Chickens dust bathing on the deep litter coop floor

[Livvydays]

My chickens are about 16 weeks old. I noticed one of them dust bathing on the coop floor which made me worry this habit might increase its chances of lice or mites. I am doing the deep litter method. I did have their dust bath bin in the coop but I moved it outside in the run because of needing more space in the coop for the nesting boxes plus I thought reducing the dust would be better as well. They have been using it in the run just fine so not sure why it was trying to do dust bath in the bedding in the coop. Should I be concerned? Should I move the dust bath back into the the indoor coop? If it keeps happening Should I stop using the deep litter method to prevent lice or mite issues? Thanks in advance!

 

[ChickQueen77]

I don't clean my coop all winter and I see them dust bathing and none of mine have mites or lice

 

[rosemarythyme]

If most of the birds use the dust bath out in the run (or dig their own outside) then it's not really an issue. Maybe a little annoying since it'll spread dust around the inside of the coop, but that's all. I'll catch a few of mine on occasion rolling in the coop litter as well, especially towards the end of a year (I clean out annually) as the litter breaks down into tinier pieces.