Winter dust Bath For Chickens
How to set up a Winter dust Bath For Chickens so your flock can keep clean and healthy in the colder months. Get tips on setting one up and a DIY recipe you can use with natural ingredients that will remove parasites and debris.
How to Raise Chickens that are hardy, healthy, and calm even in the dark winter months.
Chickens are creatures of habit that depend on us for their care. From daily food and water to a shelter that keeps them protected they thrive only if we help them to.
Chickens are also self-sufficient. If we give them the tools, they will use them as needed. Their instincts tell them when to come in at night, where to lay eggs, and when they need to clean their feathers and skin.
What is a Dust Bath?
Dust baths are essential to a chicken’s self-care routine, promoting overall well-being. Call it a spa day that helps them stay clean, healthy, and relaxed.
When they roll around and dig into loose materials like dry soil, sand, or even fine wood ash, they’re doing more than just having fun. It helps them get rid of extra oils on their feathers, exfoliate their skin, and kick out pests like mites and lice.
But there’s more to it than just hygiene—dust bathing is also a social activity. Chickens often gather together for a good dust bath, which strengthens their bonds and brings the flock closer.
You can make a simple dust bath in a run by digging up the ground with a shovel. That’s all you need to do because the chickens will take it from there, breaking up the chunks of soil until it is fine, which is the perfect material for a dust bath.
This works fine in the summer, but what about the winter when the ground is wet and frozen over?
Setting Up a Winter Dust Bath
Just because the winter is bad outside doesn’t mean you can’t set up a bathing area for your chickens to use inside. All you need is a container and a recipe.
#1. Choose a Location
Find a corner inside the coop that is away from the roost and nesting area. Chickens prefer dust baths in a quiet and private area, so choose an out-of-the-way spot.
#2. Choose a Container
You can use anything from a plastic bin to an old tire if it is large enough for your chickens to fit in comfortably. Ensure it has low sides so they can easily hop in and out.
We like to use a cat litter box as this size works well for most breeds of chicken.
So Phresh Gray Open Cat Litter Box X-Large 22.5
2Pcs Chicken Dust Bath Tub, 25” D x 5.9” H, Bottomless Design Chicken Dust Bath Container, Chicken Coop Cleaner Container for Farms, Chicken Coops, Environmental Protection and Easy to AssembleVollrath 1527B-06 Vollrath 1527B Plastic Bus Box – 21-3/4’Wx15-1/2
#3. Create the Dust Bath Mix
The perfect dust bath mix should be equal parts of dry soil, sand, and wood ash (from untreated wood). You can also add dried herbs like lavender or rosemary for added benefits. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly. Be sure to grab our Winter Dust Bath Recipe below!
#4. Add Some Extras
If you want to give your chickens an extra treat, you can also add a bit of food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) to the dust bath mix. DE is a natural pest control and can help keep your chickens free of external parasites.
ARDEN LINE Zeolite Chicken Dust Bath | All-Natural Finely Milled Zeolite Dust | Natural Kraft Box Packaging | Chicken Coop Accessories | Made in The USAPreen Queen Dust Bath Additive for Chickens – Helps Remove Excess Oils & Keep Feathers Clean with Peppermint & Citronella Essential Oils (5 lb. Jar)Harris Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade, 5lb with Powder Duster Included in The Bag
#5. Show Your Chickens
Introduce your chickens to their new dust bath by placing them in it or sprinkling some treats on top of the mix. They will naturally start scratching and digging, mixing everything together until they create the perfect texture for themselves.
Winter Dust Bath Maintenance
It is important to regularly clean and replace the dust bath mix, especially during the winter months when your chickens may spend more time indoors.
If you notice any clumps or debris in the mix, it’s time for a change. Simply scoop out, dispose of the old mix, and refill with a fresh batch.
How many winter dust baths do you need?
You should have at least one dust bath for every four to six chickens, but you may not have room for more than one inside your coop. If that’s the case, you will want to have a larger container that will allow more than one chicken to use the bath at a time.
- Small kiddie pool.
- Sand box
- Purchase one online
- Bowl or washtub
Recipe for a Chicken Dust Bath
Creating a dust bath for your chickens is simple, and it’s one of the easiest ways to support their health and happiness.
Ingredients
- 2 parts dry soil (loose and free of chemicals or pesticides)
- 2 parts fine sand (play sand or construction-grade sand works best)
- 1 part wood ash (from untreated, chemical-free wood)
- 1 part food-grade diatomaceous earth (optional, but great for extra parasite control)
Tools
- A shallow container like a litter box or a small kiddie pool.
- A small trowel and a pair of gloves.
- Face mask to protect yourself from dust.
Instructions
- Select the Location
Choose an out-of-the-way area inside the coop for your dust bath. - Mix the Materials
Combine the soil, sand, wood ash, and DE in the container. The soil provides the base material, the sand adds scrubbing power for cleaning feathers, and the wood ash helps absorb oils and naturally repels pests. - Fluff It Up
Use a trowel or your hands to loosen the mixture so that it’s soft and easy for your chickens to burrow into. Chickens love to dig and fluff the dust themselves, so a loose texture is ideal. - Invite the Chickens
Once your dust bath is ready, your chickens will instinctively know what to do. They’ll hop right in, roll around, and start having a great time.
Pro Tips for Maintenance
- Keep it Dry
Moisture ruins a dust bath, so check it regularly to ensure no snow has been tracked in. If it gets wet, replace the materials. - Top it Off
Over time, chickens will kick some of the mixture out. Replenish the dust bath as needed with fresh sand, soil, and wood ash to keep it effective. - Monitor for Parasites
Diatomaceous earth can help reduce pests, but if you notice an infestation of mites or lice, clean and refresh the bath completely, and consider treating your chickens with additional remedies. - Size Matters
If you have a large flock, consider making multiple dust baths or use a container that will hold more than one bird.
By following this winter dust bath recipe, you’ll provide your chickens with a safe, fun, and effective way to stay clean, pest-free, and stress-free.
By providing a winter dust bath for your chickens, you are not only keeping them clean and healthy, but also giving them a fun and stimulating activity to keep them entertained during the colder months.
