Dusting boxes

[WitchesFullMoon]

Is it important to have dusting boxes for the chickens? Does anyone have one? How do they actually work?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you asking about an area to dust bath in? They do need a dry patch of dirt to do that.

 

[Dagmarvelous]

Chickens definitely need a place to dust themselves. It's their way of staying clean, getting mites/parasites off them, as well as cooling down. If they have access to an open yard/area, they will chose a place with loose/loamy dirt or sand.

They tend to pick the places you don't want them top pick, so providing a box/tray for them encourages them to dust in there. It also allows you to add DE (diatomaceous earth) and wood ash, which also helps keep the parasites at bay.

I made my box out of a large cement mixing tray ($12 at Lowes), but peeps make them out of kiddie pools, low storage bins, etc.

 

[Nana's Chicks]

Where do you put the dusting baths? in the chicken run area??

 

[Almost Acre]

Where do you put the dusting baths? in the chicken run area??

Anywhere out of the rain, and has relatively easy access to