tried adding ash to their holes but wasn’t sure they liked it.
Thanks for writing this.

Thanks for this informative article.
It was fun to read and loved the pictures!

Everything needed is covered and well explained.

Excellent advice, good pictures!

WOW! Thanks so much for the time spent on this article. I have no questions or doubt about the why, where and how of dust bathing and it's benefits. Great Article!

Awesome!!! Learned so much...especially “WHY???” Thanks a bunch!!! Love to learn!!!

Good details on how and why for a dust bath. I like the idea of building an enclosed area.

I like the simple idea of the homemade all weather dust bath. It is an idea we will probably pinch ready for autumn and winter. Mine love potting compost. They love sun bathing in it as well.

I needed this article so much! I was just arguing with my chickens today about their choice area to dust bathe themselves. Going to build them their own big one so they don't ruin my raised garden beds.

I enjoyed this article very much. My hens dust bathe in holes that they have dug themselves in their run. I do use DE every now and then in their bathing holes and it does not seem to affect them negatively but to each their own. I like the idea of putting the insecticidal dust in the bathing holes, that's very clever. Thank you for this!

I didn't think about setting aside a specific area for my girls to dust bathe in, but after reading this I don't think I want to chance them upending my garden once I get to planting this winter.