How to Create A Dust Bath for Your Chickens

If you own chickens, then you have probably seen them rolling around in a hole in the ground, trying to cover themselves in dirt. It can look funny, but rest assured, it is a completely natural behaviour for chickens. This important ritual for chickens can be compared to us having a shower. Come and learn how to create a dust bath for your chickens to help keep them healthy and happy.

What is a Chicken Dust Bath?

A dust bath is an area where a chicken can lay around and clean themselves in dirt. It can be as simple as a small depression in the ground, usually dug by the chickens themselves. Or, you can create a designated spot for them to bathe themselves in.

By creating an area for your chickens to dust bath, you are able to add beneficial ingredients that can help with pest control. This will hopefully help minimise the amount of damage your chickens will do to other parts of your yard.

The Benefits of a Dust Bath

Not only are they fun, but dust baths are a natural way for chickens to keep themselves clean and free from parasites. They can look quite funny as they dig, roll around and toss dirt over their feathers and skin. Though, as they do this, they are removing excess dirt, dead skin cells and oil from their bodies. It also helps with dislodging any parasites such as mites or lice that may be on their external parts. Along with this, it also helps their feathers from becoming too oily, helping keep them full and fluffy instead.

By dust bathing, chickens are also helping to keep themselves cool, especially during the hot weather. The surface may be warm, but they will shimmy themselves down into a comfortable, cooler spot and relax.

Dust baths are also a way for chickens to bond with each other. When a hen sees other hens bathing, they tend to join in. Most chickens will take a dust bath on a daily basis, and when they are done, they shake it all off like a dog.

What about Chicks?

Dust baths are not only for your full-grown chickens, your chicks and young pullets love to take dust baths as well. You can create a mini dust bath in their area or run by filling by a shallow, wide container with sand and soil. Other additions are not really needed at this stage as being young, they are also quite sensitive. A small amount of dried herbs can be added if you wish. 

Ingredients for a Dust Bath

There are quite a few different ingredients that can be added to a dust bath to help the chickens stay clean and pest free. Here are some suggestions that you can use.

• Sand – Also known as contractor’s/builder’s sand or construction sand, this is a key ingredient for a dust bath. Avoid using the play sand that can be purchased from some hardware stores as it is too fine and can be easily inhaled by your chickens, which can lead to crop impactions.  
• Soil – Organic soil can be added as it adds minerals to the dust bath and also helps the sand stick to the body of the chicken. Avoid soil with rocks, large sticks or that has been treated. Loose loamy soils such as top soil or peat moss are good ones to use.
• Diatomaceous Earth – Food-grade DE is a popular dust bath additive that works to help remove unwanted parasites and pests. Be careful when using and only use a small amount in a well-ventilated area. Inca Pestene Powder is a product available in Australia that contains insecticides that can be added to the dust bath area instead of diatomaceous earth. A handful is all that is needed.
• Wood ash – Wood ash helps smother pests such as lice, ticks, mites and fleas. If you have access to wood ash from your fireplace or outdoor fire pit, add a small amount to your chicken’s dust bath.
• Dried Herbs – Many herbs deter pests as well as make the area smell nice. Sprinkle a small amount of dried herbs such as lavender, thyme, comfrey, dill, coriander, wormwood, parsley, rosemary, mint, oregano, and sage into the dust bath.
• Inca Pestene Powder is a product available in Australia that contains insecticides that can be added to the dust bath area as well.

Dried Herbs

As mentioned previously, adding dry herbs to the dust bath can help deter pests that can attack your chickens.

Lavender is a wonderful natural pest repellent that can help repel mosquitoes, mites, lice, ticks, flies and ants. 

Lemon Balm is another powerful repellent that can also help heal any minor scratches or wounds your chickens may have.

Creating a Dust Bath 

To create a dust bath area for your chickens, first you will need to work out where you are going to put it. A position that is sheltered from the wind and rain is ideal as it will keep the dust bath dry and comfortable for the chickens. A location such under a roof, a tree, a tarp or inside a shed or the chicken run is ideal.

It is important to make sure that it is in a place where you chickens have access to it during the day. Avoid sunlight, especially during the summer heat as this will make it uncomfortable for them.

A dust bath could be created in the corner of the chicken run or in a large container such as a plastic tub, wooden box or a clam shell sandpit. You could also create an area using logs or large rocks as a border. Ideally, this area needs to be large enough to accommodate a number of chickens at one time as it is a communal activity.

If you are using a container, adding a few drainage holes, just in case it does get wet is a must. And, try not to use a deep container, around about 20 cm in depth is a good size.

If you live in a high rainfall area, locate the bath under a roof or in a sheltered location so that it will stay dry as dust bath work best when bone-dry.

Add 1 part sand, 1 part soil to the container. Sprinkle the rest of the ingredients into the dust bath area, making sure it is at least 10 cm deep. Use a shovel or rake to mix them together well. 

Container Ideas

Dust baths need to be wide, shallow and large as bathing is a communal activity. Some ideas of containers to use are:

• Galvanised tubs
• Wooden or plastic crates
• A kiddie pool
• Children’s sandbox
• Large, sturdy plastic tubs
• Old tyres or drawers from dressers
• Use logs, rocks, bricks or garden edging to frame out a dust bath

Maintaining the Dust Bath

A dust bath doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Just regularly check it to make sure it is clean and fresh. While maintaining a dust bath, make sure your chickens also have some clean bedding in their coop as well. This will help keep pests at bay.

Complete the following as necessary.

• Remove any droppings, debris or feathers using a small scoop or a rake.
• Remove any wet material.
• Top up ingredients as they are depleted.
• Depending on the size of your flock, completely replace the contents of the dust bath every few weeks or so. Depending on the materials you use, you should be able to dispose of the old dust bath material into your compost pile or garden.

Things You Shouldn’t Use

There are a few things that I would stay clear from when creating a dust bath.

• Straw – This is hollow, which is known for housing bugs that you don’t want anywhere near your chickens such as lice, mites and is also known for going mouldy.
• Cat Litter – Check the ingredients label as many contain additives and fragrances and you don’t want your chickens bathing in these.

Dust baths are a wonderful addition to your chicken run, though despite the effort you do put in in providing this area for your chickens, they may choose to bathe elsewhere as well, especially if they free range. So don’t be upset if your area gets shunned for a period of time.

More Chicken Resources

• First Aid Kit for Chickens
• Printable Chicken Management Binder
• Tips for Keeping Chickens Cool
• Fermented Chicken Feed
• Flock Block for Chickens
• Chicken Life Cycle Printables for Kids
• Bending a Chicken Bone Experiment for Kids
• Tips for Getting Started with Backyard Chickens