Southern Wisconsin Times

Keeping chickens requires more than just providing food and shelter. Dust baths are essential for their well-being, as they help maintain feathers, control pests, and fulfill natural instincts. Blain's Farm & Fleet offers a guide on creating a dust bath, emphasizing its importance for chicken health and happiness.

Chickens use dust baths to remove oil, dirt, and external parasites like mites and lice. This activity keeps them itch-free and maintains feather condition. It also provides mental stimulation by allowing them to engage in natural behaviors.

Providing a designated dust bath area can prevent chickens from damaging garden beds while offering a cleaner environment for their health. To create a dust bath, gather basic materials such as:

- A container or space: Options include tubs, wooden boxes, old tires, kiddie pools, stock tanks, or ground pits.

- Ingredients: Dry dirt or sand as the base; wood ash for pest control; optional food-grade diatomaceous earth; optional dried herbs like lavender or mint.

- Tools: Shovel or trowel for mixing; optional cover to protect from rain.

Steps to set up a dust bath include selecting a dry spot with sun exposure in the yard or coop. The container should be stable with dimensions of at least 36 inches in diameter and 6-12 inches deep. For ground pits, dig two to three inches deep.

Mix sand or dirt with wood ash in equal parts using a bucket or directly in the container. Add diatomaceous earth and herbs sparingly if desired. Blend everything evenly with tools and fill the container halfway.

Encourage chickens to use the bath by scratching the surface lightly or placing it near areas they frequent.

Regular maintenance involves keeping the dust dry, refreshing materials every few weeks, removing debris like feathers and droppings, checking for pests, and adding more diatomaceous earth if necessary.

Blain's Farm & Fleet advises caution when using diatomaceous earth due to potential lung irritation in chickens if overused. They recommend avoiding uncovered baths in wet areas and ensuring baths are placed in sunny spots for maximum appeal.

The guide emphasizes that setting up a dust bath is simple but beneficial for flock health and happiness.