How do chickens make their own dust baths?

[kWEEN_k0BRA]

Welcome to the forum from Louisiana. Glad you joined.


Chickens may be new to you but they've been doing their thing instinctively for thousands of years without help from humans. Things like hatching and raising chicks, laying eggs in nests, setting up flock dynamics, finding their own food, roosting, and dust bathing. The big difference is that they did all that while free ranging. Now we house them in coops and runs which restricts their ability to do some of that. If you have enough room, a high quality of forage, and are willing to take the chances of predators they can still manage most of that on their own. Most of us don't have those circumstances so they may need some help.

If they have access to dirt they can create their own dust bath areas. Even if you have a run covered with some type of mulch like wood chips or straw they may be able to tunnel down and find dirt. You can build a dust bath for them and they might use it or ignore it. You never know what they will do.

Keep observing them. You'll learn things about how they behave and how they put their society together. You'll also learn that not everything you read on this forum is correct for your chickens. We house them and manage them in so many different ways that what works for one person may not work for another. And you'll see things that makes Chicken TV better than anything you'll see on Cable, Antenna, or Satellite.

Yeah they definitely are entertaining, that’s for sure. Thanks for the advice!

 

[kWEEN_k0BRA]

I take my chickens on day trips multiple times annually as educational tools. They are released at the sites to largely do as they please as people watch. When a bird is interested in dust bathing it looks for some things that I have noticed.

First, location ideally has an unobstructed view around it. Second, soil / dirt is relatively dry. Being in direct sun is particularly important when temperature is low. They seem to prefer finer soil particulates although they can make do with coarse sand. Those in my barn with dig holes in 2" gravel to get down dusty base. Excavation usually starts with bird lying on ground and digging with bill. Then while crouching the feet are used to dig in a manner like used to construct a nest bowl.

Mine also seem to like doing it over ant nest that have the formic acid stink. Ash from burnt wood is really popular too.

That’s really interesting. Mine chose a spot along a tree line, half way under a bush. It’s fairly secluded give. That it’s behind the run/coop on th other side of the trees, and also has some additional trees/shrubs around it. But it’s hot here, so they may be hiding from the sun currently.

 

[centrarchid]

That’s really interesting. Mine chose a spot along a tree line, half way under a bush. It’s fairly secluded give. That it’s behind the run/coop on th other side of the trees, and also has some additional trees/shrubs around it. But it’s hot here, so they may be hiding from the sun currently.

Consider putting your face down to their level to see what they see.