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Just like our shower , dust baths are an significant part of a wimp ’s daily procedure , helping to keep them light , sizeable , and look fresh ! follow learn how to make a DIY crybaby dust tub for your backyard flock .

This post will cover dust bath basic and often ask questions , including how to determine one up , the best dust tub “ recipe ” and ingredients to use , idealistic placement , pelting protection , idea for baby chicks , and more . We ’ll also search different dust bathing tub styles , include a simplemetal tubdust bath .

Three chickens are inside a chicken dust bath made out of a large metal tub.

What is a chicken dust bath?

A debris tub is any arena that a chicken uses to lay , fluff , and clean themselves in soil . It can be as simple as a natural depressive disorder on the ground that the chickens dig out themselves … and y’ all hump they ’re cracking at that ! Or , you’re able to make a chicken detritus bath to offer a designated post for them to bathe .

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A Barred rock chicken is standing in a metal tub full of dirt which acts as a chicken dust bath. Just beyond is an old fence, a metal hoop has been formed into the shape of a heart which is hanging on the fence.

Why make a chicken dust bath?

Why do chickens take dust baths?

Dust baths are important for a number of reasons ! Like many other birds , chickens of all ages apply fine liberal stain tokeep themselves cleanand tidy . By literally wallowing in the dirt , fine particles of George Sand and soil work their way between feather , cleaning them in the process . Along with preen and grooming , junk bath prevent feathers from becoming too oily – keeping plumage full , fluffy , insulating , and piss - resistant .

Chicken dust baths are also an authoritative way tonaturally prevent and hold parasiteslike insect or mites .   Even more , rubble bathing helpskeep chickens coolduring spicy weather condition … and heat accident is common and often deadly to volaille ! The very top of the dirt may finger lovesome on a hot day , but once they fluff and shimmy down a bit deeply , they ’ll detect comfortably cooler soil enjoy .

Most chickens will take a good junk bathtub every day , or every other 24-hour interval . They seem to absolutely roll in the hay it . When they ’re complete , they get up , shake like a andiron , and let the debris fly !

Four chickens are laying under the protection of a lemon tree, they are laying amongst gorilla hair mulch.

Related:10 Ways to Keep Chickens Cool During Heat Waves and Hot Summer Weather

Containers Options: What to use for a chicken dust bath?

you could make a chicken junk bathing tub fromany with child , across-the-board , shallow container . A few great examples let in :

Since dust washup is acommunal activity , choose a container or area that is large enough to accommodate at least 2 or 3 shuttlecock at once . In fact , you may want to congeal up several junk bath areas – specially afteradding new chickens to the flock . The more , the spanking !

It ’s also right toadd drain holesto the bottom of the detritus bath container so it does n’t get too muddy when it rain . We ’ll babble more about rain protection in the “ location ” section below .

A close up image of an Easter egger chicken who is brown in color with a fluffy beard and cheeks. She is laying in dirt while two chickens in the background are pecking around, beyond that is a lemon tree full of bright yellow fruit.

Ingredients: What do you put in a chicken dust bath?

Sand or plain shit can make an adequate dust bathtub for poulet . However , adding ingredients likelime , diatomaceous earth , and/or woods ash will propose enhanced blighter protective cover – explain more below .

habituate the next recipe to make the sodding volaille dust bath :

Optional dust bath additions

These optional detritus bath fixings help keep common parasite , and are also corking to add to the coop or nesting boxes . Add justa sprinkleof the following to your dust bathroom recipe :

take note : It ’s best to avoid DE , lime or wood ash tree in dust baths for baby chicks , but using dry out herbs is hunky-dory !

Where to locate a chicken dust bath?

Chicken dust bath maintenance

Dust baths are reasonably low upkeep . However , you may want to periodically check the debris bath to remove poop , sticks , or other undesirables from the area . The container may also get low over metre , as the volaille fling the dirt out , or take the air away with it in their feather ! Top off with more territory and guts as needed . Finally , add a fresh handful of lime tree , DE , woodwind ash tree , and/or herbs once every month or two .

Do baby chicks need dust baths?

Yes , baby chick and immature pullets wish to take dust baths too ! In fact , you ’ll often see them laying and bungle around in their incubator bedding – model a dust bath . Create a mini junk bath for chickswhen youset up a chick brooderby filling a modest , wide , shallow container with sand and/or fine dry soil . Any container or tray that ’s short enough for them to well rise in and out of will do , such as a composition board shoebox lid . Do n’t add lime , DE , or other additions though . Chicks are sensitive at this stage !   Learn moreabout raising sister chicksin our beginner ’s guide .

And that’s the dirt on chicken dust baths.

You may also bask :

How to Make a Chicken Dust Bath (Recipe)

Equipment

Instructions

Notes

Four chickens are lined up along a wire fence that is framed with wooden 2x2’s, two large metal tubs sit just beyond along an old fence line that are used as chicken dust baths.

A metal tub is shown upside down, the bottom of the tub has a large hole cut out of the bottom and the edges of the hole have been lined with duct tape to protect from the sharp edges.

A sand bag full of sand, a bag of lime, and a blue bucket of native soil sit next to each other in front of an empty metal tub. These are the makings of a chicken dust bath. Beyond there is a large coop and run where the chickens reside.

A hand is holding a handful of dirt and sand to illustrate the texture and makeup of the contents in the metal tub that is visible below.

A metal tub is full of dirt and sand with a sprinkle of lime on top which will be mixed into the soil and sand. The bag of lime sits just outside the tub to illustrate the brand of lime used.

A Barred rock chicken which is black and white in color with a large red comb is sitting inside a metal tub full of dirt which is acting as a chicken dust bath. Two other chickens pick around the outside area along an old fence.

A long and narrow chicken run made of 2x4’s and hardware cloth is featured with a small coop attached to the far end. On the opposite end there are 2x4’s being used as a roost by a chicken and a dead tree that is secured as part of the structure in which one of the chickens is roosting on a branch. Below there is a metal tub filled with dirt and two chickens are standing around the outside of the tub. The floor of the run is covered in straw.

A two part image collage, the first image shows a close up image from above of three baby chicks playing in a chicken dust bath, a tannish blonde and a black chick are both inside the dirt bath while a lighter tan chick is peaking her head inside from outside the box. The second image shows the scene from ground level, all three chicks are inside the bath, picking around mostly while one of them is standing tall, staring straight at the camera.

Three chickens are inside a chicken dust bath made out of a large metal tub.

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How to Make a Chicken Dust Bath: Easy DIY Ideas