Many people new to raising chickens are not aware of a chicken dust bath, but it is one of the most important things chooks should have for overall health. It is as important as food and water! Do you need some chicken dust bath ideas? What is a chicken dust bath?
A chicken dust bath is a way for chickens to stay clean – it is their version of showers in humans.
The dust helps remove mites and lice, and other parasites that may be living in their feathers and legs.
It also serves as a way for chickens to relax and socialize, so they usually ‘bathe’ in groups. If your chooks do not get access to a dust bath, they may become infested with bugs and show behavioral problems.
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Dust bathing is a natural behavior that chickens do as soon as they start to develop feathers. If they are free-range, you may find that they have already created a dust bath themselves.
Now creating an artificial dust bath for chickens is needed if they are not free-range or living in a relatively small backyard with no spot for them to dig and bathe.
There are many ‘recipes’ for creating a chicken dust bath.
But basically, all that’s needed is soil containing a relatively equal mixture of sand, silt and a bit of clay – a loamy soil.
The size of your chicken dust bath, on the other hand, will depend on the number of chickens you are raising. As mentioned earlier, they love doing it as a group since it is also a social activity for them. Make sure to build one that can accommodate about three chickens at a time!
Need to make a dust bath for your chooks? Here are some great ideas for you!
1. Chicken Dust Bath Ideas from Old Tires
2. Stump
3. Pallets
4. Plastic Bins
5. Kiddie Pool
6. Bricks
All credits are given to TheOwnerBuilderNetwork.co for this awesome content
Shannon Stansberry has been engaged in the business of raising chickens for more than 12 years. In 2016, she accomplished the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. At present, she tends to more than 80 chickens on her 4-hectare farm. Shannon regularly shares her insights and experience on how to raise healthy and contented chickens on the platform Typesofchickens.com
