Why Do Chickens Need a Dust Bath?
Dust Bathing is like a Spa Day for Chickens
Whether it's the heat of summer or the drizzly muddy depths of winter, your chickens will love the luxury of a good dry dust bath. It’s not just for fun, it’s for their health and happiness.
In Video No 12 (below) of our popular #AskPhill series, we dive into the details of dust baths.
Phill not only explains why dust baths are so important for your flock, but also gives you easy tips on how to set one up. And honestly, you won’t want to miss his hilarious impersonation of a dust-bathing hen … it’s guaranteed to make you smile!
Simply half-fill the tray with some nice dry/dusty friable earth, or sanitised Play Sand (NOT builders sand!), add a little Diatomaceous Earth Powder to help with mites, and place it in a corner of your Run or in a sheltered part of the garden that they love to frequent. The Curved Dustbath above is a particular favourite.
You can find everything you need to help your hens have the perfect dust bath in our Chicken Dust Baths section. With the Dust Bath options we offer, as well as Children's Playsand, it will keep your chickens clucking with joy.
A Dusty Cleanliness
It might seem strange to us water bathing creatures, but dust baths are like a day at the spa for chickens. Chickens naturally produce oils that, if left unchecked, can attract dirt, debris, and even pests like mites and lice. Without a regular dust bath, your chooks might find themselves with skin irritations, infections, or even lice infestations.
And any chicken keeper will tell you, if you don’t give them a purpose made space, they will create one just where you don’t want it – in your flowerbeds!
When your chickens (or any birds) take a dust bath, they’re actually scrubbing themselves clean - nature's way.
By wriggling around in the dust, they remove excess oil, dirt, and parasites from their feathers and skin. The dust helps to regulate moisture on their skin, reducing the chance of infections. It’s like they’re getting a skin cleansing exfoliation, chicken style!
A Chicken De-stress
But creating a Dust Bath isn't just about chicken cleanliness, dust bathing is a natural behaviour for chickens. It provides them with entertainment and stress relief, especially when they’re confined to a run. The rhythmic digging, flapping, and rolling helps them unwind, and it’s quite funny to watch too!
So, next time you see your chickens flicking the dust around, you will know that they’re not just hell-bent on making holes, they’re instinctively taking care of themselves.
Now watch the Video ...
Watch Phill's Video below for hints and tips, and visit our selection of Dust Baths and Playsand so that, no matter what the weather does, you can let your flock enjoy the benefits of a good dust bath.
©flytesofancy 2024
