How soon can I use DE for dust baths?

[JoannaRae]

Hi all! New chick mom here! I have four, 3ish week old chicks (two unknown breeds, one silkie, one frizzle). I was wondering how soon I can make a "dusting station" for them to take dust baths in with diatomaceous earth.. any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[azygous]

There are other things better and safer than DE for dust bathing. DE is made up of diatoms, brittle skeletons of sea creatures that lacerate delicate tissue and can be a respiratory risk, no matter how much everyone touts its benefits. If it's protection against parasites you wish to impart in the dust bath, sifted wood ash works just as well.

A good dust bath medium for baby chicks is sand or peat moss, and you can give them a tub to frolic in as young as a week or two old.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

If these are your first batch of chickens in new facilities and property (no chickens before), then you don't really need to do anything yet.

Most birds don't dust until they have feathers. I think the earliest I've seen dusting is at 8 to 10 weeks. I normally don't see dusting behavior until they are adults.

So unless you see mites/lice, I wouldn't worry about it quite yet....not until they get feathers. You can put a box out if you like.

However, I have concerns with DE. It is known irritant to lungs (the small crushed silica actually produce razor like abrasions). Bird lungs are delicate, even more so with young chicks.

I've not seen solid evidence that DE is that effective. I personally prefer to use permethrin dust, which can be applied to chicks at a young age if you see evidence of infestation.

Otherwise, provide a box out for when they are ready.
LofMc

 

[JoannaRae]

Good to know! I had no idea it could be potentially harmful! I noticed the babies attempting to "dust" themselves in their bedding so I thought it was time to add a little dusting area to their pen. Is there a specific grade/type of sand or peat moss I should purchase?

 

[debid]

I made a dust bath available for mine starting at one week (when I let them into their run) and they began using it almost immediately both for fun with scratching in the dirt and dustbathing. I just put loose dirt in one of those big rubber bowls but then they are outdoors so I'm not concerned with the mess they make. And they do fling that soil... I refill the dish as needed.

 

[azygous]

It's in chickens' DNA to dirt bathe, and yes, they seem to know exactly what to do with a bowl of sand or peat moss or even pine shavings as young as the beginning of the second week.

There is nothing so cute and good for lots of giggles than watching tiny downy chicks whirl those little feet around tossing dust or sand right in your face.