Topic of the week - Dustbathing

[FlyingNunFarm]

I found this on Facebook and realized it might be the solution for my bird's Dust bath. I have Peahens and chickens, so the dust bath needs to be sized for both. When it isn't getting rained on, the cat is using it for a litter box. I'm going to try this tent idea and see if it works.

Love this! Have to see how it holds up to claws and snow. (I see you're not from me in Ohio) Maybe lay down an extra tarp in the bottom before you fill it for extra ground protection.

 

[meetthebubus]

Where I live the dirt is sandy-ish so I don't need a box, we use the area by the bushes! here's a link to a video that shows them, they're so cute!

 

[BucksNducks]

I don't use DE in my dust bathes for this reason. I've also never found it to be very effective against mites/lice.

Thank you, I think I will be passing on it too. I can definitely give them wood ash though. The neighbor's llama is always rolling in their ash pit so I assume it's doing something for him and might help the chickens out too.

 

[Banaynaychicken]

if you have Polish chickens, I dont recomend DE.

their respiratory system is VERY sensitive and it can even kill them.

 

[Charlieleejr]

I'm new to raising chickens. I had no idea they needed a dust bath. I dumped the ashes from my smoker out in the yard one day and my hens had a field day. I asked about this on another site and they told me exactly what they were doing. Now, that's where I dump my ashes for them every time.

 

[IRNHIDE]

So based on what I am reading I should have a dust bath in the brooder for my chicks?

 

[Banaynaychicken]

So based on what I am reading I should have a dust bath in the brooder for my chicks?

yes, but start with something that is more coarse than ash of AB1 dust.

sand is highly preffered, as long as it is relativley clean.

my chicks prefer the carpet XD

 

[PirateGirl]

It's been snowing and my pullets are young and still getting acclimated to the outdoors, and after reading this and seeing how young people start their chicks with dust baths I realized mine were missing out. On our first warm dry day this week I decided they needed to get in on the dust bath action. I simply took a few shovels full of dry loose dirt (my dogs had been digging for prairie dogs again so I had a nice pile of it in the garden), and dropped it into the chicken run. They all found it pretty quick and went to town! I'll probably add to the pile from time to time and toss in some ash from the wood stove as well. They love being outside so much, I can't wait until they can stay out all day while I'm at work and enjoy scratching and digging for hours.

 

[Luffa]

What's the reason for the wood ash? It seems like it might make them look (if not act) smutty.

 

[centrarchid]

What's the reason for the wood ash? It seems like it might make them look (if not act) smutty.

Particle size and density I think is part of the benefit. The small low density particles penetrate feathers down to skin very well where they interfere with the external parasites ability to hang on. The alkali nature of the particles may also be of benefit. In a free-range setting, the ash deposits may be associated with good sites to dust bath. My birds seem to look for areas that are warmer than average yet near cover.