Dust Bath

[Denninmi]

Quote:
Its not very complicated. Get some kind of shaker -- recycle a shaker bottle from something like bath and body powder or Gold Bond powder. Or get a powder sugar shaker from a kitchen supply store. Or just take a quart jar with some kind of lid and punch a bunch of small holes in it. Fill it with the DE, and then start shaking it over the back of the chicken. If you can, try to lift the wings and get some under there. Usually once you start, they get the idea and like it. Just try not to get it in their eyes.

 

[sammyh312]

if theyre in a run area, theyll usually make thermselves a dust bath area or three. as far as DE goes, i just sprinkle food grade out of an old cottage cheese container. theyll mix and scratch it themselves

 

[Lisa202]

I have a couple low tin containers (about 24" diameter and 5" high) and I fill it with peat moss and sprinkle DE in with it. They love it and will eat some of the dirt also. I just mix DE in until I see the it's mixed in and you can see it in the dirt. Mine started dust bathing when they were in their teens. Your avatar looks like they are plenty old enough to be dust bathing. Is that a buff brahma roo? I have one too.

 

[jjj]

mine have taken over a half wine barrel (meant for flowers) and they roll around and hangout in it...it is about 3/4 full with just dirt....they love it.

 

[Moonkit]

Mine were using the cypress mulch in mother's flower beds..

Its amazing how many half-grown chicks can fit into a tiny spot, but they seemed happy!

 

[ILuvMyPetChickens]

I wish mine would take a dust bath.

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

My frizzle hen looks just aweful after her dust bathes. She is white and the dirt seems to sit so close to her skin. She walks around with a puff of dirt falling from her.

 

[ILuvMyPetChickens]

That's how my White Cochin looks.

 

[ninabeast]

My Light Brahmas haven't been white since they moved into the sand-floored coop. Oy. Small price to pay. Mine dust bathe in groups pf 4 or five. Pretty funny...

 

[sadies chicks]

The first time I saw my EE take a bath she was maybe 5-6 weeks old and I FREAKED cause she looked like she couldn't walk and was having a hard time standing afterwards. I realized that she probably exhausted herself after seeing her up and running a few minutes later. I had pine shavings in their baby coop and they went to town in it. Now they are outside in the dirt and love taking their baths!!

Oh and my white silkies do the same thing! They used to be so pretty

now they are just dirty chickens