Dusting boxes

[baitgirl70]

What exactly is a dusting box and what do you put into it?

 

[debakadeb]

Chickens like to take dust baths. You can provide them with a sand box (dusting box) or they will take their dust bath in the dirt. Mine use the dirt that is in their run.

 

[Davaroo]

Dusting serves several functions for chickens.

1. It is social.
Something like a wading pool for people, they like to do it together.
2. It is healthful.
Clean dust is worked in around their feathers and skin to keep mites and other insect pests at bay.
3. It is cooling.
Rooting in the dirt, in a hole in the ground helps to cool the chicken when it is hot.

Chickens seem to know just where they want to do this dusting, when left to their own devices. They are rather particular about it, in fact, and frequent the same dusting spots, from my experience.

If you are going to provide them with a dusting box, then give them a shallow box 6" deep and about 2.5-3 ft square. Fill it about half full with clean, sifted dirt, sand and wood ashes in equal proportions.

 

[baitgirl70]

Thank You